Rusty-Jake Rodriguez and Sebastian Bialecki shared victories as the PDC Unicorn European Development Tour returned to action on Friday.

Rodriguez claimed his fourth Development Tour title of 2021 with victory in Event Seven as the final weekend of the year commenced.

The Austrian star won half of the six events staged in August, and was the stand-out performer in Event Seven.

He averaged over 100 three times in seven matches on his way to the final, which included a 107.36 average as he overcame Dutch prospect Jurjen van der Velde.

Rodriguez had won pas Tomas Houdek, Sebastian Bialecki and Geert Nentjes in deciding legs in his last three games to reach the final, where he came from 2-0 down to defeat Fabian Schmutzler 5-3.

Rodriguez's winning legs in the final were 14, 14, 13, 13 and 11 darts, as he claimed the £2,000 top prize.

Schmutzler, a 16-year-old from Frankfurt, impressed in his debut event on the Development Tour by reaching the final.

He won his first three matches without dropping a leg, and included highly-rated Dutch youngsters Justin van Tergouw and Maikel Verberk amongst six players he defeated in the event.

Rodriguez won through to the semi-finals of Event Eight, but was denied a second title as Nentjes won the deciding leg of their last four contest after being pegged back from 4-1 to four-all by the Austrian.

Nentjes, though, was unable to repeat the feat when the final also went to a deciding leg, as Poland's Bialecki won his maiden Development Tour title.

The 17-year-old produced some superb darts throughout seven wins in the event as he followed up a Challenge Tour success in September with another triumph.

Nentjes was a runner-up for the second time in 2021, having also been the Event Four finalist, and sits third on the Order of Merit following eight events.

The final weekend of the PDC Unicorn European Development Tour continues on Saturday with another double-header in Niedernhausen. 

Six events will be held across the weekend at the H+ Hotel as young prospects battle for £60,000 in prize money.

In addition, places in the Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts and William Hill World Darts Championship are on offer for the eventual Order of Merit winner, as well as a 2022/23 PDC Tour Card.

Rodriguez now sits £5,350 clear of Niels Zonneveld on the European Development Tour Order of Merit with £9,000 to the Dutchman's £3,650 with just four events remaining, meaning that he can wrap up top spot in Saturday's double-header.

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