Charlie Manby, Samuel Price, Geoffrey de Zwaan and Siets Lap secured automatic tickets to the PDC Tour on Sunday as the 2026 Qualifying Schools ended in dramatic fashion, but Andreas Harrison missed out.
After seven days of grueling competition, the UK Qualifying School reached its climax at Arena MK in Milton Keynes, where Wonderland in Calcar hosted the European Qualifying School.
Sunday’s UK Qualifying School play was headlined by rising star Manby, who reached the last 16 on his debut at the World Darts Championship last month.
The 20-year-old was heavily fancied to claim a Tour Card in Milton Keynes, and duly did so on the final day of action, beating darts icons Steve Beaton and Mervyn King in the process.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
World Darts debutant Manby defeated Ricky Evans at Alexander Palace
Manby also defied a late charge from Matthew Dennant to triumph in a dramatic second-round decider, while his best performance of the day averaged 102.8 in defeating Daniel Ayres.
Dutch duo De Zwaan and Lapp were automatic qualifiers in Calcar, as former World Matchplay semi-finalist De Zwaan returns to the ProTour circuit after giving up his December 2024 tour.
The 29-year-old won a trio of decisive clashes on German soil, denying Daniel Klose and Swedish star Harrison, before defying a 104 average from Pascal Ruprecht to seal the deal.
De Zwaan rounded off his campaign with a 6-2 success against 17-year-old German Mika Donnevert, giving Ruprecht a reprieve and ensuring he regained his tour via the European Schools’ Qualifying List.
There were a further eight Tour Cards distributed via the European Qualifying School Rankings, with reigning VDF Champion Jimmy van Schie securing first place with 12 points.
Former Premier League runners-up King’s is another high-profile name to claim a Tour Card in Milton Keynes, despite losing to Manby in the last four.
King – a six-time televised finalist in the PDC – finished second, just ahead of talented youngster Tyler Thorpe – a winner on the Winmau Development Tour last September.
The remaining two spots went to Republic of Ireland’s Stephen Rozney and Scotland’s David Sharp, both competing on the PDC ProTour for the first time in their careers.
Beaton and Ireland’s former World Cup runner-up Steve Lennon were among the players to narrowly miss out on Tour Cards at the UK Qualifying School, while Sweden’s Harrison – who reached the last 16 on his World Cup debut last month – was ruled out by a leg difference in Calcar.
Former Grand Slam champion Jose de Souza was beaten in the quarter-finals at the European Qualifying School as he failed to make an immediate return to the ProTour as Italy’s Michele Turetta and Krčmar each dropped a point.
After his fourth first-round loss in as many days, Fallon Sherrock has missed out on the PDC Tour. The result means Beau Greaves will be the only female player on the PDC Pro Tour in 2026.
The 2026 PDC ProTour season will begin with the 1-2 Players Championship in Hildesheim on 9-10 February, preceded by the Winmow World Masters at Arena MK, with all Tour Card holders able to enter the preliminary round on Wednesday 28 January.
Who will win this year’s Premier League darts? Luke Humphries will defend his title and you can catch the action every Thursday from February to May on Ski Sports. Stream darts and more top sports with NOW.