Owen & Van Trijp secure Ally Pally spots as Challenge Tour concludes

Robert Owen

Robert Owen and Danny van Trijp will star in the 2022/23 Cazoo World Darts Championship after finishing second and third respectively on the 2022 Winmau Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

Sunday saw the final two Challenge Tour events of the year take place in Leicester, as Justin Smith and Andy Hamilton each picked up a £2,000 title.

However, neither player was able to force their way into continue for a World Championship spot, with the top two players on the final Challenge Tour Order of Merit securing a place at Alexandra Palace.

Scott Williams tops the Challenge Tour Order of Merit, but his place at the World Championship is already assured via the ProTour Order of Merit.

Subsequently, Owen and Van Trijp will take the two Challenge Tour qualification places, with both players in line for Ally Pally debuts.

Williams and Owen have secured PDC Tour Cards for 2023 and 2024, with Williams set to feature on the professional circuit for the first time next year, while former UK Open semi-finalist Owen will hold a Tour Card for the first time since 2019.

Should Williams finish in the top 64 on the PDC Order of Merit following the 2022/23 World Darts Championship, Van Trijp would win a Tour Card.

Williams' place on top of the Challenge Tour Order of Merit also sees him qualify for the 2022 Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts in November where he is set to make his TV debut.

Smith defeated Matthew Dennant to win Sunday's Event 23 to open proceedings at the Morningside Arena, with Cam Crabtree landing a nine-darter during his loss to Nathan Girvan during the tournament.

Former World Championship runner-up Hamilton, meanwhile, overcame Scott Taylor 5-4 in the Event 24 showdown to conclude the year's Challenge Tour action.

Click here to see the final 2022 PDC Winmau Challenge Tour Order of Merit

Click here to view Event 23 & 24 results

Click here to view match stats through DartConnect

PDC Winmau Challenge Tour
Sunday October 16
Morningside Arena, Leicester
Event 23
Quarter-Finals

Matthew Dennant 5-1 Jeremy van der Winkel
Scott Taylor 5-2 Ciaran Teehan
Nathan Girvan 5-1 Lee Davies
Justin Smith 5-2 Jordan Brooks

Semi-Finals
Matthew Dennant 5-3 Scott Taylor
Justin Smith 5-3 Nathan Girvan

Final
Justin Smith 5-2 Matthew Dennant

Event 24
Quarter-Finals

Andy Hamilton 5-2 Danny van Trijp
Lee Budgen 5-4 Ryan Hogarth
Scott Taylor 5-2 Jim McEwan
Wayne Jones 5-4 Scott Campbell

Semi-Finals
Andy Hamilton 5-2 Lee Budgen
Scott Taylor 5-4 Wayne Jones

Final
Andy Hamilton 5-4 Scott Taylor