Josh Rock and Krzysztof Kciuk secured the final two automatic Tour Cards at their respective Q Schools on Saturday, with the remaining Tour Cards going to players via the Order of Merit, with Ted Evetts and Rowby-John Rodriguez amongst the names to do so, with the week’s action concluding in Milton Keynes and Niedernhausen.
UK Q School
Northern Ireland youngster, Josh Rock, who entered the final day with just 1 point on the Order of Merit from the three days of play, produced an incredible run as he reached the decider, by recording victories over Scott Williams, Ben Quenby, Jordan Brooks, Justin Smith, Daniel Day and Ted Evetts, to set up a clash with Nathan Rafferty.
The final began with the pair holding throw for the opening three legs, before Rock took advantage over his fellow Northern Irishman by breaking throw in leg four with a 14 darter to take a 3-1 lead, Rock then won back-to-back legs in 15 and 13 darts respectively, to move within one of victory, with Rafferty needing to win five on the spin to keep his hopes alive of winning an automatic Tour Card. Rafferty fought back in winning legs seven and eight, with Rock sealing victory in leg nine with a 12 darter to pick up a two-year Tour Card for the first time in his career.
Despite losing in the decider, Rafferty was amongst the names to secure a Tour Card via the Order of Merit, with himself, Connor Scutt, Cameron Menzies, John O’Shea and Shaun Wilkinson picking up cards for the first time in their careers. World Youth Champion Ted Evetts and Former World Champions in Richie Burnett and Scott Waites were amongst the names to win back their Tour Cards, alongside Kevin Burness, Mickey Mansell, George Killington and Nick Fullwell, with Jamie Clark having already secured his heading into Day Four.
European Q School
Poland’s Krzysztof Kciuk regained his PDC Tour Card having come through the final day in Niedernhausen, having only picked up 1 point from the opening three days. Kciuk secured his place in the decider, after recording victories over Maikel Mossou, Vladmir Anderson, Wouter Vaes, Roemer Mooijman, Christian Kist and Fabian Schmutzler, to set up a clash with Tony Martinez.
The final began with Martinez taking the opener in 18 darts, before Kciuk won three legs in a row to take a 3-1 lead over the Spaniard. Martinez pulled one back in leg five, before Kciuk hit back-to-back 13 darters to move within one of victory. Martinez did pick up leg eight in 24 darts, before Kciuk sealed the victory in the following leg to regain his Tour Card, having lost it at the end of 2021.
Despite defeat in the final, Tony Martinez secured a Tour Card for the first time, via the EU Order of Merit, as did Danny Jansen, Radek Szaganski, Damian Mol, Ricardo Pietreczko and Vladimir Anderson, as well as Mario Vandenbogaerde, Kevin Doets and Jules Van Donegan, who secured theirs after Day 3. Rowby-John Rodriguez and Jimmy Hendriks were the only players to come through the Order of Merit, that have owned Tour Cards before.
UK Q School Final Stage
Day 4
Quarter Finals
Ted Evetts 6-3 Mike Gillet
Josh Rock 6-4 Daniel Day
Nathan Rafferty 6-4 Shaun Wilkinson
Matthew Edgar 6-2 Diogo Portela
Semi Finals
Josh Rock 6-4 Ted Evetts
Nathan Rafferty 6-3 Matthew Edgar
Final
Josh Rock 6-3 Nathan Rafferty
European Q School Final Stage
Day 4
Quarter Finals
Krzysztof Kciuk 6-2 Christian Kist
Fabian Schmutzler 6-3 Ryan De Vreede
Dragutin Horvat 6-1 Radak Szaganski
Tony Martinez 6-2 Jimmy Hendriks
Semi Finals
Krzysztof Kciuk 6-1 Fabian Schmutzler
Tony Martinez 6-5 Dragutin Horvat
Final
Krzysztof Kciuk 6-3 Tony Martinez
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