The opening batches of the PDC Development Tour 2026 have concluded, with a notable surge of Belgian talent making its mark. In Leicester, fifteen Belgian prospects competed, supported by the VTM Next Gen Darts Academy led by former darter Erik Clarys. This structural support has helped young Belgians measure themselves against the international elite, yielding promising displays. The PDC Development Tour is for players aged 16 to 24 and serves as a breeding ground for future stars, with the top two in the final ranking qualifying for the World Darts Championship and receiving a PDC Tour Card.
Mylo Michiels and Nunjo Dewaele stood out most prominently, each collecting £950 in prize money, placing 28th and 30th in the standings respectively. Michiels twice reached the last 16 and secured an impressive 4-3 win over Beau Greaves, who started with a 10-darter and led 3-2. However, Michiels was excluded from the fourth tournament for arriving two minutes late, a decision he admitted was justified but noted stung when hearing others got extra time. Dewaele produced a quarterfinal run and a last-16 appearance, beating Charlie Manby 4-1 with an 85.38 average.
Several other Belgians delivered solid results: Matthias Moors collected £800 and sits 36th, reaching the last 16 in the fifth tournament and the last 32 once. Jenson Remory earned £750, while Axel Buyle, Nigel Coudeville, and Seppe Dasseville each took £350. Xanti Van den Bergh collected £250, and Jokke Janssens headed home with £100, citing stress as a challenge on social media. After the first weekend, Jurjen van der Velde leads the rankings with two tournament wins, followed by Jack Drayton, Sebastian Bialecki, Charlie Manby, and Dylan Slevin, with Cam Crabtree, Owen Bates, and Beau Greaves also in the top twenty.
The season comprises five weekends in 2026, with the next event scheduled from 24/4/2026 to 26/4/2026 in Milton Keynes. For Belgian talents, the first step has been taken, but the road to a top finish and potential World Darts Championship qualification remains long, showcasing a generation unafraid to take on the international youth elite.
