Rusty-Jake Rodriguez secured PDC Unicorn European Development Tour glory as he shared wins with German newcomer Fabian Schmutzler on Saturday.

Rodriguez picked up his fifth European Development Tour title of 2021 in Event Nine as secured top spot in the Order of Merit.

The Austrian has dominated this year's European Development Tour, picking up three wins in the first block of six events and also taking victory in Friday's Event Seven.

He continued that form in Saturday's opening tournament with a sensational string of displays - losing only four legs in seven matches.

That included a 5-0 whitewash of Schmutzler with an amazing 110.51 average in the semi-finals in a repeat of the Event Seven final, before he overcame another German prospect, Niko Springer, 5-1 in the final.

Rodriguez cannot now be caught on the European Development Tour Order of Merit in the remaining two events, with closest rivals Geert Nentjes and Niels Zonneveld on £3,800.

The 20-year-old will now qualify for the Cazoo Grand Slam of Darts as the European Development Tour champion, and also secures a PDC Tour Card next year to step onto the ProTour full-time.

As the Austrian has already qualified through the ProTour Order of Merit for the William Hill World Darts Championship, the second-placed player in the final European Development Tour Order of Merit will secure a place at Alexandra Palace.

Saturday's second tournament saw Germany's 16-year-old Schmutzler claim victory in only his fourth Development Tour - having only become old enough to compete in October!

Schmutzler dropped just one leg in his first three of eight matches in Event Ten, and also saw off Alex Flohr 5-0 in the semi-finals.

He then dominated an all-German final with Marcel Gerdon, coming from a leg down to lead 3-1 before closing out a 5-2 success.

The win moves Schmutzler into fourth spot on the European Development Tour Order of Merit going into Sunday's final two events, putting him in line to claim a spot at the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship.

Sunday sees the year's final two European Development Tour events take place in Niedernhausen.

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