Japanese cult hero Motomu Sakai made an immediate statement of intent on the 2026 Steel Tour Japan, reaching the final of all four tournaments during the opening weekend in Chiba on May 5 and 6. The 28-year-old, who competed at the World Darts Championship last year, convincingly tops the standings of Japan’s premier darts circuit after winning Event One and finishing runner-up in the other three events.
Sakai started the season in style by winning seven matches on the spin in the first tournament, averaging over 96 in wins against Kohei Aoki and Osamu Inaba. In the final against Kenichi Ajiki, he carried that strong form through with ease, winning 5-3 with an average almost fifteen points higher than his opponent’s. He continued to impress at Event Two, dropping only four legs en route to another final, where he averaged close to 97 in his semi-final against Akimune Matsuyoshi. However, he had to bow to Keita Ono in the final, who secured his second Steel Tour title.
Event Three produced Sakai’s absolute high point of the weekend: a career-best average of 103.19 in his match against Ryuta Arihara, who remarkably lost despite an impressive 105.61 average. Sakai then reached another final, but a surprise winner awaited as Yutaka Sunakawa claimed the first Steel Tour title of his career by beating Sakai 5-2. The fourth event proved the sternest test for Sakai, as he had to go the distance in a deciding leg against both Yoshihisa Baba and Sunakawa to make the final, where he met Ono again. Ono, who had survived a match dart in his semi-final against Ajiki, won his second final of the weekend against Sakai, 5-2.
As a result, Ono also enjoyed a highly successful opening weekend. The two-time Asian Tour winner added the second and third Steel Tour titles of his career and immediately settled into second place in the rankings. Sunakawa can also look back on an excellent weekend; his victory in Event Three was the best moment of his career so far, featuring deciding-leg wins against Daisuke Otsuda and Ono, and a semi-final victory over World Championship participant Mitsuhiko Tatsunami.
After four tournaments, Sakai holds a commanding lead in the Steel Tour Japan standings, with Ono second and Sunakawa third. The player who finishes top of the rankings after twelve events secures a World Darts Championship berth at Alexandra Palace. The next four tournaments on the Japanese circuit are scheduled for August 15 and 16, 2026, in Osaka, where Events 5 through 8 will be played.
