PDC Darts Q School results: Raymond wins a Tour Card just 14 months after retiring

• Barney tribute and highlights

The five-time World Champion entered Qualifying School this year after reversing his decision to retire only 12 months after he had initially brought his glittering career to an end.

The Dutchman won through from First Stage at Qualifying School last week, and accumulated enough ranking points to secure his 2021/2022 PDC Tour Card at Final Stage.

His bid to complete Qualifying School with victory on Day Four was ended by Niels Zonneveld in Wednesday's quarter-finals, but the Dutchman was proud of his achievement in winning back his Tour Card.

Van Barneveld is expected to make his return on the PDC ProTour next week at the Super Series in Bolton, and will then compete in the Ladbrokes UK Open from March 5-7 in Milton Keynes - an event he won in 2006 and 2007.

"I'm feeling really happy," said the 53-year-old, who had initially retired in December 2019 but has been practising alongside stablemate Jeffrey de Zwaan since announcing his comeback in October.

"I was so desperate to do well today, because I had a bad run yesterday losing [in] the first round.

"I was really nervous, but when I won the second game against Benito van de Pas, it was [such] relief, that one single point.

"I accomplished that and I feel renewed and I feel really good now to be back on the tour, and hopefully next week I can show the world again what Raymond van Barneveld can do.

"I got a chance to put myself back on the map, thanks to my management, my team and my sponsors. We worked hard every single day, and I think because of that I got a Tour Card.

"I wanted to win the day of course, to be a winner, but there is a system to be number one, two, three or eight on the rankings and I accomplished that.

"I've played so many tournaments in my life, this was really the hardest part of my life ever.

"There were so many good names, amazing players and I was focusing on winning on the day, but that's really hard - winning seven games on the spin, you must be a really good player to do this.

"I was hoping to do that today because I was feeling really good, but I'm still happy to be back on the ProTour."

Van Barneveld's glittering career had come to a shuddering stop when he lost to Darin Young in the first round on his farewell at the World Championship just over a year ago - and he admits his aim is to erase those memories.

"The first target of this year was getting the Tour Card back, and then I want to qualify for the World Championship by the end of the year," he added. "That's my goal.

"I'm really desperate to work even harder right now and my sponsors, my management and my coach deserve that because of all the effort they put in.

"I'm a winner and I'm going to show them that they did the right thing, and I'm going to prove that I'm going to do well in the next year."

Elsewhere, Boris Koltsov created history as the first Russian player to win a PDC Tour Card after emerging triumphant in Niedernhausen, while Scott Mitchell won the automatic card available in the UK.

Koltsov has qualified for four World Championships since 2014 and also competed five times in the World Cup of Darts during his emergence in the sport.

The 32-year-old had already earned his Tour Card with his progression through Wednesday's event, which included wins over Michael Rasztovits, Michael Unterbuchner and Adam Gawlas as he reached the final.

He then defeated Niels Zonneveld 6-4 to take victory on Day Four and seal his progression onto the professional circuit in style.

"I was very nervous before this day, and now I'm feeling fantastic," said Koltsov, who dedicated his success to his father, who passed away last November.

"I had seven points but I was not through and you need to play [to] the last darts. That's why I won today, because after the first two or three games I was feeling free and I got to the final and won."

Dutchman Zonneveld, Germany's Unterbuchner and Czech Republic ace Gawlas - a former World Youth Championship finalist - also secured their place on the PDC circuit amongst the eight players to win a Tour Card from the Order of Merit in Niedernhausen.

Martin Schindler landed a nine-darter during his last 16 tie with Van Barneveld, although the German star had already secured his immediate return to the circuit after losing his Tour Card at the end of 2020.

Austria's Zoran Lerchbacher, Greece's John Michael and Germany's Robert Marijanovic were the other players to secure a Tour Card in Europe - with Austrian brothers Rowby-John and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez just missing out despite reaching the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

The race for Tour Cards in the UK Qualifying School, where 13 were on offer from the Order of Merit in addition to the day's winner securing professional status, also went down to the wire - as Danny Baggish dramatically sealed his spot on the ProTour alongside eventual victor Scott Mitchell.

Baggish had entered Day Four without a point after the opening three days, but repeated his miraculous form under pressure - having come through First Stage on Day Three - to claim a Tour Card.

He needed just one leg in the final against Mitchell, which he took to level at one-all before the former Lakeside Champion pulled away to claim a 6-2 win to celebrate his spot on the PDC circuit in style.

Former Lakeside Champion Mitchell had begun the final day of action with just one ranking point, but saw off Alan Norris, Gary Butcher, Graham Usher, Shaun McDonald, Carl Wilkinson and Andrew Gilding in his run to the final.

"It's massive, honestly," said Mitchell, 50. "I'm a farmer's kid from this little village in the New Forest - this isn't normal for us!

"They know me as Scotty the tractor driver, and I just keep trying to be me. I'm just so pleased - today I've been in tears."

Baggish won the PDC's North American Championship in Las Vegas in 2019 and has competed in the past two World Championships, and the Florida ace will now step onto the professional circuit.

The Florida ace admitted that he only realised after the final that he had secured his Tour Card, conceding: "I put so much pressure on myself, I felt like I had to win it.

"I wear my emotions on my shoulder, it's unbelievable - a dream come true. I'm a professional dart player. I've always thought that was always well, and as long as I could get my doubles in check I could compete with anyone.

"I believe it in myself and it's only the start. The first step is done. I'm looking to compete with the best and I can't wait to make it happen."

Gilding, a former UK Open semi-finalist, and Peter Hudson secured their Tour Cards with runs to the semi-finals on Wednesday, while Eddie Lovely's quarter-final finish was enough to seal his spot on the PDC ProTour.

Australia's Gordon Mathers, who first arrived in the UK in November ahead of his World Championship appearance, made his stay worthwhile by securing his Tour Card for the first time.

John Brown, a 21-year-old from Bristol, joins father Steve on the professional circuit after he claimed the 12th spot in the rankings, while Brett Claydon, Jonathan Worsley, Joe Murnan and Alan Soutar also secured their Tour Cards on Wednesday.

Jack Main, Martin Lukeman and Lewis Williams were the other Tour Card winners, having already secured their progression after three days of action at Milton Keynes' Marshall Arena.

European Qualifying School Final Stage Day Four

For all the results and detailed stats from day one of European Qualifying School Final Stage, head to Dart Connect (tv.dartconnect.com/events/pdc)

Last 16

• Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-1 Kenny Neyens
• Adam Gawlas 6-3 Owen Roelofs
• Boris Koltsov 6-4 Michael Rasztovits
• Michael Unterbuchner 6-3 Stefan Nilles
• Niels Zonneveld 6-3 Patrick Bulen
• Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Martin Schindler
• Robert Marijanovic 6-5 Lukas Wenig
• Rusty-Jake Rodriguez 6-5 Christian Kist

Quarter-Finals

• Adam Gawlas 6-2 Rowby-John Rodriguez
• Boris Koltsov 6-5 Michael Unterbuchner
• Niels Zonneveld 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
• Robert Marijanovic 6-3 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez

Semi-Finals

• Boris Koltsov 6-2 Adam Gawlas
• Niels Zonneveld 6-4 Robert Marijanovic

Final

• Boris Koltsov 6-4 Niels Zonneveld

UK Qualifying School Final Stage Day Four

Last 16 onwards. For all the results and detailed stats from day one of UK Qualifying School Final Stage, head to Dart Connect (tv.dartconnect.com/events/pdc)

Last 16

• Eddie Lovely 6-2 Sam Cankett
• Peter Hudson 6-5 Kevin McDine
• Shane McGuirk 6-5 Liam Meek
• Danny Baggish 6-2 Matt Jackson
• Scott Mitchell 6-2 Shaun McDonald
• Carl Wilkinson 6-4 Jim Williams
• Andrew Gilding 6-2 Jamie Clark
• Mark Dudbridge 6-4 Kevin Garcia

Quarter-Finals

• Peter Hudson 6-3 Eddie Lovely
• Danny Baggish 6-5 Shane McGuirk
• Scott Mitchell 6-3 Carl Wilkinson
• Andrew Gilding 6-3 Mark Dudbridge

Semi-Finals

• Danny Baggish 6-2 Peter Hudson
• Scott Mitchell 6-4 Andrew Gilding

Final

• Scott Mitchell 6-2 Danny Baggish

Raymond van Barneveld honours

• Career TV Titles: 26
• Non-TV Titles: 15
• Televised Nine-Darters: 5

PDC Televised Titles

• 2006, 2007 UK Open
• 2007 World Championship
• 2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic
• 2012 Grand Slam of Darts
• 2014 Premier League
• 2010, 2014, 2017, 2018 World Cup of Darts

Further Major Titles

• 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005 Lakeside Championship
• 2001, 2005 World Masters
• 1995, 2001, 2003, 2004 Zuiderduin Masters
• 2003, 2004 World Darts Trophy
• 2003, 2004, 2006 International Darts League
• 2007 Masters of Darts

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