The Northern Irishman’s route to the final was packed with quality. Duff began strongly with a 4–2 win over Robert Comben, followed by a 4–1 victory against Jake Hobbs in the Last 16 where he averaged over 90. He then overcame Davie Duval 4–1 in the quarter-finals before surviving a tough 4–3 semi-final battle against Callum Francis, who himself had been in superb form throughout the event. Each round demonstrated Duff’s hallmark blend of power scoring and icy calm finishing.
Joe Croft, meanwhile, produced one of the standout tournament runs of his career. The Englishman was rock-solid from the start, averaging in the 90s multiple times through the knockout stages. He opened with a 4–0 win over Connor Calder-Bune, then edged Andrew Houghton 4–3 in a nervy affair before defeating Jim McEwan 4–3 in the Last 16 — another tight contest where both players averaged near 90. Croft continued to impress with a 4–1 quarter-final victory over Matt Dicken, followed by an 86.49 average in a 4–1 semi-final win over Reece Colley. His composure on doubles and smooth rhythm under pressure earned him huge plaudits and a place in a memorable final.
Elsewhere, Callum Francis had an exceptional tournament, taking out Chas Barstow and averaging 87.98 in a Last 16 win over the in-form Englishman before his semi-final defeat to Duff. Reece Colley was also outstanding, registering a near-90 average in his 4–1 quarter-final win over Jamie Hughes, and Davie Duval continued to display consistency, reaching the last eight after impressive victories over Jake Eichen and David Fatum.
Other notable performances came from David Pallett, who recorded the tournament’s highest average of 109.81 in his 4–1 win over Josh Langridge, and from Chas Barstow, who hit 95.43 in an earlier round. Both men showed glimpses of their top form, underlining the depth of quality across the field. Jamie Hughes, Paul Hogan, and Ross Lowe also made strong runs, all averaging in the high 80s at various stages.
As the final dart landed, sealing a 5–4 victory, Neil Duff once again stood tall as champion — completing an extraordinary weekend double after also capturing the England Masters Open title. His combination of experience, power scoring, and steel-nerved finishing proved decisive time and again. Joe Croft’s spirited performance, however, ensured the crowd witnessed a classic — a final that embodied the very best of competitive darts.
With Duff’s double triumph and the level of play across all rounds, the England Cove Open cemented its place as one of the standout tournaments of the 2025 England Series — a showcase of class, character, and championship pedigree from start to finish.
