The 2026 PDC Tour Qualifying School concluded with a whirlwind of emotions, seeing new talents rise and established names face setbacks. After seven days of intense competition, Charlie Manby, Samuel Price, Jeffrey de Zwaan, and Sietse Lap successfully secured their coveted PDC Tour Cards. However, fan favorite Fallon Sherrock, along with experienced players like Steve Beaton and Andreas Harrysson, narrowly missed out, setting the stage for an exciting new darts season.
New Faces and Triumphant Returns: The 2026 Tour Card Holders
The Qualifying School is a grueling test of skill and nerve, and this year, four players emerged as automatic qualifiers, earning their spots on the professional circuit:
- Charlie Manby (UK Qualifying School): The 20-year-old rising star, who impressed at the World Darts Championship, lived up to expectations. He overcame darting legends like Steve Beaton and Mervyn King on his way to securing a card, showcasing incredible composure under pressure.
- Samuel Price (UK Qualifying School): Price also navigated the challenging UK event to claim his place among the elite.
- Jeffrey de Zwaan (European Qualifying School): A former World Matchplay semi-finalist, De Zwaan makes a significant return to the ProTour. After losing his card in December 2024, the Dutchman fought back through multiple deciding-leg thrillers, including a crucial win against Daniel Klose and Andreas Harrysson, to reclaim his spot.
- Sietse Lap (European Qualifying School): Lap joins his compatriot De Zwaan as an automatic qualifier from the European event.
Heartbreak and Near Misses: Who Didn’t Make It?
While some celebrated, others faced the disappointment of falling short. The Qualifying School is known for its brutal nature, and several high-profile names found their Tour Card hopes dashed:
- Fallon Sherrock: Despite her pioneering efforts in women’s darts, Sherrock’s bid for a PDC Tour Card ended after a fourth first-round defeat. This means Beau Greaves will be the sole female player on the PDC ProTour in 2026.
- Andreas Harrysson: The Swedish star, who reached the last 16 of the World Championship, agonizingly missed out on a Tour Card via leg difference at the European Qualifying School.
- Steve Beaton: ‘The Bronzed Adonis’, a long-standing figure in darts, was among those who narrowly missed out at the UK Qualifying School.
- Steve Lennon: The former World Cup runner-up from Ireland also fell short in his quest for a card.
- Jose de Sousa: The former Grand Slam champion’s attempt for an immediate return to the ProTour ended in the quarter-finals of the European Qualifying School.
Beyond the Automatic Spots: The Ranking List Qualifiers
In addition to the automatic qualifiers, a further eight Tour Cards were distributed via the European Qualifying School Rankings List, and several more from the UK Rankings. These lists reward consistent performance throughout the week-long event.
- Jimmy van Schie: The reigning WDF champion secured top spot on the European Ranking List with 12 points.
- Mervyn King: Despite his defeat to Charlie Manby, the former Premier League runner-up and six-time televised PDC finalist earned a card through the UK Ranking List, finishing second.
- Tyler Thorpe: A talented youngster and a winner on the Winmau Development Tour, Thorpe secured a card via the UK Ranking List, just behind King.
- Stephen Rosney (Republic of Ireland) & David Sharp (Scotland): Both players will make their PDC ProTour debut after earning cards through the UK Ranking List.
- Other notable qualifiers from the European Ranking List included players like Pascal Rupprecht, who reclaimed his card, showing the importance of consistency across the competition.
What’s Next? The 2026 PDC ProTour Season Kicks Off
For all the new and returning Tour Card holders, the hard work truly begins now. The 2026 PDC ProTour season is set to commence with Players Championships 1-2 in Hildesheim on February 9-10. Before that, all Tour Card Holders will have the opportunity to compete in the Preliminary Round of the Winmau World Masters at Arena MK on Wednesday, January 28.
This year’s Qualifying School has once again proven to be a pivotal moment in the darts calendar, shaping the careers of many and promising an exhilarating year of professional darts ahead.
Source: Based on an article from Sky Sports – Sports News, Transfers, Scores | Watch Live Sport.
