Simon Adams became the fifteenth* international qualifier as he sealed his qualification for the 2023/24 Paddy Power World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace this December.
Adams stormed through the African Qualifier in Kenilworth, Cape Town and the 57-player qualifier last Sunday, whitewashing his compatriot Stefan Vermaak 8-0 with a 93.94 average to confirm his Alexandra Palace debut.
The 56-year-old raced into a 3-0 lead with legs of 16, 16 and 13 darts, before extending his cushion with a clinical 69 checkout in leg four.
Vermaak had no answer to Adams’ consistency, and the veteran thrower won two of the last three legs in 14 darts to cap off a terrific performance.
However, Adams’ route to qualification was anything but serene, after he survived multiple match darts in earlier wins against Kenyan duo Evan Wambui and Benson Ngari.
Adams fought back from 5-3 down to deny Wambui, who squandered a host of opportunities in the penultimate leg, before dodging three match darts in his quarter-final clash against Ngari.
The South African then won through another last-leg shoot-out against his fellow countryman Xander Faddel in the semi-finals, wrapping up victory with a stunning 141 checkout.
Adams joins the growing list of players from around the world who will feature in the 2023/24 World Darts Championship, with 15 international qualifiers already assured of their spots in this year’s showpiece.
October and November will see the final knockout events taking place around the globe, as players battle for places in the sport’s flagship event.
(* Beau Greaves has intimated that she will opt to defend her lakeside toitle rather than appear at Ally Pally. Thus a change or replacement will be needed)
The PDC Asian Championship winner and runner-up, along with the leading non-qualified Japanese player, will qualify at the conclusion of the second staging of October’s tournament, which will take place in Japan.
October will also see the winners of the DartPlayers New Zealand Top 16 Play-Off, DPA Oceanic Masters, Indian Qualifier and Championship Darts Latin America & Caribbean Tour secure places in the capital.
Two places apiece are up for grabs on the Winmau Challenge Tour and Women’s Series circuits, while the winner of the Winmau World Youth Championship final will also be heading to London in December.
The winner of the PDC Europe Super League will book their spot at Alexandra Palace, with qualifiers in West and East Europe also set to take place in November.
The final places in the World Darts Championship will available at the PDC Tour Card Holder Qualifier on November 27, which will be held at the Barnsley Metrodome.
The 32 International Representatives will be joined by 32 PDC ProTour Order of Merit Qualifiers in the first round, while the top 32 players on the PDC Order of Merit will enter the tournament in round two.
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
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