Two thrilling qualification events in Leicester have ignited the darts world, setting the stage for the upcoming European Darts Tour events in Bratislava and Leverkusen. Veteran players like Mervyn King made their highly anticipated return to the continental circuit, while exciting new talents such as England’s Tom Sykes and Samuel Price are poised to make their debut. Notably, despite their strong darts tradition, only one Dutch player managed to qualify directly across both events, highlighting the fierce international competition and the diverse field of players.
The Race to Bratislava: Veterans and Rookies Secure Their Spots
Today, the focus was firmly on European Tour qualification in Leicester. Tour Card holders who hadn’t yet secured their spots in the forthcoming Slovak Darts Open in Bratislava and the European Darts Open in Leverkusen battled it out. Ten players from the first qualifier earned their chance to compete in these prestigious tournaments.
For some, this achievement marked their first appearance on the European Tour circuit in the 2026 season, particularly significant as Bratislava will host the first-ever European Tour event in Slovakia in the competition’s thirteen-year history.
Key Qualifiers for Bratislava & Leverkusen (First Event):
- Mervyn King’s Return: The seasoned veteran, Mervyn King, secured his place. His last European Tour appearance was in April 2024, and his most recent victory on European soil dates back to late 2022 at the Belgian Darts Open.
- Maiden European Tour Appearances: England’s Tom Sykes will make his debut on the European Tour circuit.
- Season Debuts: Canadian veteran Jim Long and Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer will also make their first continental appearances of the current campaign. Pratnemer’s qualification for an event in a nation phonetically similar to his homeland adds a curious twist!
- Resurgent Talent: Cristo Reyes, known as “The Spartan,” continues his impressive comeback after a five-year absence from the professional circuit. He delivered another strong performance to qualify.
- Other Successful Contenders: Owen Bates, Tyler Thorpe, and Justin Hood also progressed, collectively making up half of the successful qualifying field alongside Sykes and King.
- International Representation: Ireland’s Keane Barry and Sweden’s Jeffrey de Graaf further emphasize the global nature of the modern European Tour.
Leverkusen Awaits: A Fresh Wave of Qualifiers
The second qualifier, also held at the Mattioli Arena, saw an entirely different group of ten competitors earn their spots for July’s European Darts Open in Leverkusen. Unlike many “double-header” events, there was no continuity; players who qualified in the first event did not replicate their success in the second, leading to a fresh and diverse set of qualifiers.
New Faces and Strong Performances for Leverkusen:
- First Career European Tour Appearance: A significant moment for England’s Samuel Price, who booked his place in Leverkusen. This will be his first-ever appearance on the European Tour, marking a major milestone in his professional career.
- Welsh Talent: Rhys Griffin from Wales also delivered a highly commendable performance to qualify.
- Experienced Contenders: Former PDC World Youth Champion Bradley Brooks added another prestigious continental engagement to his busy schedule. He will now look forward to a second German excursion this summer.
- Rising Stars: Poland’s gifted young prospect Sebastian Bialecki continued his encouraging progress, while Belgium’s Mario Vandenbogaerde reinforced his growing consistency.
- Home Soil Advantage: Germany’s Lukas Wenig secured a special qualification, earning the opportunity to compete in front of a home crowd in Leverkusen. He achieved this after an intense victory over compatriot Max Hopp, who unfortunately fell short in both qualifying attempts throughout the day.
- Consistent Performers: Recent Nordic & Baltic Tour champion Darius Labanauskas of Lithuania continued his impressive resurgence, and Ireland’s experienced Mickey Mansell (the “Clonoe Cyclone”) also successfully progressed.
The Dutch Anomaly: A Surprising Outcome
Perhaps the most unexpected statistic from the day’s proceedings concerned the Netherlands. Despite the nation’s traditionally formidable depth in professional darts, only a solitary Dutch representative, Maik Kuivenhoven, managed to secure qualification across both events. This highlights the increasing competitiveness and global spread of talent within the European Darts Tour, where even established darts nations face stiff challenges.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
