The first hurdle of the European Darts Q-School 2026 has been cleared, and it was a dramatic affair! A total of 128 players have secured their places in the crucial Final Stage, with a remarkable 21 Dutch talents leading the charge. Among them, debutant Kendji Steinbach and seasoned hopefuls like Ricardo Ulrich battled their way through by winning their respective daily finals. However, the high-stakes tournament also saw some established names, such as Rowby-John Rodriguez, fall short, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the PDC Tour qualification journey.
The tension was palpable at Kalkar throughout the week, but the final day of First Stage always brings an extra layer of pressure. By the end of the day, 128 dart players would know their fate – a ticket to the Final Stage or a disappointing journey home. For many, including some familiar faces, it was the latter.
The Dutch Dominance: 21 Players Advance
The Netherlands proved to be a powerhouse during this First Stage, with a significant number of their players making it through. In total, 21 Dutch players successfully navigated the challenging rounds to secure their spot in the Final Stage.
How Players Qualified: Day Wins vs. Order of Merit
Players could qualify for the Final Stage in one of two ways:
- Winning a Daily Final: Directly securing a spot by winning their respective knockout bracket on the final day.
- Order of Merit: The top 55 players who did not win a daily final but accumulated enough points across the three days also advanced.
Among the Dutch contingent, several players shone brightly by winning their daily finals directly:
- Kendji Steinbach: A remarkable debut for the talented Dutchman, who won five matches to secure his Final Stage spot.
- Ricardo Ulrich: Another strong performance, culminating in a final victory.
- Marcel Otter: Demonstrated consistency and skill to win his final.
- Michael Marijs: Battled through to claim a crucial win.
These four players earned their tickets outright, showcasing their ability to perform under immense pressure. Additionally, a further 17 Dutch players advanced via the First Stage Order of Merit, highlighting the depth of talent from the country.
Notable Qualifiers and Surprising Exits
Beyond the Dutch success, players from across Europe also made their mark. Some well-known names and promising talents secured their places:
- Brian Raman: The Belgian talent successfully navigated the stages.
- Mason Whitlock: Son of darts legend Simon Whitlock, Mason also secured his spot.
- José Justicia: The Spanish contender fought his way through.
- Liam Maendl-Lawrence: Another player to watch who advanced.
- Ron Meulenkamp, Bradley van der Velden, and Damian Mol: These experienced Dutch players also secured their places via the Order of Merit.
However, Q-School is unforgiving, and for every triumph, there’s disappointment. Several respected players saw their journey end in the First Stage:
- Krzysztof Kciuk (Poland)
- Rowby-John Rodriguez (Austria)
- Jacques Labre (France)
- Anton Östlund (Sweden)
- Johann Brouwer, Owen Roelofs, Stefan Schroder, and Jerry Hendriks (Netherlands)
Their early exit underscores the incredibly high standard and fierce competition at European Q-School.
Final Day Showdowns: A Glimpse at the Victories
The final round of matches on the last day delivered intense drama, with players fighting tooth and nail for their dreams. Here are some of the decisive final scores from the winners:
- Kendji Steinbach 5-2 Martin Homola
- Ricardo Ulrich 5-3 Dominik Moravcik
- Marcel Otter 5-2 Thomas Klausmayer
- Michael Marijs 5-4 Shane de Jong
- Marc Spalt 5-3 Maik Charras
- Nunjo Dewaele 5-1 Mason Whitlock
- Matthias Ehlers 5-3 Rowby-John Rodriguez (This result confirms Rowby-John’s elimination as he did not win his final.)
These results represent just a fraction of the battles fought, but each winner earned their direct qualification to the next stage.
With the First Stage now complete, all eyes turn to the Final Stage, where the pressure intensifies as players compete for the coveted PDC Tour Cards. The journey to professional darts continues, promising more thrilling encounters and the emergence of new stars.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Actueel.
