The final stage of the 2022 edition of Q-School gets underway today, with 257 players spilt across two regions to determine the final 32 Tour Card holders for the 2022 season.
The first stage saw over 650 players arrive in Milton Keynes and Niedernhausen, where the quarter finalists qualified automatically to the next stage and the rest of the places being decided via an Order of Merit.
With the field being narrowed down so dramatically, the players who have made it this far will feel they have every chance of joining the tour next year.
Let’s highlight some of the players to watch out for.
Fallon Sherrock
Arguably the name on every darts fans lips at the moment is Fallon Sherrock. The ‘Queen of the Palace’ failed to replicate her magical run in the World Championship two years ago, losing in the first round to Steve Beaton. She is hoping to take the next step in her development by becoming the second woman to win a PDC Tour Card.
Sherrock struggled in her first two days of the first stage, going out in the first round despite playing well, but she managed to put a spectacular run together on Tuesday which culminated in beating former World Championship quarter finalist Wes Newton to secure her spot in the final stage, averaging 96.03 in the process.
Having already had a taste of the big stage via the Grand Slam back in November and reaching the Nordic Darts Masters final, Sherrock will feel the best way to improve her game is playing the best that the Tour has to offer on a regular basis.
However, you feel that will have to start now with the step up in quality as the final stage begins.
Former Tour Card holders
The final stage gets more intriguing with the addition of players who recently lost their Tour Card at the end of last year. Anyone who does instantly lose their place on the Tour is exempt from the first stage. In the UK Q-School, former BDO World Champion Scott Waites stands out alongside former PDC World finalist Andy Hamilton. Meanwhile Lisa Ashton, who became the first woman to win a Tour Card two years ago, must try to win hers back after failing to finish inside the top 64 in the Order of Merit. Recently crowned World Youth Champion Ted Evetts is also in action.
Over in Germany, former World Champion Jelle Klaasen has lost his Tour Card for the first time since joining the PDC from the BDO in 2007, but will be one of the favourites to win it straight back. Rowby-John Rodriguez showed good signs at the Grand Slam in November by reaching the last 16, while Cristo Reyes will be keen to make up for all the events he missed during the pandemic, which saw him plummet down the rankings.
Youth talent breaking through
The standard in the PDC has increased over the years, and the young players that join are keeping pace as well. With examples such as Keane Barry and Bradley ‘Bam Bam’ Brooks, it shows there is a clear pathway from the Development Tour to the Pro Tour.
16-year-old Leighton Bennett is the youngest player at this year’s Q-School. The former BDO Youth Champion has been earmarked by Phil Taylor in recent years and shows no fear on the big stage. Nathan Rafferty is another young talent to keep an eye on. He was beaten by Evetts in the aforementioned World Youth Final in November and played some good stuff on the Challenge Tour last year.
It’s no secret that the PDC Q-School can be a slog. Every player will have to be on their game if they are to have a chance of joining the elite on the PDC Pro Tour in 2022.
