The World Darts Championships in PDC and BDO have ended and we are already looking forward to the next darts event. Q School starts on Wednesday. Namely a qualifying tournament in the PDC to get a tour card. Dirk van Duijvenbode will have to go there again. He has not played well enough in the last 2 years to automatically renew his tour card and is therefore in danger of losing his professional status. In conversation with Sportnieuws.nl he is looking forward to Q School.

The Dutch darts player found himself in a difficult situation, just before the start of the Qualifying School in Hildesheim, Germany. “Of course I went there with the aim of getting another tour card. But on the other hand, it’s not the end of the world if I don’t succeed. I’ve worked weekend after weekend. last 5 to 6 years. playing darts. If I don’t get a tour card now, I can do something else.”

Strong competition
There’s a chance Van Duijvenbode won’t win a ticket to the tour. Strong players join us from BDO. But also the players we saw playing on television in recent years had to try again or do it for the first time. Darts players such as Tytus Kanik, Zoran Lerchbacher and Michael Unterbuchner also report to Hildesheim in the hunt for tour cards.

‘This won’t be easy’
“The field is stronger than in recent years,” said Van Duijvenbode. “It won’t be easy. I’m not in the best shape at the moment, but I hope I can score enough points through the rankings to get there.”

How does Q School work?
Q School is spread across 2 locations. Only darts players from continental Europe are allowed to throw at Hildesheim. In Wigan, England, only darts players from England, Ireland and Gibraltar are allowed to participate. Darts players from other continents can choose which Q School they attend. At English Q School, finalists for 4 days receive a tour card. In Hildesheim only winners every day. Additionally, remaining tour tickets will be distributed based on ranking. Points will be awarded on all 4 match days. The further you go in 1 day, the more points you get. The best players will then receive tour cards through the rankings. The PDC will announce this week how many tickets are available.

1 semifinal
“I think 1 good day and 2 fair days is enough to get a tour card. That means I’m targeting at least one day to reach the semi-finals. You’re relying on the draw, so I still dare to do that. no predictions can be made.”

Check out the PDC World Championship preview here that we recorded with Dirk van Duijvenbode in mid-December.