Joe Hunt secured first place on the 2026 Winmau Challenge Tour rankings with a fifth title in Wigan on Sunday, as Patrik Williams scooped a maiden title on the circuit.
The final two events of the 2026 Challenge Tour took place at the Robin Park Leisure Centre, with Hunt sealing a second title this weekend at Event 23 to confirm his place at the summit of the rankings.
After being pitted against second-placed Derek Coulson in a huge round one contest, Hunt whitewashed his opponent 5-0, before recording a mesmerising 109.56 average in defeating Nathan Rafferty 5-1.
The Isle of Wight star produced another ton-plus average to sweep aside Mike Warburton, before conceding just two legs in his next two matches to reach the quarter-finals.
The 33-year-old recorded his third ton-plus average of the day to pip Jack Aldridge in a last-leg decider in the quarter-finals, while a 5-3 win over Harrison Leigh set up a showdown with Event Five winner Jack Tweddell in the final.
Hunt breezed to a 5-1 win to claim back-to-back titles in Wigan, securing his fifth title of the season and crucially confirming his position at the top of the rankings.
Hunt is therefore rewarded with a Tour Card for 2027/28 and a maiden Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts appearance in November, while he is also assured of a spot at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship this December.
In Event 24, Williams bagged a first Challenge Tour title, downing Aldridge 5-3 in the showpiece.
The 25-year-old averaged a ton in his opening round whitewash victory over Llewellyn Roberts, before recording consecutive 5-2 wins over Tony Fleming and former UK Open quarter-finalist Steve Hine.
Williams - a winner on the Development Tour last year - secured a second 5-0 win of the event over Matty Washbrooke, before sealing a nervy 5-4 win over Oliver Mitchell to reach the last eight.
There, Williams put out Belgium’s Jenson Remory, while he came back from 4-1 down to defeat Sam Jackson and reach a first final of the year.
The 25-year-old took on Aldridge in the final, and, after winning four of the last five legs of the contest from 2-1 down, triumphed to claim £3,000 and the final title of the year.
Despite losing in both his opening round matches on Sunday, Coulson finished in second on the rankings, securing the Welshman a Tour Card for 2027/28 as well as a Paddy Power World Darts Championship debut.
Tommy Morris - who finished in third - will also feature at Alexandra Palace after finishing in third, marginally finishing above Daniel Klose in fourth.
However, the German will feature at the World Championship if Hunt is to qualify through the ProTour rankings, which would pass the third qualification spot down to Klose.
2026 Winmau Challenge Tour
Sunday September 27
Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan
Event 23
Quarter-Finals
Harrison Leigh 5-4 Kevin Burness
Joe Hunt 5-4 Jack Aldridge
Jack Twedell 5-4 Adam Hunt
Tommy Morris 5-3 Steve Lennon
Semi-Finals
Joe Hunt 5-3 Harrison Leigh
Jack Tweddell 5-4 Tommy Morris
Final
Joe Hunt 5-1 Jack Tweddell
Event 24
Quarter-Finals
Jack Aldridge 5-4 Martin Thomas
Jamie Kay 5-4 Jonathan Kavanagh
Patrik Williams 5-3 Jenson Remory
Sam Jackson 5-3 Aden Kirk
Semi-Finals
Jack Aldridge 5-1 Jamie Jay
Patrik Williams 5-4 Sam Jackson
Final
Patrik Williams 5-3 Jack Aldridge
