Archie Self has crowned a remarkable week in the MODUS Super Series by defeating Andy Baetens 4-2 in the Champions Week final. The sixteen-year-old Englishman claimed the £25,000 top prize after producing a superb display on Finals Night, further enhancing his reputation as one of the most exciting young talents in darts.
Self overcame the Belgian in the final despite having previously lost 4-3 to him earlier in the evening. The teenager showed tremendous composure when it mattered most, capitalising on Baetens' struggles on the doubles to secure a memorable victory and the Champions Week title.
Champions Week is the culmination of a twelve-week cycle in the popular MODUS Super Series. A winner is crowned each week, and the twelve weekly champions then meet during Finals Week. They compete to decide who will be crowned champion of the entire cycle. Alongside the prestigious title, the winner also collects an attractive £25,000 prize.
Self enjoyed a remarkably strong group stage, winning 13 of his 15 matches to qualify convincingly for the decisive phase of the tournament. One of the standout moments came during his match against Danny Ayres, when Self produced a nine-darter. In doing so, he made history by becoming the youngest player ever to hit a perfect leg during a broadcast on British television. He broke the record previously set by Luke Littler.
In the semi-final against Scott Robertson, Self posted an outstanding average of 107.92, beating his opponent with a performance that demonstrated both his scoring power and maturity. Baetens had made an excellent start to Finals Night, where he faced the eventual champion and David Davies in the final group. Against Davies, the Belgian recorded a convincing 4-0 win. Baetens also came out on top against Self initially, winning 4-3. Derek Coulson awaited Baetens in the semi-final, and Baetens edged it 4-3.
However, Self had the final say when the pair met again. Baetens had no fewer than twenty attempts at a double and converted only two. Self made the most of his opponent's missed chances, kept his composure, took the key legs and sealed a 4-2 victory.
After the match, Baetens shared his feelings on social media. On Facebook, he wrote: “This hurts so much. Thanks to everyone who watched and supported me this week. Maybe I've let a lot of people down, and I've let myself down too. We'll see what the future brings.” For a long time, he stood with both hands over his face, seemingly unable to take in what had just happened.
Self can now turn his attention to the World Darts Championship. Baetens still has a chance to qualify for the World Championship through a qualifying event later this month. The victory makes Self the second-ever sixteen-year-old champion in the MODUS Super Series Live Lounge.
