Darting Drama Aplenty As Q School Concludes
Darting Drama Aplenty As Q School Concludes
Dom Taylor and Jeffrey de Graaf secured the final tour cards on offer as both UK and European Q School concluded in Milton Keynes and Kalkar, while a host of other names secured their spots through the Order of Merit at each venue.
The Tower Powers Through To Secure Tour Card
Dom ‘The Tower’ Taylor had already reached a final on Friday, losing out to Robert Grundy, that had put him among the qualification places via the Order of Merit going into today’s final day but the man from Bristol left nothing to chance.
Taylor, who reached a Players Championship semi final less than 3 months ago, started his day with a 6-4 win over Greg Ritchie before a 95 average saw him beat Thomas Lovely for the loss of a single leg.
Patrick Lynskey started the day on 3 points in the Order of Merit, as did Lovely, but Taylor put paid to his hopes in the next round with a 6-0 drubbing, again averaging 95.
Taylor’s place on tour for the next 2 years was as good as assured by the time he’d beaten Alan Norris in the last 16 by 6 legs to 4 before Tom Lonsdale was comfortably dispatched in the quarter finals 6-1.
The shackles were off in the semi finals as Taylor faced another player assured of their tour card in Matt Dennant, the ultra consistent Taylor clocking up yet another 95 average in a 6-4 win.
Ironically, Taylor’s worst performance of the day came in the final but it mattered little as he swept aside another player to have already qualified in Josh Richardson by 6 legs to 1.
Super Swede de Graaf Snatches Last Gasp Card
Sweden’s Jeffrey de Graaf claimed the final tour card on offer at European Q School on a dramatic final day in Kalkar.
De Graaf, who reached the third round at the 2024 PDC World Darts Championships less than a month ago, had endured a nightmare first three days, leaving himself with plenty to do on Sunday.
After a bye in the opening round, he opened up with a comfortable 6-1 win over Switzerland’s Felix Schiertz before beating Dutchman Jeroen Mioch in the last 32.
Eventual Order of Merit qualifier Lukas Wenig was beaten in the last 16 by 6 legs to 4 before Czech player Alexander Masek was defeated in the quarter finals by the same scoreline.
Another Order of Merit qualifier Thibault Tricole stood between de Graaf and a final place, the Swede making light work of the former Lakeside finalist, easing past the Frenchman without losing a leg.
Jitse Van der Wal was the man waiting in the final, himself having already qualified through the Order of Merit. After de Graaf’s performances of the first 3 days, only a win was enough, defeat would see Van de Wal’s compatriot Damian Mol take the final Order of Merit place.
The final went with throw up until the deciding leg, de Graaf capitalising on Van de Wal’s inability to find a big treble in his opening four visits to break throw, leaving himself 36 after 15 darts before checking out in 19 to secure his spot on tour.
UK Order of Merit
At the start of play, although there was no automatic qualifiers through the Order of Merit, players such as James Hurrell, Willie Borland, Matt Dennant and George Killington all looked to have all but secured their spots and so it proved, Dennant ended top of the standings after getting to the semi finals.
Other players to secure their cards were Josh Richardson, American Danny Lauby, Rhys Griffin of Wales, Brett Claydon, Scotland’s Darren Beveridge and Adam Hunt, who squeezed out former World Championship quarter finalist Darren Webster on leg difference.
‘Queen of the Palace’ Fallon Sherrock was among those to miss out on their card, as was Connor Scutt, Jim McEwan, Alex Spellman and former World Youth Champion Ted Evetts.
Final UK Order of Merit Standings
European Order of Merit
Haupai Puha and Jules van Dongen had already qualified prior to today’s action while Radek Szaganski confirmed his spot by withdrawing from play.
Another player to get his card back at the first time of asking along with Szaganski was Belgium’s Mario Vandenbogaerde while recent WDF World finalist Chris Landman secured his card for the first time.
Italy will have their first ever tour card holder in the form Michele Turreta, a final day run to the semi finals enough to guarantee his place.
Other players to secure their cards were Patrick Geeraets, Jitse Van der Wal, Paul Krohne, Denmark’s Benjamin Drue Reus, Lukas Wenig, Thibault Tricole and Tim Wolters.
Among those to miss out were much fancied Wesley Plaisier, Darius Labanauskas, former Lakeside champion Christian Kist, Ron Meulenkamp, Danny Jansen and Max Hopp.
