Talented Tipton thrower Jack Aldridge marched all the way to the MODUS Super Series title, booking his spot in the upcoming Series 14 Champions Week.
The 37-year-old Shots Darts star is enjoying a fruitful PDC Challenge Tour campaign this season rewarded with several recent call-ups to the main circuit. And, after an action-packed Saturday evening at the Live Lounge, will soon be returning in the hope of reeling in an even bigger fish.
Having successfully dodged Owen Binks all afternoon, with the young pup desperately on the hunt for volunteers for his TikTok videos, it was down to business.
Placed in a group with Lee Evans and Jim McEwan, there was nothing funny about losing his round-robin opener to a Welshman who, unfortunately, shares the same name as a spectacularly unfunny comedian. And I use the last word in that sentence lightly. I’ve laughed more during timeshare holidays to Iran.
Needing victory over Chucky to progress to the semi-finals, that’s precisely what Jack did, being both nimble and quick as he proverbially leapt over not a candlestick – which would have been weird – but the experienced Scot to advance.
Then, to reach the showdown, Aldridge – no relation to the famous former Liverpool and England B international footballer – defeated former PDC World Championship semi-finalist Jamie Lewis.
Awaiting Jack in the final was one of the most prestigious young talents in the world of darts today – Kaya Baysal. Yes, he supports Burnley but, whilst his football team have given him little to cheer this season, on the oche there is plenty to be pleased about.
Having only recently turned 16, the boy nicknamed Long Pockets – which sounds more like a pirate with ridiculously long legs – has been picking up silverware at an alarming rate.
Kaya also tasted defeat in his opening group game, losing heavily to the aforementioned Lewis, but bounced back superbly with victory over Dutch youngster Jamai van den Herik to book his spot in the semi-finals. Once there, he saw off McEwan, who certainly wasn’t chuckling much after that.
Then, in the final, it was Aldridge who took a firm grip from the off and romped home to a 4-1 triumph.
Congratulations to Jack, who now has a shot at the big bucks in Champions Week. Commiserations to Kaya who will, without doubt, be embroiled in countless finals for years to come, probably winning the majority of them too.
Next week is the penultimate one as the race to qualify for Series 14 Champions Week hots up.
