By MARK REY MONTEJO
Christian Perez launched his Euro Tour campaign in dominant style as he topped the men’s division of the 2025 Target Darts Scottish Open over the weekend.
Cool and calculating, the pride of the City of Koronadal outlasted hometown bet Ryan Hogarth in a thrilling duel, 5-3, to claim his first title of the year.
Aside from pocketing €1,500 (roughly P91,000) for ruling the event, the 43-year-old Perez etched his name as the first-ever Asian to reign supreme in the annual tournament since its berth 1983.
Perez is also the first Filipino ever to earn a PDC Pro Tour card, a feat that inspired many young darts enthusiasts in Koronadal to take up the sport – thanks to the prodding and support of godfather Thortsen Pe.
Perez’s journey to the top was not easy as he survived some precarious moments before edging Scottish Scott Campbell, 5-4, in the semifinal.
In the quarters, Perez was ruthless as he blanked British Carl Wilkinson, 4-0.
He also romped to a similar 4-0 win over Scotland’s Graham Borland in the Last 32 before beating another Dutch bet in Raymond van den Ende, 4-2, in the Last 16.
Two years ago, Perez and Lourence Ilagan impressed in the World Cup of Darts when they reached the Round of 16, a finish no other PH team has ever achieved before.
Perez teamed up with Alexis Toylo last year but they fell to Belgium, 4-0, in their final preliminary game.
Hogarth, for his part, settled for a runner-up’s purse of €750 (P45,682).
Meanwhile, Scottish Lorraine Hyde escaped German Irina Armstrong, 5-4, to snare the women’s crown.
