Results from the first stage of the PDC Qualifying Schools from January 8-10, where over 850 players battled it out for the chance to compete for a Tour Card.
Over 850 players competed in the 2024 PDC Qualifying Schools at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes and the Wunderland in Kalkar from January 8-14, with 30 Tour Cards on offer for players to secure a spot on the PDC circuit.
Have you ever wondered how much money professional darts player can earn and whether the top stars are really enjoying a millionaire life of luxury? Paul Nicholson joins Sporting Life's Chris Hammer and Dom Newton to lift the lid on the realities of playing for your livelihood and it's not quite as lucrative as you may think.
Of the 850+ players who have entered Q School, only 128 at each venue progressed to the Final Stage from January 11-14.
However, a total of 27 players were already exempt to the Final Stage at UK Qualifying School, with 21 players exempt to the Final Stage of European Q School. Players exempt included those who lost their Tour Cards at the end of 2023, along with a series of stars from the 2023 Challenge and Development Tour Orders of Merit.
Bigger names entering the field at this stage were Fallon Sherrock, John Part, Kevin Painter, Andy Hamilton, Mark Dudbridge and newly crowned WDF Champion Andy Baetens, while former World Youth Champion Max Hopp was joined by Jelle Klaasen in the first stage in Germany.
The last eight players standing at the end of each day progressed to the Final Stage, with all further places going to players from a First Stage Order of Merit in each region, with one ranking point awarded per match from the first full round (where there are no byes) onwards.
Any ties in the respective Q School Orders of Merit were split as follows based on all match results: Leg Difference, Legs Won, then DartConnect average. If players could still not be split, a play-off would be organised.
Leading pundit and former major winner Paul Nicholson joins host Dom Newton and Sporting Life's darts expert Chris Hammer to discuss the 'darting pyramid', the importance of averages, how to crack Q School and other factors such as choosing sponsors, nicknames and walk-on music.
UK Qualifying School
Click here to view match stats from UK Q School Day One
European Qualifying School
Click here to view match stats from European Q School Day One
UK Qualifying School
Click here to view match stats from UK Q School Day Two
European Qualifying School
Click here to view match stats from European Q School Day Two
UK Qualifying School
Click here to view match stats from UK Q School Day Three
European Qualifying School
Click here to view match stats from European Q School Day Three
A total of 31 PDC Tour Cards will be on offer in Final Stage from January 11-14, with each of the daily winners in the UK and Europe receiving an automatic Tour Card. In addition to the daily Tour Card winners, a further 23 Tour Cards will be awarded on a pro-rata basis to players from the respective UK/European Qualifying School Final Stage Orders of Merit following Day Four.
Matches in the Final Stage will be contested over the best of 11 legs.
Players already exempt:
UK Qualifying School
John Henderson
Andy Boulton
Dom Taylor
James Hurrell
Darryl Pilgrim
Robert Grundy
Scott Mitchell
Conan Whitehead
Bradley Brooks
Cam Crabtree
Jarred Cole
Connor Scutt
Scott Waites
Richie Burnett
John O'Shea
Ted Evetts
Lewis Williams
Joe Murnan
James Wilson
Ross Montgomery
Darren Webster
Shaun Wilkinson
Devon Petersen
Kevin Burness
Nick Fullwell
Steve Lennon
George Killington
European Qualifying School
Dragutin Horvat
Thibault Tricole
Chris Landman
Wesley Plaisier
Christian Kist
Sebastian Bialecki
Dominik Gruellich
Bradly Roes
Christopher Toonders
Vladimir Andersen
Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Mario Vandenbogaerde
Radek Szaganski
Danny Jansen
Darius Labanauskas
Jules van Dongen
Krzysztof Kciuk
Brian Raman
Jimmy Hendriks
Jose Justicia
Damian Mol