Gerwyn Price made headlines across the sporting world at the start of 2021 when he completed a meteoric rise by winning the PDC World Championship just seven years after first turning professional.
New world number one Price came through Qualifying School in 2014, where hundreds of players converge with one common aim, to win a place on the multi-million-pound PDC circuit.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, Q School will take place around a month later than normal this year, but two of Gloucestershire’s best county players, Andrew Poole and Harry Williams, are raring to go.
On his chances of success, 48-year-old Poole, from the Forest of Dean, said: “Realistically, I probably won’t win a Tour Card. I’ve certainly got the game. I know I can hit 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 darters, so if my game is there, I’m fully confident.
“There’s going to be another 600 people there, and the majority of them are a good standard, so who knows.”
In all, 665 players have entered Q School, split across the UK version in Milton Keynes and the European version in Niedernhausen, Germany.
Williams, also from the Forest of Dean, acknowledged how difficult this field will be to qualify from. He said: “It’s going to be tough, but it’s possible for anyone to get a win on their day.”
Amid the Covid-19 crisis, there have been some concerns over whether the PDC will be able to get the event up and running with all the restrictions.
On this, Poole said: “I think the PDC will follow as many rules as they can to get the event up and running. I’m sure we’ll have to have covid tests and get put in a bubble in the designated hotel.
“They’re going to be strict, so safety wise, I’ve got no qualms at all.”

Similarly, Williams added: “I’ve got mates that have already got Tour Cards and they’ve explained how good the PDC have been since having the covid restrictions with the testing and having everyone in the same hotel.”
Read more about one of the success stories of 2020 Q School:
Because of those restrictions, there have been a few changes to the format, with more established players receiving a bye through to the ‘Final Stage’ and everyone else playing in the ‘First Stage’.
That First Stage has been split into two blocks of three days to help with numbers, and Poole and Williams gave their thoughts on the decision that could lead to a more gruelling campaign for the duo.
Poole said: “It’s not even going for three or four days now, you’ve got to book a minimum of seven or eight days clear.
“I’m self-employed, so as much as I’ve got to work, I’ll work twice as hard to clear my time. I’ll be able to book the three or four days, and book again if I get through.”

Williams added: “I think it’s going to be hard for people to qualify through the new format. If you’re in that first three days, it’s going to be harder than usual to get a chance to qualify.
“Before, you just had four days in total so it’s a slightly different way of doing it.”
In the world of amateur darts, there has been a lot of change lately, with the demise of the BDO leading to the UKDA (United Kingdom Darts Association) taking over the running of the county scene.
Due to begin in September, Poole believes “Amateur darts has got a great future under the UKDA.”
Williams said: “I’m looking forward to the doing the weekends away again for county. You go to some good places and meet some nice people.
“It’s obviously tough circumstances for the UKDA but hopefully they can do what the BDO couldn’t.”