Darts legend Steve Beaton has revealed he could make a surprise return to the PDC circuit in 2026, alongside fellow former World Champion Adrian Lewis. Beaton, the 1996 world title winner, stepped away from the sport last year after relinquishing his Tour Card—but the 60-year-old now admits a comeback via Q-School in January is under serious consideration.
Speaking ahead of the Modus Super Series International Pairs in Portsmouth—where he partnered with two-time world champion Lewis to represent England—Beaton acknowledged that the competitive spark hasn’t completely faded.
“You never know,” Beaton told TalkSport Darts. “I might go in January. I might just go so I can play on the Challenge Tour now and again. If I’ve got a free weekend, I can go and play a few games. I’m trying to wind down a bit—I don’t want to be playing all the time—but it would be nice to do a couple of Pro Tours, get that competitive side, meet the lads, and have a laugh. Never say never, but we’ll see.”
A Lewis Revival?
Beaton’s pairing with Adrian Lewis was one of the most anticipated storylines heading into the International Pairs weekend, marking a potential first step in a competitive comeback for the Stoke star, who has been absent from the main tour in recent seasons.
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“I’ve seen Aidy a lot at exhibitions, but he hasn’t been playing seriously for a while now,” Beaton noted. “He’s given me the inkling that he wants to come back. Maybe this is the start of his revival. He’s even talking about going to Q-School in January. I’m really looking forward to it. I haven’t played pairs for a long time, so it’ll be interesting. We get on well and I think we’ll feed off each other.”
Despite the hype, the English duo fell short of the knockout stages, finishing fourth in Group B. It was Ireland’s Conor Heneghan and John O’Shea who ultimately claimed the title, beating Welsh veterans Richie Burnett and Kurt Parry in the final.
The Modus Factor
Beaton credited the Modus Super Series as a key factor in keeping his game sharp, praising its competitive format and manageable schedule.
“Modus is probably the best for me because it’s competitive,” he said. “I finished one about a week or two ago—really good bunch of lads, it pushed me hard. I lost in the final, but that kind of competitive edge is what ups your game again. Exhibitions are just a bit of fun—it’s not the same as proper competition against fellow players.”
Having spent over 30 years on the professional tour, Beaton knows better than most the physical and mental demands of top-level darts. He appreciates the more condensed format of the Super Series compared to the long, drawn-out schedules of the main tour.
“The long ones were the European Tours,” he recalled. “On finals day you might play at one or two in the afternoon and then not again until 11 or 12 at night. That’s a really long day. At Modus, you’re there for three or four hours and then you’re done. Even on finals night, you’re there from 5 or 6 o’clock and you might finish at 11 or 12, but at least it’s one session, not a 12-hour slog.”
“Never Say Never”
While Beaton has spoken previously about gradually stepping away from competitive play, his latest comments suggest the door is still open.
“It’d be nice for me to go and play two or three Pro Tours, just to have that competitive side,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen—never say never.”
For fans of the sport, the prospect of both Beaton and Lewis entering Q-School in January is an exciting one. Whether it leads to a late-career resurgence remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Beaton’s timeless throw and enduring charisma would be a welcome sight on the PDC circuit once again.
