ONE player who is loving life on the PDC circuit right now is Joe Hunt, who is effectively thriving in what could be described as having the best of all darts worlds.
The Portsmouth man is riding high at the top of the PDC Challenge Tour thanks to his breath-taking performances so far this year. A trio of titles and a string of dynamic displays propelled him to the summit early on, and he has remained there ever since.
DARTS PLAYER MERCHANDISE AND COLLECTABLES AT OUR DARTSWORLD STORE!
Of course, leading the Challenge Tour Order of Merit all but guarantees a call-up to the PDC Pro Tour, given that at least one Tour Card holder tends to withdraw from any given event. Hunt has taken full advantage of every opportunity presented to him, becoming an ever-present when called upon this season.
So, the question arises – is Joe Hunt actually in a better position without professional status right now? For him, the answer appears to be a resounding yes. This year alone, the Hampshire hotshot has accumulated close to £13,000 in Challenge Tour earnings. Add to that his £23,250 from some impressive Pro Tour runs, and it amounts to a substantial return – particularly considering we are only just into May.
Here is where the situation becomes even more intriguing. Without a Tour Card, Hunt retains access to multiple additional earning avenues. Alongside the WDF and ADC circuits, there is also the MODUS Super Series, as well as regular local Vault events – time permitting, of course.
MORE ELITE DARTS COVERAGE: Check Out Our Devoted PDC Area
Naturally, the 33-year-old would relish the opportunity to secure a Tour Card, granting automatic entry to the Pro Tour and access to European qualifiers. However, should that happen – and early signs suggest he may not need the drama of Q-School – many of those additional opportunities would immediately disappear.
You could argue that a player of Hunt’s calibre currently finds himself in an ideal position. He is benefiting from Pro Tour exposure through withdrawals, while still enjoying the flexibility and financial advantages of the wider darts landscape. Plenty of others have received the same or similar number of call-ups, but none have capitalised as effectively.
Is Being On Dart’s Cusp The Best Place to Be?
It raises an interesting debate. If you are not among the world’s top 32, or realistically unlikely to break into that bracket, is Hunt’s current situation actually the most lucrative path?
For those chasing life-changing sums and the full spectacle of the professional game, holding a Tour Card remains essential. Yet the reality is unforgiving – many players fail to retain their status beyond the initial two-year period. Even recent classes have seen limited numbers survive, with only a handful managing to maintain their footing. Case in point, only a few both the UK and European Class of 2024 hung on to their professional status. James Hurrell, Jeffrey De Graaf and Thibault Tricole. And it was only by virtue of Dom Taylor’s misdemeanours that Super Mario kept his into 2026.
There is a fair claim to be made on both sides. Is it better to hover near the top of the Challenge Tour, with regular Pro Tour opportunities and multiple income streams? Or to commit fully with a Tour Card, placing all your eggs in one basket and hoping to endure?
It is quite the dilemma. But for now, Joe Hunt appears perfectly content with the boat he is sailing in.
—–ENDS—–
Images:
