Haggerty and Wilson secure Challenge Tour titles

Stu Wilson

Steve Haggerty and Stu Wilson picked up victories in events Three and Four of the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour on Saturday at the Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes. 

Haggerty, 31, was made to work hard for his victory in Event Three, coming through five last-leg deciders in his eight victories as he clinched the third Challenge Tour title of the year. 

He came through tough battles to see off John Bowles and Chris Craven in the opening two games of the day, before beating Lisa Ashton 5-2 in the third round. 

Next came another last-leg victory over Germany's Kai Gotthardt, followed by victories over Gary Blades, Graham Hall and Matthew Edgar to reach the final. 

There he met New Zealand's Haupai Puha, but once again Haggerty had enough to defy a significant gulf in the averages to edge out Puha in a deciding leg to secure the £2,000 prize fund. 

It was easier going for Wilson in Event Four, as he produced some sublime darts to secure his first Challenge Tour title of the year.

He kicked things off with a 5-3 win over the impressive Jarred Cole, before seeing off Sean Fisher, Steven Beasley and Jimmy van Schie to reach the Last 16.

Next was an impressive victory over Dutchman Maikel Verberk before beating 16-year-old Leighton Bennett 5-2 to reach the semi-finals.

He then dealt with Irishman Gavin Carlin 5-2 to reach the final, where he secured the title with his highest average of the day to beat Pete Burgoyne 5-3. 

Action on the Challenge Tour comes to a close on Sunday with Event Five, rounding off the first weekend of competitive darts on the PDC calendar for 2022.

The top two players from the final 2022 Challenge Tour Order of Merit will secure a PDC Tour Card for 2023/24 and a place in the 2022/23 Cazoo World Darts Championship.

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