The tension was palpable on Day 2 of the European Q-School Final Stage in Kalkar, where two coveted PDC Tour Cards were up for grabs. After a day filled with unexpected upsets and intense battles, it was Dutch talent Jeffrey Sparidaans and Spanish veteran Cristo Reyes who emerged victorious, securing their places on the professional darts circuit. Many established players faltered early, making way for new hopefuls and a dramatic conclusion to the day’s play.
The Battle for Tour Cards: Day 2 Unfolds
The second day of the four-day European Q-School Final Stage saw a full field of 128 players fiercely competing for two direct Tour Cards. The roster was slightly adjusted from Day 1, with Belgian Robbie Knops and Polish Sebastian Steyer joining the fray after qualifying through the First Stage ranking, adding fresh faces to an already competitive environment.
Early Exits and Shockwaves
Unlike the previous day, the first round didn’t see many top players facing each other directly, yet it was still a graveyard for several big names and hopefuls. Notable early exits included:
- Andreas Harrysson delivered a stunning 6-0 whitewash against Jelle Klaasen.
- Radek Szaganski impressed with a 6-1 victory over Matt Campbell.
- Belgian Brian Raman defeated American World Championship participant Adam Sevada 6-3.
However, the day quickly turned sour for others. Former European Tour winner Jose de Sousa, Dutch stalwarts Ron Meulenkamp, and the promising duo of Michael Verberk and Damian Mol (both reaching the last eight on Day 1) all crashed out in their opening matches. Even Jeffrey de Zwaan, a losing finalist on Day 1, couldn’t advance past the first hurdle. In a tough day for the Dutch contingent, only 20 out of 43 players managed to survive the initial round.
Rising Stars and Further Upsets
The surprises continued into the second round, as more prominent names were eliminated. This included Jamai van den Herik, Brian Raman, Croatian powerhouse Boris Krcmar, the impressive Andreas Harrysson, and Jitse van der Wal. These upsets opened the door for less-fancied players to make deep runs. By the quarter-final stage, three Dutch players remained, but for Jurjan van der Velde and Alexander Merkx, their journey ended there. Van der Velde was overcome by the consistently strong Spanish thrower Cristo Reyes, while Merkx succumbed to the equally in-form Italian Michele Turetta.
The Road to Glory: Semi-Finals and Finals
The climax of the day saw two decisive battles for the direct Tour Cards:
Semi-Final Results:
- Michele Turetta 6-3 Alexander Merkx
- Jeffrey Sparidaans 6-5 Adam Gawlas
- Cristo Reyes 6-3 Jurjen van der Velde
- Matthias Ehlers 6-3 Romeo Grbavac
The Finals:
In one final, Jeffrey Sparidaans faced Michele Turetta. Sparidaans had already accumulated enough ranking points over the first two days to make his Tour Card qualification almost a certainty, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He stormed to a 5-1 lead, only to make it unnecessarily difficult for himself, mirroring some drama from Day 1. Turetta mounted a remarkable comeback to level the score at 5-5. In a nail-biting deciding leg, the Italian even missed multiple match darts, allowing Sparidaans to seize the opportunity and secure his Tour Card with a dramatic 6-5 victory!
In the other final, Spanish veteran Cristo Reyes displayed his class against Germany’s Matthias Ehlers. Reyes was clearly the superior player throughout the match, closing it out confidently with a 6-3 win to claim his direct Tour Card, marking a successful return to the PDC Pro Tour.
The Race for Ranking Points
While Sparidaans and Reyes secured direct qualification, the battle for ranking points remains crucial for players hoping to earn one of the remaining Tour Cards via the overall Q-School Order of Merit. Even without his final win, Sparidaans had already positioned himself strongly. Here’s a snapshot of the top players on the ranking after Day 2, highlighting those in contention for a card:
- Benjamin Pratnemer 7 (+19)
- Adam Gawlas 7 (+18)
- Jimmy van Schie 6 (+21)
- Matthias Ehlers 6 (+16)
- Alexander Merkx 6 (+10)
- Michele Turetta 5 (+15)
- David Cameron 5 (+15)
- Jeffrey de Zwaan 5 (+14)
- Andreas Harrysson 5 (+10)
- Jurjen van der Velde 5 (+9)
The competition continues to be fierce as players vie for every precious point in their quest for a spot on the PDC Pro Tour.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
