Ben Robb reclaimed top spot on the DartPlayers New Zealand Order of Merit in Wellington last weekend, as Haupai Puha also returned to the winner’s circle on home soil.
New Zealand’s World Cup of Darts duo Robb and Puha shared the spoils in the year’s fifth DPNZ double-header, as 55 players battled it out at the Kapi Mana Darts Association on September 7-8.
New Zealand’s number one Puha eased through the round-robin phase of Event Nine with four dominant victories, which included a 103.66 average in his whitewash win over Tyler Jones.
The 39-year-old continued his progress with resounding wins against Nicole Regnaud and Jamie Roberts, before overcoming Daniel Snookes in the last eight.
Puha then defied a 103 average from John Hurring to triumph in a high-quality semi-final tie, kicking off proceedings with a sublime 167 finish and sealing his progress with a 14-dart break.
The two-time World Championship qualifier capped off an impressive campaign with a 7-2 thumping of Tukina Weko in the Event Nine decider, racing into a 4-0 lead before producing 13 and 14-dart holds in the closing stages.
Robb then took centre stage in Sunday’s Event Ten, closing out a hard-fought 7-5 success against Kayden Milne in a clash which could have major repercussions in the race for World Championship qualification.
Robb advanced through Group A with four straight victories, which he backed up with averages of 94 and 96 in sweeping aside Simon Lancaster and Jaymie Hilton-Jones.
The 35-year-old then completed a 6-4 comeback win over Craig Caldwell in the semi-finals, and he clinched his second DPNZ ProTour title of 2024 after denying Milne in a topsy-turvy affair.
Milne – who trailed 3-0 and 5-3 at one stage, converted 146 and 130 checkouts on his way to restoring parity at five apiece, although after edging a scrappy 11th leg, Robb sealed the deal with a crucial 88 checkout.
Milne had ended Puha’s hopes of back-to-back titles with a 6-3 success in the semi-finals, averaging 94 to progress to his fifth DNPZ ProTour final of the campaign.
However, Robb’s Event Ten triumph has seen him leapfrog Milne on the DPNZ Tour rankings, with Mark Cleaver and John Hurring also in contention to top the standings ahead of next month’s decisive double-header.
The final weekend of DPNZ ProTour action will take place on October 5-6, as the race for World Championship qualification reaches a thrilling finale in Hamilton.
2024 DartPlayers New Zealand ProTour
September 7-8, Kapi Mana Darts Association, Wellington
Event Nine
Quarter-Finals
Stu Irwin 5-4 Josh Walters
Tukina Weko 5-4 Mark Cleaver
Haupai Puha 5-3 Daniel Snookes
John Hurring 5-2 Haunui Hira
Semi-Finals
Tukina Weko 6-5 Stu Irwin
Haupai Puha 6-4 John Hurring
Final
Haupai Puha 7-2 Tukina Weko
Event Ten
Quarter-Finals
Ben Robb 5-2 Jaymie Hilton-Jones
Craig Caldwell 5-0 Sam Laing
Haupai Puha 5-4 John Hurring
Kayden Milne 5-4 Josh Walters
Semi-Finals
Ben Robb 6-4 Craig Caldwell
Kayden Milne 6-3 Haupai Puha
Final
Ben Robb 7-5 Kayden Milne