England A win JDC World Cup 2024 in another exciting darts week on the Rock

Winmau Junior Open
Dutch darts prodigy Kendji Steinbach triumphed at the Winmau Junior Open in Gibraltar, becoming the first champion of the week at the JDC event. The 16-year-old, nicknamed the “Scorpion,” dominated the final with a 6-1 victory over Gibraltar’s Nico Bado, denying the local favorite a home victory. Steinbach’s impressive campaign saw him drop only seven legs all day, defeating high-caliber opponents like Bradley van der Velden and Leo Howard. Averaging over 82, Steinbach showcased exceptional form, including a high of 89.73 in the last 16. Already a Dutch national youth champion and Denmark Masters winner, Steinbach has now set his sights on the upcoming Lakeside WDF Boys World Championship and the JDC World Championship.

Luke Littler Legacy Open
The inaugural Luke Littler Legacy Open in Gibraltar showcased thrilling junior darts action, with England’s Ryan Branley defeating 13-year-old Jack Nankervis 6-5 in a nail-biting final. Branley sealed victory with a spectacular 160 checkout, averaging 92.53 in the match. Littler, the PDC world No. 4 and namesake of the tournament, made a surprise appearance to award the trophy, further cementing his role as a junior darts ambassador. Nankervis impressed with his strong run, including a dominant semi-final win. The event preludes the JDC World Championship, with its final to be held at the PDC World Championship next month.
Final:
Ryan Branley (Eng) 6-5 Jack Nankervis (Eng)
Semi-finals:
Ryan Branley (Eng) 5-4 Mason Teese (Eng)
Jack Nankervis (Eng) 5-0 Joseph Westby (Eng)
Quarter-finals:
Ryan Branley (Eng) 4-1 Hayden Ball (Eng)
Mason Teese (Eng) 4-1 Adam Craik (Sco)
Joseph Westby (Eng) 4-1 Luca Fischgrabe (Ger)
Jack Nankervis (Eng) 4-1 Zachary Meeks (USA)

The Holiday Inn Express Junior World Darts Finals
The Holiday Inn Express Junior World Darts Finals in Gibraltar has its finalists! England’s Daniel Stephenson and Belgium’s Lex Paeshuyse will face off at Alexandra Palace next month to determine the 2024 JDC world champion. Stephenson secured his place with a 5-2 victory over Drake Porter, while Paeshuyse edged out Mongolia’s Tergel Khurelkhuu 5-4 in a thrilling semi-final. Both players impressed throughout the tournament, defeating top talents in high-stakes matches.

Results:
Semi-finals:

Daniel Stephenson (Eng) 5-2 Drake Porter (Eng)
Lex Paeshuyse (Bel) 5-4 Tergel Khurelkhuu (Mng)
Quarter-finals:

Daniel Stephenson (Eng) 4-3 Archie Self (Eng)
Drake Porter (Eng) 4-3 Piotr Chochol (Pol)
Tergel Khurelkhuu (Mng) 4-2 Luke Dooley (Ire)
Lex Paeshuyse (Bel) 4-2 Kendji Steinbach (Ned)

DartAsylum JDC World Cup 2024
Overview
The DartAsylum JDC World Cup 2024 in Gibraltar delivered thrilling darts action over two days, featuring 16 national teams from across the globe. Hosted at the Gibraltar arena, the event showcased young talent from powerhouse nations and emerging darting countries. England A claimed their third title after a commanding victory over Netherlands B in the final.

Key Highlights
Group Stages:
Dominant Performances:

Eight teams—Belgium A, Canada, England A, England B, Ireland A, Mongolia, Northern Ireland A, and Scotland A—advanced as group winners, all unbeaten.
England A displayed exceptional form, not dropping a single leg and recording the day’s highest average of 82.36 in their match against Italy.
Mongolia emerged as a surprise package, with Anand Gan-Erdene and Tergel Khurelkhuu impressing.
Standout Teams:

England B: Highest running average (74.69), sweeping past Netherlands B, Scotland B, and Gibraltar B.
Mongolia: Breezed through Germany B, Poland, and USA, with Khurelkhuu leading the charge.
Belgium A: Lex Paeshuyse and Born Van Put were instrumental in their unbeaten run.
Group Stage Results:

Winners: Belgium A, Canada, England A, England B, Ireland A, Mongolia, Northern Ireland A, Scotland A.
Runners-up: Germany A, Germany B, Gibraltar A, Ireland B, Italy, Netherlands A, Netherlands B, Slovakia.
Knockout Stages:
Last 16:

England A and England B stormed into the quarter-finals with 4-1 wins over Netherlands A and Germany A, respectively.
Defending champions Scotland A advanced but faced stiff competition from Slovakia.
Mongolia, Netherlands B, Ireland A, and Italy impressed with decisive victories.
Quarter-finals:

Mongolia stunned defending champions Scotland A with a 4-1 win.
England A edged out England B 4-2 in a tightly contested match.
Netherlands B and Ireland A earned spots in the semi-finals with commanding performances.
Semi-finals:

England A defeated Mongolia 4-2, with standout performances from Jack Nankervis and Ryan Branley.
Netherlands B cruised past Ireland A 4-1, with Ruben Baalmans delivering the best individual display of the tournament, scoring a 111 checkout.
The Final:
England A vs. Netherlands B:
England A triumphed 4-0, showcasing clinical precision and composure in every set.
Key Performers:
Ryan Branley: Started strong with a win over Kendji Steinbach.
Archie Self: Dominated Bradley van der Velden with decisive scoring.
Jack Nankervis: Overcame a tough challenge from Ruben Baalmans.
Kieran Thompson: Sealed the title with a win over Daan Toxopeus.
Final Results
Group Winners:
Belgium A, Canada, England A, England B, Ireland A, Mongolia, Northern Ireland A, Scotland A.

Knockout Results:
Last 16:
Mongolia 4-1 Ireland B
Scotland A 4-1 Slovakia
England A 4-1 Netherlands A
England B 4-1 Germany A
Netherlands B 4-3 Belgium A
Italy 4-2 Canada
Ireland A 4-1 Gibraltar A
Northern Ireland A 4-1 Germany B
Quarter-finals:
Mongolia 4-1 Scotland A
England A 4-2 England B
Netherlands B 4-1 Italy
Ireland A 4-2 Northern Ireland A
Semi-finals:
England A 4-2 Mongolia
Netherlands B 4-1 Ireland A
Final:
England A 4-0 Netherlands B
Champions:
England A

Final Match Results:
Ryan Branley beat Kendji Steinbach 2-1.
Archie Self beat Bradley van der Velden 2-0.
Jack Nankervis beat Ruben Baalmans 2-1.
Kieran Thompson beat Daan Toxopeus 2-1.

Once again the DartAsylum JDC World Cup 2024 showcased exceptional talent and competitive spirit, successfully hosted at Europa Sports Complex. The full week of darts highlighting Gibraltar’s continued success in hosting major international events. England A’s flawless teamwork and composure under pressure secured their third global title, solidifying their dominance in the junior darts circuit. Special recognition goes to Mongolia and Netherlands B for their remarkable performances, which added to the excitement of the event.
Images courtesy GDA