Merkx etched his name in the history books with his victory in Event 16 at the Marshall Arena. The Dutch darts player emerged triumphant with a 5-3 win over his fellow countryman Wesley Plaisier, claiming his first-ever Challenge Tour title.
His journey to the top was no easy feat. After recovering from a 4-3 deficit to defeat Italy’s Gabriel Rollo in the first round, Merkx went on to dominate his opponents. He swept aside Lewis Pride and Coni Singh Nagi before whitewashing Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.
In the quarter-finals, the 30-year-old continued his impressive form with a convincing 5-2 victory against Martin Grearson. He then set up a final showdown with Plaisier by edging out Carl Wilson in a deciding leg in the semi-finals.
Plaisier, who had previously won a Challenge Tour event earlier in the year, showcased his skills on his way to the final. He defeated the likes of Greg Ritchie, Ashley Coleman, and Franz Roetzsch to earn his spot in the final clash against Merkx.
On the same day, Scutt stole the limelight as he secured his second Challenge Tour title of 2024 in Event 17. The former PDC Tour Card Holder sealed a 5-3 victory over Tom Sykes in the final.
Scutt’s path to victory was filled with impressive performances. He began his campaign with a dominant 5-1 win over German player Rene Eidams and later defeated 2021 World Youth Champion Ted Evetts to progress to the last 16. In the quarter-finals, Scutt dismantled former World Championship quarter-finalist Darius Labanauskas before showcasing a stellar average of 101 in his 5-3 triumph over Wilson in the semi-finals.
Sykes, who impressed throughout the event, reached the final by defeating Jimmy van Schie, Kai Fan Leung, Bradley Brooks, and Dominik Gruellich. Van Schie himself produced a remarkable performance in Event 16, averaging 108.85 in a stunning victory over Nick Fullwell before securing another outstanding win against Jarred Cole.
Wilson also made his mark with consecutive semi-final appearances, taking down Andy Boulton, Michael Unterbuchner, Gruellich, Eidams, Steve Hine, and Ciaran Teehan in the process. The competition was fierce, but ultimately it was Merkx and Scutt who emerged as the champions of the Challenge Tour events.
