Haruki Muramatsu and Alain AbiAbi claimed the titles on the PDC Asian Tour on Saturday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Muramatsu, the Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, strengthened his lead by winning Event 13, while AbiAbi capitalized on Muramatsu's early exit to take Event 14.
Muramatsu's path to the Event 13 title was far from straightforward. He narrowly escaped his opening two matches against Aris Quijano (4-3) and Shiitertseren Nyamsan (4-3). He then produced his best display against Tümen-Ölzii Amarbayasgalan, sweeping him aside 4-0 with a 109.31 average. After dispatching Satoshi Nakagawa (4-0), Yuya Fukuchi (4-2), and Mönkh-Orgil Jargalsaikhan (5-0), he faced former Tour Card holder Christian Perez in the final. Perez broke in the third leg but immediately handed it back. All legs went with throw, and in the last-leg decider Muramatsu sealed it with a 22-darter, winning 5-4 with an 86.12 average.
In Event 14, Muramatsu went out in the last 16, losing 4-1 to Odkhüü Khundaganai after earlier wins over Siik Hwang Wong (4-0), Byamba-Ochir Byambaa (4-0), and Altansükh Önörtsogt (4-2). Alain AbiAbi took full advantage, defeating Gan-Erdene Sharavsambuu (4-3), Yuya Fukuchi (4-2), Mönkh-Orgil Jargalsaikhan (4-0), Satoshi Nakagawa (4-3), and Altantülkhüür Myagmarsüren (4-0) to reach the semi-finals. He was pushed hard by Lok Yin Lee but edged it 5-3, then produced a commanding 5-1 victory over Paolo Nebrida in the final with an 86.65 average.
Two more Asian Tour events will be played on Sunday. The full season comprises 28 events, with half now completed. The top five players on the Order of Merit will qualify for the World Darts Championship. After 14 events, Muramatsu leads with $11,800, followed by Paolo Nebrida ($8,850), Man Lok Leung ($8,300), Lok Yin Lee ($7,450), and Motomu Sakai ($6,850).
