NEWCOMER Martin Atkins and Ireland’s Jason Cullen shared victories on Sunday’s second day of the 2018 PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour.

Atkins won his first PDC title with a 5-4 win over Michael Barnard in the final of Sunday’s Event Three at the Robin Park Tennis Centre. The 43-year-old from Wigan joined the PDC circuit by competing in his home town in Qualifying School last week, and has made a successful step onto the Challenge Tour to take the £2,000 title in the weekend’s third event.

Atkins was taken to a deciding leg in three of his opening four matches, against David Pallett, Rhys Griffin and Lee Budgen, and also whitewashed David Edwards before a 5-2 win over former UK Open finalist Colin Osborne moved him into the last eight. There, he was a 5-3 winner over Ricky Williams before defeating Jason Lowe 5-2 in the last four, and battled all the way in the final against Barnard before edging the win.

Barnard had also won through to Saturday’s Event Two final, where he lost 5-3 to Diogo Portela, as he overcame Jack Fuller, Ian Withers, John Bowles, Steven Kirkby, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, Martin Lukeman and Tony O’Shea. Former Lakeside Champion O’Shea had defeated Brazil’s Portela and former World Championship semi-finalist Andy Jenkins during his run to the last four.

Irish thrower Cullen defeated Scotland’s Cameron Menzies in the final of Event Four to conclude the double-header weekend in Wigan as he picked up the £2,000 top prize. The 2017 Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay finalist bounced back from a second round loss in Event Three to go all the way through a tough field, opening his challenge with a 5-3 win over former ranking event winner Andy Smith.

He then defeated Leon Bailey, overcame Kevin Dowling in a deciding leg and whitewashed Matt Padgett before wins over Ryan Murray, Stuart Kellett and Yordi Meeuwisse put him into the final. The decider went all the way to the ninth leg, and with Menzies waiting on a double it was Cullen who claimed glory with a 114 checkout.

Menzies – who competed in the 2017 bwin Grand Slam of Darts – overcame Shayne Burgess, Dean Mills, Michael Rasztovits, Kevin Simm, Jarred Cole, Rhys Griffin and Steven Kirkby to win through to the final. The next PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour weekend will take place on March 24-25 at Arena MK in Milton Keynes, where a further four £10,000 tournaments will take place.

For the Current CTOoM after the 4 events, including the TOP 32 UK based players who are now eligible to enter ET UKQ CLICK HERE

PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour 1 – Saturday January 27th Wigan

For Full Results CLICK HERE

Last 16
Jarred Cole 5-4 Dave Ladley
John Bowles 5-3 Steven Kirkby
Mark Frost 5-4 Dan Read
Michael Barnard 5-3 Martin Lukeman
Simon Preston 5-2 Brett Claydon
Martin Bradbury 5-0 Jason Lovett
Martyn Turner 5-2 Jon Jukes
Berry van Peer 5-2 Ben Burton

Quarter-Finals
Jarred Cole 5-4 John Bowles
Mark Frost 5-3 Michael Barnard
Simon Preston 5-0 Martin Bradbury
Berry van Peer 5-2 Martyn Turner

Semi-Finals
Jarred Cole 5-3 Mark Frost
Simon Preston 5-3 Berry van Peer

Final
Simon Preston 5-2 Jarred Cole

 

PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour 3 – Sunday January 28th Wigan

Last 16
Matt Padgett 5-2 Jeff Smith
Jason Lowe 5-3 Cameron Menzies
Martin Atkins (Wigan) 5-2 Colin Osborne
Ricky Williams 5-2 Brian Woods
Tony O’Shea 5-4 Andy Jenkins
Diogo Portela 5-1 Callum Loose
Michael Barnard 5-2 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Martin Lukeman 5-4 Robert Rickwood

Last Eight
Jason Lowe 5-0 Matt Padgett
Martin Atkins (Wigan) 5-3 Ricky Williams
Tony O’Shea 5-2 Diogo Portela
Michael Barnard 5-2 Martin Lukeman

Semi Finals
Martin Atkins (Wigan) 5-2 Jason Lowe
Michael Barnard 5-3 Tony O’Shea

Final
Martin Atkins (Wigan) 5-4 Michael Barnard

PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour 4 – Sunday January 28th Wigan

Last Four
Jason Cullen 5-3 Yordi Meeuwisse
Stephen Kirby 1-5 Cameron Menzies

Qualification to European Tour UK Qualifiers is via the Challenge Tour, and PDC Players Championship top ups for the 128.

European Tour UK Qualifiers:

Following the weekends 4 CT events, the CTOoM Table will show the top 32 UK based players who will then be eligible to enter into the next 4 European Tour UK Qualifiers on Friday 16th February (ET1 & ET2) in Barnsley and Friday 9th March also in Barnsley for (ET3 & ET4).

Remember, you must still enter these events as normal via your ‘Servasport Account’ prior to each events deadline:

Entry Deadlines:

• European Tour 1 & 2 Tuesday 6th February 2018 at 2pm
• European Tour 3 & 4 Tuesday 27th February 2018 at 2pm

Note: If you do qualify for any European Tour event, some of these clash with Challenge Tour events, so do not enter both.

PDC Players Championship:

Also, following the weekends events. The top players on the CTOoM can enter the next PDC Players Championship event which takes place on the 17th & 18th February from Barnsley with players from this CTOoM filling any shortfalls from the 128, remember, you have to still enter prior to the entry deadline.

Entry Deadlines:

• PDC Players Championship 1 & 2 Tuesday 6th February 2pm
• PDC Players Championship 3 & 4 Tuesday 27th February 2pm
• PDC Players Championship 5 & 6 Tuesday 6th March 2pm

If you are in any doubt, please just enter as they are FREE and players who have made the 128 will be informed after the deadline has passed.