Lauby & Bellmont Advance Through Q School Day One

American Danny Lauby and Swiss World Cup of Darts player Stefan Bellmont were among the names to advance to the final stage as Q School got underway in Milton Keynes and Kalkar, Germany.

UK Q School

Recent WDF quarter finalist Lauby was perhaps the highest profile name to make it through the first day of action at the Marshall Arena, seeing off Chas Barstow and Harry Gregory in his first two matches with mid 90s averages, losing just two legs in the process.

He stepped that up to 102.41 when beating Scotland’s Sean Ryan 5-1 before a whitewash of Peter Burgoyne put him through to the last 16. Welshman Kevin Thomas was his opponent there, Lauby racing into a 4-1 lead before being pegged back and eventually getting over the line in the deciding leg.

Wale’s Mike Warburton also made it through, his whitewash victory over Keelan Kay in the last 16 securing his passage through while Matthew Dennant steadily improved over the course of the day, a victory over Justin Hood making sure he’ll be playing the Final Stage later this week.

Other qualifiers from Milton Keynes today were Adam Hunt, Llew Bevan, Harry Lane, Kieron Bridgwater and Patrick Lynskey.

Euro Q School

There was a truly international flavour on day one of Euro Q School with players from five different nations making it through to the Final Stage.

Switzerland’s Stefan Bellmont featured on the European Tour a couple of times during 2023 and he showed his pedigree, losing just 11 legs across his six matches to advance at the first time of asking.

Lesser known countryman Felix Schiertz can consider himself a somewhat fortunate to make it through, averaging above 80 just once in his six matches but still making it through.

Czech duo Filip Sebesta and Vitezslav Sedlak advanced as did Germany’s Arno Merk and Matthias Ehlers. Belgium’s Stefaan Henderyck beat John Michael in the last 16 to secure his place in the final stage while Sweden’s Anton Ostlund was the final name to advance.

Best of the Rest

Former world champion John Part beat Martin Grearson before losing to Alec Small of Wales. Fallon Sherrock got a couple of wins before going out at the last 64 stage. Similar days should see her advance to the final stage.

Robert Thornton lost his first game of the day, leaving him with work to do while Jim McEwan lost in the last 16 to Keiron Bridgwater but that performance alone could see him make the final stage.

In Europe, Max Hopp was impressive in his first couple of matches before losing in the last 64 to compatriot Moritz Hilger.

Despite reaching the last 32 at the World Championships, Jeffrey de Graaf experienced defeat in his first match today and will be looking to put that right over the next couple of days.

WDF world champion Andy Baetens, much fancied to pick up his card this week, won his first match before losing to Vitezslav Sedlak while Ron Meulenkamp carried on his decent form from last week’s Modus Super Series as he reached the last 32 which puts him in a solid position for the rest of the week.

Results

UK Qualifying School

First Stage Day One

Last 16

Llew Bevan 5-3 Jim Moston

Harry Lane 5-2 Daniel Astbury

Mike Warburton 5-0 Keelan Kay

Adam Hunt 5-2 Lee Williams

Kieron Bridgwater 5-3 Jim McEwan

Danny Lauby 5-4 Kevin Thomas

Matthew Dennant 5-3 Justin Hood

Patrick Lynskey 5-4 Kevin Leadenham

European Qualifying School

First Stage Day One

Last 16

Stefan Bellmont 5-3 Christian Goedl

Felix Schiertz 5-3 Moritz Hilger

Stefaan Henderyck 5-4 John Michael

Filip Sebesta 5-2 Jani Keskinarkaus

Vitezslav Sedlak 5-4 Jeffrey Bekema

Arno Merk 5-4 Gilbert van der Meijden

Matthias Ehlers 5-2 Patrick Tringler

Anton Ostlund 5-3 Oliver Mueller (Frankfurt)