Charlie Manby, 21, wins first PDC title in Den Bosch, ending Beau Greaves' run in the semis

Charlie Manby has his first PDC ranking title. The 21-year-old from Huddersfield beat Dutchman Maik Kuivenhoven 8-2 in the Players Championship 31 final in Den Bosch on Wednesday, 28 October. The win came with £15,000 and a place at next month's Grand Slam of Darts. On the way, Manby also stopped a deep run from Beau Greaves, winning their semi-final 7-5.

A seven-match run to the title

Manby won seven matches over the day. He opened with a 6-1 win over Karel Sedlacek, averaging 104.01 according to Dutch outlet DartsNieuws, then edged Dennie Olde Kalter 6-5 in a deciding leg. Next he beat Adam Leek 6-4.

His best darts came in the last 16, a 6-3 win over Dominik Gruellich in which he averaged 112.16, the highest average of the day. A 6-3 quarter-final win over Scotland's Alan Soutar set up the semi-final against Greaves.

Greaves pushed him hard in a best-of-13-leg contest, but Manby held on for a 7-5 win.

One-sided final against Kuivenhoven

Kuivenhoven had a tough route of his own. He survived a deciding leg against Filip Bereza, beat Darius Labanauskas and Owen Bates, saved two match darts against Rob Owen, and beat Belgium's Mike De Decker 6-2. He then beat Dirk van Duijvenbode 7-6 in a last-leg semi-final. It was his second Pro Tour final of the season.

The final was close for only a few legs. Manby took the first five legs. Kuivenhoven held throw and then broke back to make it 5-2, but Manby won the next three, finishing with a 13-dart leg. Manby averaged close to 100 in the final while Kuivenhoven was well below his best, averaging around 85. Afterwards Manby told reporters he was "lost for words".

Manby earned his Tour Card at Q-School in January after reaching the last 16 of the 2025/26 World Championship at Alexandra Palace. This title is the biggest result of his short professional career so far.

Other results from the day

There were early exits for several big names. Nathan Aspinall, Peter Wright and Jermaine Wattimena all lost in the first round. Michael van Gerwen beat Spain's Cristo Reyes in round three, then lost in the last 16 to Kevin Doets.

Reyes still had a memorable day. He hit a nine-dart finish in his first-round win over Cor Dekker, according to DartsNews.

Kevin Doets and Jeffrey de Graaf, both Players Championship winners earlier in 2026, made the quarter-finals. De Graaf's run included a win over Gian van Veen.

Why these events matter right now

The late-season Players Championship events decide the Pro Tour Order of Merit, and the top 64 players qualify for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead in November. A run like Manby's moves a player up those standings quickly, while players outside the cut, reportedly including Aspinall and Wright, are running out of events.

Players Championship 32 was scheduled for Thursday, 29 October, also in Den Bosch, with 128 players and play starting at 1pm CET (8pm Malaysia time). Two more events, PC33 and PC34, follow in Leicester on 4 and 5 November before the Minehead field is settled.

Key takeaways

• Charlie Manby, 21, beat Maik Kuivenhoven 8-2 for his first PDC ranking title at Players Championship 31.
• He beat Beau Greaves 7-5 in the semi-finals and averaged 112.16 against Dominik Gruellich in the last 16.
• The title is worth £15,000 and a place at the Grand Slam of Darts.
• Cristo Reyes hit a nine-darter; Aspinall, Wright and Wattimena went out in round one.
• PC33 and PC34 in Leicester on 4-5 November are the last chances to qualify for Minehead.

FAQ

Q: Who won Players Championship 31? Charlie Manby won the event in Den Bosch on 28 October 2026, beating Maik Kuivenhoven 8-2 in the final.

Q: How far did Beau Greaves go? Greaves reached the semi-finals, where she lost 7-5 to Manby.

Q: What does Manby get for winning? He won £15,000 and a place at the Grand Slam of Darts in November. The prize money also moves him up the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

Sources: DartsWorld, DartsNews, DartsNieuws, Oche180