Joyce Breaks Top 32 With Second Major Semi-Final

Mission Recap – Joyce Breaks Top 32 With Second Major Semi-Final

Ryan Joyce has climbed into the world’s top 32 after reaching his second career major semi-final at the World Grand Prix.

The 39-year-old, who also made the final four of the Players Championship Finals last November, is up to number 32 on the PDC Order of Merit after an impressive run in the double-start event in Leicester last week.

‘Relentless’ recorded wins against Josh Rock (2-0), Nathan Aspinall (3-2) and Rob Cross (3-2) to make the semi-finals at the Mattioli Arena, where his run ended in a defeat to the world number one Luke Humphries.

Meanwhile, Wessel Nijman finished top of the Development Tour Order of Merit to secure a debut in the Grand Slam of Darts next month.

The Dutchman won his maiden title in the senior ranks of the PDC with a Players Championship victory earlier this month, and picked up a brace of event wins on his last weekend playing on the Development Tour.

The 24-year-old won Events 21 and 22 in Wigan on Saturday, taking his haul of Development Tour titles this season up to seven, with his final haul standing at 12 titles in the PDC youth system.

Tavis Dudeney claimed his first Development Tour title with a triumph in Event 23 on Sunday.

‘The Dude’ whitewashed PDC tour card holder Jurjen van der Velde 5-0 in the final to pocket the £2,500 top prize.

The final weekend of Development Tour action this year also saw deep runs for several other Team Mission players.

Cam Crabtree made the quarter-finals of Event 22, Llew Bevan reached the last eight of Event 21 and went one better with a semi-final in Event 23 the next day.

Dominik Gruellich got to a pair of quarter-finals (Events 22 and 24) which helped the German finish 10th on the final Order of Merit.

On Monday, the PDC World Youth Championship was played down to the final with 11 Team Mission players amongst the 128-player field in Wigan.

Thomas Banks, Viktor Tingstrom and Tavis Dudeney all bowed out in the last 32, whilst Dominik Gruellich was knocked out by Dylan Slevin in an all-Mission last 16 tie.

Another Mission vs Mission clash in the quarter-finals saw Slevin edge past Wessel Nijman 6-5, before Slevin was beaten by the top seed Gian van Veen in the last four.

Over in Budapest, Lex Paeshuyse showcased his talent by winning the WDF World Masters boys’ title on Saturday.

The 13-year-old beat Mason Teese 6-1 in the final to take home the title, and capped off a fine week in the Hungarian capital by qualifying for the WDF Boys’ World Championship.

The young Belgian, who also reached the final of the World Open, clinched one of four spots in the qualifiers for Lakeside.

The JDC number one Archie Self will also be a part of the eight-player field in the boys’ event after winning through the qualifiers.

The 14-year-old also made the semi-finals of the World Open, whilst Francesco Basili enjoyed a run to the last eight of the World Masters.

It was an eventful week in Budapest for Connor Scutt who narrowly missed out on a place in the World Masters men’s final.

‘The Sniper’ had come through a nail-biting tie-breaker leg against Dave Dwyer and Robbie Mills to progress through the group stages on Wednesday.

The current Challenge Tour leader then moved through the gears in the knockout stages, posting 98, 106 and 110 averages to advance to finals day, where he lost out 6-5 to Kai Gotthardt.

Rhian O’Sullivan reached a pair of finals in the women’s events, losing out to Beau Greaves in the deciders of the World Masters and World Open.

Almudena Fajardo, a runner-up at the last World Masters in 2022, marked her return to action on the WDF circuit with a quarter-final run in the World Open.

Picture: PDC

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