FLORIAN Hempel, Darren Webster, Boris Krcmar and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez claimed the last four places in the 2023/24 Paddy Power World Darts Championship in Monday’s Tour Card Holder Qualifier in Barnsley.
Monday’s qualifier at the Barnsley Metrodome offered a last chance for PDC Tour Card Holders to book their place in the sport’s showpiece event, which will take place at London’s Alexandra Palace from December 15 to January 3.
German star Hempel will make his third consecutive World Darts Championship appearance next month, after posting a ton-plus average to deny Alan Soutar in their qualification shoot-out.
Former handball star Hempel survived multiple match darts in his opening round win over Luc Peters, before averaging 98 to dispatch Czech star Karel Sedlacek.
The 33-year-old then overcame former World Youth Champion Ted Evetts to set up a showdown against Soutar, where he converted 68, 78, 82, 84 and 100 combinations to triumph with a 100.69 average.
Two-time quarter-finalist Webster will make his 11th World Championship appearance – and his first since 2020 – after overcoming Germany’s Daniel Klose 7-5 in the final round of qualifying.
The 55-year-old kicked off proceedings with 6-4 wins against Dutch duo Maik Kuivenhoven and Martijn Kleermaker, before following up a 6-2 rout of Darius Labanauskas with a narrow win over Klose.
Croatian number one Krcmar will feature in his fifth World Championship next month, after producing a stunning 124 checkout to deny Pascal Rupprecht in a dramatic last-leg shoot-out.
Krcmar won through a trio of deciding-leg ties throughout the afternoon, edging out Adam Smith-Neale and Bradley Brooks, while also accounting for Belgium’s Ronny Huybrechts.
Elsewhere, Austrian youngster Rodriguez produced an inspired display to book his Alexandra Palace return, averaging 106.82 in his decisive clash against George Killington.
The 22-year-old kicked off Monday’s action with victory against 2011 World Youth Champion Arron Monk, before dumping out his veteran compatriot Mensur Suljovic in round two.
Rodriguez – a winner of seven Winmau Development Tour titles – also saw off Josh Payne, and then registered legs of 13, 12, 15, 17, 15, 14 and 11 darts to demolish Killington in the last eight.
However, a number of high-profile names suffered defeat in Monday’s qualifier, including former World Championship semi-finalist Mervyn King and Dutch stalwart Vincent van der Voort.
Former Lakeside Championship winners Scott Waites and Richie Burnett also failed to qualify, alongside Suljovic and his World Cup partner Rowby-John Rodriguez.
North American Champion Jeff Smith and South African star Devon Petersen also missed out, while Scotland’s Soutar will be the highest-ranked absentee in this year’s World Darts Championship.
The draw for the Paddy Power World Darts Championship will be made at approximately 1630 GMT on Monday November 27, live on Sky Sports News in the UK, and live through the PDC’s Facebook page.
Paddy Power World Darts Championship Tour Card Holder Qualifier
Barnsley Metrodome
Monday November 27
Last 16
Alan Soutar 6-4 Richie Burnett
Florian Hempel 6-4 Ted Evetts
Darren Webster 6-2 Darius Labanauskas
Daniel Klose 6-2 Jimmy Hendriks
Pascal Rupprecht 6-4 Nick Kenny
Boris Krcmar 6-5 Bradley Brooks
George Killington 6-3 Jeffrey Sparidaans
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 6-3 Josh Payne
Last Eight
Florian Hempel 7-5 Alan Soutar
Darren Webster 7-5 Daniel Klose
Boris Krcmar 7-6 Pascal Rupprecht
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 7-1 George Killington
—–ENDS—–
Image: PDC
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