Darts

A Five-Time World Champion and the 2008 World Finalist: The Darts Players Who Have Won Their PDC Tour Card

Hundreds of players entered the PDC Qualifying School in the hope of winning a Tour Card that would see them secure a place on the professional circuit for the next two years.

However, there were only 29 spaces available and here are some of the players who came through Q-School with flying colours.

Raymond van Barneveld

A year ago, Raymond van Barneveld announced that he was retiring from darts. He had a glittering career, winning five world titles, two UK Opens’ and a Premier League.

However after 12 months of not being on the oche, ‘Barney’ attended Q-School in an attempt to win back his Tour Card so he could be back on the Professional circuit.

He comfortably secured his Tour Card in Niedernhausen with nine ranking points and he will make a return to our television screens for the UK Open next month.

Despite all of his success in the game, van Barneveld described winning his his place on the Pro Tour as his “greatest achievement.”

Kirk Shepherd

2008 World Finalist Kirk Shepherd became the first player to win a Tour Card in Milton Keynes, becoming an automatic qualifier after beating Jack Main 6-1 on Sunday.

The man from Swindon made the World Championship Final aged just 21, but his career hasn’t really kicked on since. Ranked number 93 in the world, Shephard also won his Tour Card last year, but only managed to reach the second round of the UK Open in his only major televised tournament appearance of the year.

Danny Baggish

American Danny Baggish was reduced to tears when he won his Tour Card. A place on the Pro Tour looked unlikely for Baggish as he started the last day of action on zero ranking points, but he finished with five, qualifying thanks to a superior leg difference compared to other players. ‘The Gambler’ has never won a Tour Card before.

Baggish went into the final knowing that he only needed to win one leg to secure his Tour Card, and he managed to get two legs on the board.

He impressed at this years World Championship’s, beating Damon Heta and two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis before narrowly losing out to reigning Premier League Champion Glen Durrant in the third round.

Scott Mitchell

Former Lakeside Champion Scott Mitchell is another player who almost came out of nowhere to win his first ever PDC Tour Card. ‘Scotty Dog’ was a big success in the BDO, but he started the day with just one ranking point, before beating Baggish 6-2 in the final to become an automatic qualifier.

Aged 50, Mitchell admitted that he was in tears when he realised that he’d be stepping onto the professional circuit for the first time.

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