The second day of Darts Q-School 2026’s First Stage delivered high drama, with 32 players booking their direct tickets to the Final Stage. Veteran stars like Steve Beaton and Cristo Reyes navigated the challenging field, while emerging German talents Jason Riedtke and Björn Quoiffy also impressed. The day’s most electrifying moment came in Milton Keynes, where Jamie Owens hit the first 9-darter of this year’s Q-School, adding a spectacular highlight to the intense battle for professional Tour Cards.
The race for a coveted PDC Tour Card intensified on the second day of Q-School 2026, as players across two venues battled fiercely for direct qualification to the Final Stage or to position themselves strongly on the ranking lists. This crucial phase sees aspiring professionals and seasoned veterans alike vying for a spot on the professional darts circuit.
European Q-School: Kalkar Sees Established Stars and New German Faces Advance
The European leg of Q-School in Kalkar, Germany, saw **16 players directly qualify** for the Final Stage, with a mix of familiar names and exciting new prospects making their mark.
Direct Qualifiers: Experience Shines Through
Several former World Championship participants demonstrated their class, securing their spots for the next stage:
- Cristo Reyes: Corrected his Day 1 stumble with a dominant performance.
- Boris Krcmar and David Cameron: Both fellow World Championship attendees also advanced.
- Pal Szekely and Nandor Major: Two Hungarian players successfully navigated the day.
- Jeffrey de Zwaan and Jeffrey Sparidaans: Led the largest contingent of Dutch qualifiers, showcasing the Netherlands’ strong darting talent.
German Talents Make Their Mark
Two relatively unknown German players seized their opportunities, earning direct qualification:
- Jason Riedtke: Overcame tough matches, including a 5-4 victory over Alexandre Antunes, and achieved a 94-average once during his run.
- Björn Quoiffy: Impressed with two separate matches featuring a 94-average on his way to qualification.
Other German players who reached the final round but didn’t secure direct qualification included Yorick Hofkens, Robin Pietsch, Liam Maendl-Lawrance, and Marc Spalt. Switzerland’s Bruno Stöckli also reached a final but fell short.
Q-School Ranking Standings: Who’s Looking Good?
For those who didn’t qualify directly, the ranking list offers another route to the Final Stage. Experts predicted a cut-off of three points and a leg difference of +7 for the EU Q-School First Stage.
Players in a strong position (4+ points):
- Michael Klönhammer (4 points)
- Frank Bruns (4 points)
- Michael Hurtz (4 points)
- Cedric Jeske (4 points)
- Brian Raman (5 points)
- Tomislav Rosandic (5 points)
- José Justicia (4 points)
These players may even consider taking a rest on the final day, confident in their current standing. Matthias Ehlers, Luca Wolff, and Mason Whitlock, all on three points, are also well-placed.
The Pressure Mounts: Who Needs a Big Day 3?
For many, Day 3 will be a make-or-break moment. Players like Marcel Althaus, Franz Rötzsch, Mika Donnevert, and Switzerland’s Marcel Walpen (all on two points) need strong performances. Those with just one point, including Petr Krivka, Jacques Labre, and Kimi Seemann, face an uphill battle. The situation is even more critical for players yet to register a single point, such as Daniel Bauerdick, Krzysztof Kciuk, and Rowby-John Rodriguez, who require a significant winning streak to progress.
UK Q-School: Milton Keynes Witness A Darts Legend and a Historic 9-Darter
The UK Q-School in Milton Keynes provided its own share of drama, with veterans proving their mettle and a rare perfect leg lighting up the oche.
“Bronzed Adonis” Leads the Qualifiers
The legendary 61-year-old Steve Beaton, known as the “Bronzed Adonis,” demonstrated his enduring quality by securing direct qualification. After narrowly missing out on Day 1, Beaton dropped only seven legs across his five matches on Day 2, consistently averaging between 80 and 89, earning himself a well-deserved day off on Wednesday.
Other notable qualifiers included former Tour Card holders Harry Ward and Ciaran Teehan, along with WDF World Championship participant Stephen Rosney.
High-scoring efforts were also seen, with Scotland’s David Sharp hitting a 104-average in his deciding match, though Australia’s Adam Leek’s 101-average wasn’t enough for a daily win.
Historic Moment: Jamie Owens Hits the First 9-Darter!
The highlight of the entire Q-School so far came from England’s Jamie Owens, who achieved the **first 9-darter of this year’s Q-School** during his 5-4 victory against Travis Baur in the Last 256. This perfect leg of darts is a rare and spectacular feat, showcasing incredible precision and skill under pressure.
UK Q-School Ranking Standings: Who’s Safe, Who’s Sweating?
As in the EU Q-School, the ranking list is crucial for progression. **John Henderson** leads the pack with six points, virtually guaranteeing his spot in the Final Stage. Other players looking comfortable include James Richardson (5 points), Keelan Kay (5 points), Jarred Cole (4 points), Graham Usher (4 points), Joe Croft (4 points), and Aden Kirk (4 points).
However, some well-known names on three points, such as Charlie Large, Alan Norris, and Wayne Jones, will face an anxious wait or need to perform well on Day 3 to solidify their positions.
The Brink of Elimination: Tough Times for Familiar Faces
The unforgiving nature of Q-School means even established players can find themselves in trouble. Former World Championship participant **David Davies** is precariously close to elimination with zero points after two rounds, needing a strong run on Wednesday just to reach the final round of the day. Similarly, **Joe Murnan, Andy Hamilton, John Part, John O’Shea, and Michael Flynn** also find themselves without a single point.
Other familiar names like Mark Dudbridge, Kevin McDine, Callum Goffin, and Kevin Painter are only marginally better off with one point each, while Kevin Burness, Gemma Hayter, Nathan Girvan, Richie Burnett, and Colin Osborne have two points, putting them in a slightly better, but still challenging, position.
The third and final day of the First Stage of Q-School 2026 promises more intense action, with players fighting for every leg and every point to keep their professional dreams alive. The EU Q-School resumes at 12:00 PM CET, and the UK Q-School at 1:00 PM CET.
Source: Based on dartn.de.
