Dutchman Martijn Dragt secured a two-year Tour Card for the first time in his career and Irish thrower Steve Lennon regained his PDC Tour Card on Thursday, after the pair came through their respective Q School fields with the Final Stage commencing in Kalkar, Germany and Milton Keynes in the UK.
The opening three days of Qualifying School saw players battle it out in Stage One to secure spots into the Final Stage, with 48 automatic places given out, 24 in each field, with the remaining spots going to players via their respective Order of Merit’s, which was built up on winning games and picking up points.
European Q School
Dragt sealed his two-year PDC Tour Card after coming through six matches on route to the final, as he recorded victories against Jesus Noguera, Marcel Junk, Liam Maendl-Lawrance, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, Lukas Wenig and Mario Vandenbogaerde, to set up a clash with fellow compatriot, Chris Landman.
The final began with Landman racing into a 2-0 lead, before Dragt fort back by hitting back-to-back 18 dart legs to square the tie up at 2apiece. Landman charged back in front by rattling off three consecutive legs in 17, 15 and 21 darts respectively to move 5-2 ahead and within one of victory. Dragt fort back once again and this time by winning four successive legs, which saw the Dutchman seal the victory in the 11th and deciding leg in 17 darts to win a Tour Card for the first time.
Landman’s run to the final saw him record victories against Danny Jansen, Vladimir Andersen, Ron Meulenkamp, Laurens Admiraal, Darius Labanauskas and Christian Kist, before being denied by Dragt, as he sits top of the European Order of Merit on 5 points and looks to pick up a two-year Tour Card for the first time in his career.
UK Q School
Former World Cup of Darts Finalist, Steve Lennon, who narrowly lost his Tour Card following teenage sensation Luke Littler’s heroics at the most recent PDC World Championship, returned to Qualifying School for the first time since 2017 and reached the final firstly by recording victories against Leighton Bennett, Shaun Wilkinson, Brett Claydon, Matthew Dennant, Justin Hood and George Killington, to set up a clash with Scotsman William Borland.
Nothing separated the pair throughout the final with eight straight holds of throw, ending with Lennon breaking Borland’s throw in Leg Nine with a 13 darter to move 5-4 ahead and within one of victory. ‘Scuba Steve’ sealed the victory in the following leg with a 16 darter and a 6-4 success to win back his Tour Card at the first time of asking.
Borland, who narrowly secured his place into the Final Stage through Stage One due to Legs won across the three days of play, reached the final by recording victories against Darren Beveridge, Bradley Brooks, Nick Fullwell, James Hurrell, Patrick Lynskey and Andy Boulton, before losing out against Lennon.
However, the Scotsman sits top of the UK Order of Merit on 5 points from the opening day with 10 Tour Card spots available come the conclusion of the Final Stage.
PDC Qualifying School continues on Friday, in the UK and in Europe, as Day Two of the Final Stage takes place, with one automatic Tour Card up for grabs at each Q School. Play will commence at 13:00 CET in Europe and 12:00 GMT in the UK. All live scores and results can be viewed at tv.dartconnect.com
UK Qualifying School Final Stage
(Day One)
Thursday 11th January
Quarter Finals
Steve Lennon 6-3 Justin Hood
George Killington 6-3 Shane McGuirk
William Borland 6-1 Patrick Lynskey
Andy Boulton 6-5 Cam Crabtree
Semi Finals
Steve Lennon 6-2 George Killington
William Borland 6-2 Andy Boulton
Final
Steve Lennon 6-4 William Borland
European Qualifying School Final Stage
(Day One)
Quarter Finals
Chris Landman 6-2 Darius Labanauskas
Christian Kist 6-5 Tomas Houdek
Martijn Dragt 6-5 Lukas Wenig
Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-1 Wesley Plaisier
Semi Finals
Chris Landman 6-3 Christian Kist
Martijn Dragt 6-5 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Final
Martijn Dragt 6-5 Chris Landman
—–Ends—–
Images: PDC
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