Race to the PDC World Darts Championship heats up on the Asian Tour as Ilagan & Azemoto split titles in the Philippines

Lourence Ilagan and Ryusei Azemoto have shared the spoils on Saturday as the PDC Asian Tour resumed with a double-header in the Philippines — and with PDC World Darts Championship qualification on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher for the continents finest throwers.

It was Ilagan who struck first, claiming the title at Asian Tour 21 to breathe fresh life into his bid for a potential return to the Ally Pally. 'The Gunner', who began the weekend just outside the provisional World Championship qualification spots, stormed to victory with a commanding run that included wins over Pin Feng Yeh (4-0), Sandro Sosing (4-0), John Mark Bracero (4-1), Tenku Shah (4-2), Aris Quijano (4-2), Sonny Balagat (5-1), and Christian Perez (5-2). The result lifted the charismatic Filipino back into the top five of the Asian Tour Order of Merit — right in the mix for a place at the 2026 World Darts Championship.

However, the celebrations were short-lived for Ilagan. In the evening session, it was one of his main rival Ryusei Azemoto who answered back in style, dominating Asian Tour 22 to reclaim his top-five spot and push Ilagan down to sixth.

The 22-year-old Japanese talent was in imperious form, cruising past Shoya Ota (4-0), Carlo Monsanto (4-0), Jargalsaikhan Ulziibuyan (4-1), Marion Christopher Omac (4-1), Russelle Mark Canapi (4-3), Lok Yin Lee (5-0), and Alexis Toylo (5-2) to take the title.

With only six events remaining — including two more on Sunday before the final four in September — the race for World Championship qualification is reaching boiling point. Both Ilagan and Azemoto are right in the thick of it, and with players like Christian Perez, Paolo Nebrida, and Alexis Toylo also in the hunt, every leg now counts.

Results PDC Asian Tour 21

Results PDC Asian Tour 22