'Watch out, I know I’ve got more in the tank as well and that’s what’s frightening': David Davies conquers 'toughest format in darts'

David Davies says he’s enjoyed “the best day of my life” after lifting the 2025 Red Dragon Champion of Champions title, defeating a 256-player field in one of the toughest formats in darts echoing that of the old News of the World.

Having already tasted success on the Challenge Tour earlier this year, Davies admitted that the magnitude of this victory surpassed even that achievement. “Probably the best day of my life,” he said to Online Darts. “This does tip the Challenge Tour. It’s such a brutal format. I just kept ticking along, ticking along, but it was hot up there, a different atmosphere. But I’m over the line, and here we are, holding the trophy I love.”

The Champion of Champions has seen past winners go on to establish themselves among darts’ elite, with names like Ryan Searle, Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price etched onto the trophy. For Davies, to join that company felt surreal. “When you see those names on the trophy and the type of players they are, what they’ve done and what they’re doing… I had a picture with the trophy beforehand, and it was like, I really want that trophy. To now have my name alongside them—it’s easily the best thing I’ve ever, ever done.”

More to come

Davies insists his victory is only the beginning, warning rivals that he still has “more in the tank.” “Watch out. I know I’ve got more in the tank as well and that’s what’s frightening. I’ve now won this, and this is the toughest format you can play. The hardest thing is winning the bull, that’s massive in these things. But when you see the players already on this trophy and now my name is amongst them, I’m hoping I can follow.”

The emotions were clear as he fought back tears on stage, crediting his family for their support and acknowledging the life-changing boost the prize money could bring. “It’s all the hard work I’ve put in. My family supporting me—that’s massive. They just let me go and play darts, throw freely. And let’s not forget the money—it’s massive. Yes, I’ve got a full-time job and I do this on the side, but £10,000 is absolutely huge. Who knows where this can take me from here?”

Drama filled final

There was tension right until the final dart. After missing a match-winning shot at 80, Davies feared the worst but held his nerve in a deciding leg. “Don’t throw a one, don’t throw a one—that’s all I was thinking. A thousand thoughts go through your head—do you play safe or do you attack it? I thought, just attack it, you’re playing well. Then it went in the one and Lehman had 84 left. I was waiting for that thud of the dart and him running off, thinking I don’t want to hear this right now. But to be fair, double 10 has been my friend over the last few weeks. It went in—and here I am, champion.”

What comes next?

Despite the magnitude of the win, Davies remains grounded about what it means for his future and whether it changes his ambitions for a PDC Tour Card. “For me, it just shows that players know who I am now. It doesn’t change my mentality, like, oh I’m going to win a Tour Card because I’ve won this. My mentality stays the same. But it does put a slight target on my back—it puts my name in people’s mouths. So, watch out.”

For now, his focus is firmly on celebrating a dream achievement. “We’ll celebrate hard tonight. Walking into the room, I wanted this, I’ve always wanted it. It’s the first time I’ve ever qualified. I did qualify by chance as well, so it’s just a fairy tale. To now hold this trophy, with these names already on it and mine going alongside them, it’s absolutely amazing.” Davies will have to go through qualifying again if he wants to defend his crown in 2026, but he’s relishing the challenge. “I’ve seen there’s no names on there back-to-back. Let’s see what happens.”