Lee Cocks secured his second Winmau Challenge Tour title on Friday, as Joe Hunt also joined the winner’s circle in Leicester.
The year’s penultimate weekend of Challenge Tour action began with a double-header at the Matiolli Arena, as a bumper field of over 190 players went head-to-head in Events 16 and 17.
Hunt - who had previously never won a PDC title before this weekend - kicked off Friday’s proceedings with Event 16 glory, winning eight consecutive matches to pocket the £2,500 top prize.
Having won his opening two matches in last-leg deciders against Michael Barnard and Dmitriy Zhukov respectively, Hunt recovered from 3-2 down against Trevor Burkhill to beat the Brit 5-3 to advance to the fourth round.
The Englishman then recorded his two highest averages of the tournament of 98.47 and 94.74 to account for David Evans and Ultan McDyer respectively, which was followed by a 5-3 victory over Scotsman Scott Campbell.
Following a deciding-leg win over Ashley Coleman in the semi-finals, Hunt captured his maiden title with a fabulous 5-4 victory over Derek Maclean, rattling off three consecutive legs and winning the contest with a 15-dart leg.
Cocks was then victorious in Evemt 17, as the 42-year-old followed up his previous Challenge Tour title in March 2024 with another one here in Leicester.
The Englishman ran out 5-3 victor against Jack Tweddell to complete the double on the Winmau Challenge Tour, after beating David Pallett in the semi-final in a last-leg decider.
Cocks had booked his place in the last four with a thumping whitewash victory over Reece Colley, which preceded wins over Jarred Cole, Samuel Price and Bruno Stoeckli in round two.
Hunt’s ten-match winning streak came to a close early on in Event 17, as he beat Derek Maclean for the second time in a row, before succumbing to Luke Smith in the second round.
The Winmau Challenge Tour season continues with Events 18-19 in Leicester tomorrow, with £15,000 in prize money up for grabs in each event.
The top two players from the final 2025 Challenge Tour rankings will secure a PDC Tour Card for 2026/27, with the top three players set to secure qualification for the 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
With just seven events remaining this year, Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas occupies top spot on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit above Bellmont and Evetts, with Hunt and Cocks rising to twelfth and nineteenth respectively.
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Live match stats from all events can be followed through DartConnect.
2025 Winmau Challenge Tour
Friday August 15, Mattioli Arena, Leicester
Event 16
Quarter-Finals
Joe Hunt 5-3 Scott Campbell
Ashley Coleman 5-3 Andreas Harrysson
Derek Maclean 5-3 Charlie Manby
Tommy Lishman 5-4 Jack Tweddell
Semi-Finals
Joe Hunt 5-4 Ashley Coleman
Derek Maclean 5-1 Tommy Lishman
Final
Joe Hunt 5-4 Dereck Maclean
Event 17
Quarter-Finals
Jack Tweddell 5-2 Aden Kirk
Scott Waites 5-3 Andreas Harrysson
David Pallett 5-1 Michael Unterbuchner
Lee Cocks 5-0 Reece Colley
Semi-Finals
Jack Tweddell 5-3 Scott Waites
Lee Cocks 5-4 David Pallett
Final
Lee Cocks 5-3 Jack Tweddell