With less than 100 days until the biggest event in darts, the World Championship, the race for qualification is intensifying. Five spots are already secured, and a massive 17 more are set to be decided in September alone. From New Zealand to China, and across Africa, players are battling through regional tours and dedicated qualifiers for their chance to step onto the iconic Alexandra Palace stage. Expect thrilling finishes, dramatic upsets, and new heroes to emerge as the qualification picture rapidly takes shape.
Current Qualifiers: Who’s In So Far?
The journey to the Alexandra Palace in December has already begun for a select few. So far, five players have punched their tickets to the sport’s showpiece event, leaving 43 spots still up for grabs.
Recently, Australia’s Mal Cuming added his name to the prestigious list. He secured his spot by winning the inaugural Trans-Tasman Championship in Brisbane, overcoming Raymond Smith in a hard-fought final. Cuming joins an exciting mix of early qualifiers:
- Lisa Ashton (England)
- David Cameron (Canada)
- Jesus Salate (Philippines)
- Adam Sevada (Philippines)
These players represent a diverse international contingent, setting the stage for a truly global championship.
September’s Qualification Frenzy: A Global Overview
September is poised to be a pivotal month, with a flurry of qualification events across multiple continents. A staggering 17 additional spots are expected to be filled by the end of the month, rapidly shaping the lineup for the World Championship.
Oceania: Down Under Showdowns
The battle for qualification in Oceania is heating up with two major tours concluding in September:
- DPNZ (New Zealand) Tour: This tour concludes on the first weekend of September (5th-6th). The winner of the Order of Merit will directly qualify for Alexandra Palace. Currently, Ben Robb is in a strong position after 10 of 12 events, needing only a few more wins to seal his fate. Jonny Tata is close behind in second, hoping to maintain his standing for a potential spot via the ANZ Premier League.
- ADA (Australian) Tour: Australia’s tour wraps up between September 11th-13th with its final four events. Brody Klinge currently leads, holding a $1,550 advantage over Raymond Smith. However, with $1,600 awarded to the winner of each event, the title — and the automatic qualification spot — is still very much in play when the tour heads to South Australia. The ANZ Premier League also kicks off in September, with Night 1 on the 26th, offering another potential pathway.
Asia: A Continent of Contenders
Thousands of kilometres north, Asia’s darting landscape is equally competitive, with multiple opportunities for qualification:
- Asian Tour: The final four events of the Asian Tour take place in China on September 12th-13th. The top five players in the Order of Merit will all qualify for the World Championships. As it stands, Motomu Sakai, Christian Perez, Ryuta Arihara, Haruki Muramatsu, Man Lok Leung, and Paolo Nebrida are vying for these coveted spots. Interestingly, if Motomu Sakai maintains his lead in the Japan Tour (see below), his spot on the Asian Tour would free up, meaning the sixth-placed player would also qualify.
- Asian Championship: Immediately following the Asian Tour, the Asian Championship on September 14th offers two more direct spots. Both finalists of this prestigious event will qualify. If any of these finalists have already secured their place through the Asian Tour, their qualification spots will ‘roll down’ to the next highest-ranked players on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, such as Lok Yin Lee and Yuya Fukuchi. Given the close standings, it’s highly probable that up to seven players from the Asian Tour’s top ranks could make it to Ally Pally. The Asian Championship winner also earns a spot in the Grand Slam of Darts in November.
- Japan Tour: This tour also concludes in September (22nd-23rd). Motomu Sakai holds a commanding lead, making his victory almost certain. His qualification through the Japan Tour will likely free up an additional spot from the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, as mentioned above, creating more chances for other players.
Africa: Expanding Horizons
The African continent is making its mark on the global darts stage, with the PDC offering more opportunities:
- Northern African Qualifier: Following David Munyua’s memorable performance at last year’s World Championship, the PDC has expanded Africa’s representation to two spots at Ally Pally – one for Northern Africa and one for Southern Africa. This initiative aims to include more emerging talent from nations like Kenya and Uganda, rather than solely relying on South African players. The Northern African qualifier, featuring favourites like Munyua, Wachiuri, and Ocheng, is scheduled for September 20th.
European & UK Battles: The Home Stretch
Closer to home, several crucial qualification events are set to define the European and UK contingents:
- Challenge Tour: The Challenge Tour concludes on September 26th-27th, with its final four events determining three qualifiers for the World Championships. Derek Coulson is virtually guaranteed a spot. Daniel Klose and Tommy Morris are currently in line but will need strong performances in Wigan to secure their places. Joe Hunt, currently second, is expected to qualify via the ProTour, meaning his Challenge Tour spot will pass down the Order of Merit, opening up another opportunity.
- UK and Ireland Tour Card Holder & Associate Member Qualifier: This event, held on September 28th, is open to anyone holding a Tour Card or having participated in a recent Q-School. Being played earlier than in previous years, it’s expected to draw a larger field, including many Tour Card holders keen to secure their spot. If a player who has already qualified through the ProTour wins this event, the qualification spot will be passed down to the 41st-ranked player on the ProTour race.
- Nordic & Baltic Tour: The final weekend of ProTour events for the Nordic & Baltic Tour takes place in Estonia on September 26th-27th. The top two players in this race will qualify. It’s an incredibly tight contest, with Daniel Larsson ($5.6k) just ahead of Cor Dekker ($5.3k) after 10 of 12 events. With $1.3k on offer for each event winner, players like Jani Haavisto, Oskar Lukasiak, and Darius Labanauskas will likely need a title win to challenge for a spot. The top 24 from this tour also qualify for the Nordic & Baltic Championship in early November, where the winner earns a spot in both the World Championships and the Grand Slam.
The Road Ahead: Filling the Ranks
As September draws to a close, the number of confirmed World Championship participants will have grown significantly. From the initial 5 qualifiers at the start of the month, we anticipate 22 players will have secured their places by the end of September, marking a major milestone in the buildup to the Alexandra Palace spectacle. The darting world eagerly awaits to see who will seize their chance and become the next Ally Pally legend.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
