In a dazzling display of darts dominance, Goto soared through the 32-player field at the Japan Tour Finals on Sunday, punching his ticket for a return to the Alexandra Palace with an impressive showing. Only conceding seven legs in five matches, Goto left no doubt about his supremacy on home soil.
The Japan Tour Finals gathered the top 32 players from the final Japan Tour Order of Merit, a culmination of a year-long series of ten events that featured a total of 154 competitors in 2024.
Goto kicked off his campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Junichi Maiyama, setting the tone for his run. He then faced a tough challenge against Hiroyuki Yoshino, ultimately coming out on top in a nail-biting last-leg decider where all nine legs were held on throw.
The 28-year-old continued his relentless march to the final with back-to-back whitewash wins against Shingo Enomata and Nobuhiro Yamamoto, setting the stage for a high-stakes showdown against Ajiki.
Ajiki displayed his own skills, averaging an impressive 101.48 in his opening round victory over Joji Kanuma. He followed up with wins over Shogo Fuse and Katsuya Aiba before sealing a spot in the semi-finals with a triumph over Japan Tour Order of Merit leader Seigo Asada.
In a dramatic final, Ajiki struck first with a stunning 157 checkout, but Goto quickly turned the tide in his favor, winning five of the next six legs to secure the coveted title.
Goto’s talent has not gone unnoticed, as he made a mark in his World Championship debut in 2023/24 with a victory over Ian White. He has also represented Japan in three consecutive World Cup of Darts editions and made his World Series of Darts debut at the Bahrain Darts Masters in January.
The 2024 Japan Tour Finals showcased top-tier competition, with standout performances throughout the tournament. In the quarter-finals, Seigo Asada bested Motomu Sakai 5-2, Kenichi Ajiki triumphed over Katsuya Aiba by the same scoreline, Nobuhiro Yamamoto overcame Toyokazu Shibata 5-2, and Tomoya Goto cruised to a 5-0 victory over Shingo Enomata.
The semi-finals brought more excitement, with Kenichi Ajiki edging out Seigo Asada 5-4 and Tomoya Goto securing a 5-0 win over Nobuhiro Yamamoto in a display of skill and determination.
