The European Q-School Final Stage delivered an unforgettable day of darts, with Arno Merk and Filip Bereza dramatically securing the first two coveted PDC Tour Cards. Merk overcame fellow Dutchman Jeffrey Sparidaans in a tense final, while Bereza pulled off an astonishing upset, fighting back from 5-1 down and surviving ten match darts against Jeffrey de Zwaan to clinch his spot. This outcome left several Dutch hopefuls, particularly Sparidaans and de Zwaan, heartbroken after coming agonizingly close.
The Battle Begins: Final Stage Kicks Off
The dust has settled on First Stage, and the real test began as 128 players converged on Kalkar for the European Q-School Final Stage. The draw proved unforgiving, immediately pitting several strong contenders against each other, leading to an early exit for some big names.
Early Exits and Surprising Runs
The opening day saw a number of established players fall by the wayside:
- Martijn Dragt defeated former World Championship quarter-finalist Cristo Reyes (6-4).
- Jitse van der Wal narrowly lost to Jeffrey Sparidaans (6-5) after missing multiple match darts.
- Other notable early departures included Jamai van den Herik, Jelle Klaasen, Ben Robb, and Andy Baetens.
A round later, more familiar faces like Chris Landman, Matt Campbell, Danny Lauby, and Boris Krcmar also saw their Q-School hopes dashed. Meanwhile, several surprising players began to carve their path through the tough competition.
Dutch Hopes and Heartbreak in the Quarter-Finals
As the field narrowed to the last eight, four Dutch players remained, creating a strong sense of anticipation. However, for Damian Mol and Maikel Verberk, this was the end of their journey.
- Damian Mol suffered a narrow 6-5 defeat to eventual winner Arno Merk.
- Maikel Verberk, who had impressed earlier with a 101.77 average in his first match, was surprisingly beaten by Filip Bereza.
Unbelievable Drama: Bereza’s Miraculous Comeback and Merk’s Triumph
The semi-finals and finals delivered moments of pure darting theatre, securing the first two Tour Cards for Arno Merk and the unlikeliest of heroes, Filip Bereza.
Filip Bereza’s Astonishing Victory
Filip Bereza, a Polish player with modest averages barely above 80 for the week, became the first player to secure a Tour Card in a truly astonishing fashion. His final match against Jeffrey de Zwaan will be etched in memory as one of Q-School’s most dramatic encounters. De Zwaan, ‘The Black Cobra’, had looked formidable, particularly with a 100.37 average in his semi-final win against Benjamin Pratnemer. He stormed to a commanding 5-1 lead against Bereza and had a staggering ten match darts to seal his victory.
However, in an incredible turn of events, Bereza held his nerve, capitalised on de Zwaan’s misses, and mounted an improbable comeback to win 6-5. This stunning reversal left de Zwaan, and many spectators, in disbelief.
Arno Merk Secures His Card in a Tense Battle
The second final saw Jeffrey Sparidaans, after a strong run to the final, also experience the agony of missing multiple match darts. This time, World Championship participant Arno Merk seized the opportunity, closing out a tense 6-5 victory to claim the second Tour Card. Merk’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure ultimately saw him through.
Final Stage Results: The Road to the Tour Card
Semi-Finals:
- Jeffrey Sparidaans 6-2 Andreas Harrysson
- Arno Merk 6-5 Damian Mol
- Filip Bereza 6-3 Maikel Verberk
- Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-1 Benjamin Pratnemer
Finals (Tour Card Deciders):
- Arno Merk 6-5 Jeffrey Sparidaans
- Filip Bereza 6-5 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Points Awarded for Q-School Ranking
Despite their heartbreaking defeats, Jeffrey de Zwaan and Jeffrey Sparidaans earned five points each towards the Q-School Order of Merit, which will be crucial for players aiming to secure a Tour Card through the ranking table. Maikel Verberk and Damian Mol collected four points, while Jimmy van Schie earned three.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
