Steve ‘The Adonis’ Beaton is in a prime position to regain his PDC Tour Card after a superb run to the quarter-finals at the UK K-School on Thursday.
Beaton slumped to a 6-5 defeat to Australia’s Adam Leek on day one of the finals stage of the event in Milton Keynes.
The former Lakeside World Champion has decided to retire from oche at the end of 2024, but after just a year away from professional darts, the 61-year-old has staged a dramatic turnaround, joining 925 names all vying for that coveted Tour Card.
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Watch vintage Beaton at the 2023 World Darts Championship with this bullet checkout during his win against Wessel Nijmann
Beaton was just two wins away from his first chance to secure his Tour Card, but he’s still in a good place. He sits fifth in the order of merit, with the top five receiving a Tour Card after four days of action.
Arno Merk and Philippe Bereza were the first players to secure their Tour Cards with the team beating Jeffrey Sparidaans and Jeffrey De Zwaan respectively.
Merck continues a memorable debut at Alexandra Palace by recovering from 5-3 down to see off Sparidaans 6-5.
Poland’s Bereza fought back 5-1, surviving nine darts matches to defeat former World Matchplay semi-finalist De Zwan.
Rhys Griffin and Beaton’s conqueror Leek became the second pair to earn their Tour cards.
Welshman Griffin returned to the PDC Tour when he claimed the first courtesy of Scott Waits 6-0, while Australian ace Leek secured the coveted PDC Tour Card for the first time after defeating Tyler Thorpe in the decider.
Sherrock, Munby and Part all fall early
Fallon Sherrock is on zero points after going down early along with ‘Champagne’ Charlie Manby
PDC Tour cards are awarded to the last two players left standing on a day’s play in the final stages of UK and European qualifying schools.
Each event features 128 players, with the two finalists progressing to the PDC Tour and all other players’ points going in order of merit.
Some big names went down in UK and EU K-School, including fan favorites Fallon Sherrock and Charlie Manby in the first round.
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Debutant Charlie Manby defeated Ricky Evans in a memorable match at Ali Pally
Devon Peterson also fell to Beaton in the first round and Jose De Sousa beat Matt Campbell at the next stage in Calcar, Germany.
De Sousa and Mervyn King fell in the final of 32 finals.
De Sousa defeated Davy Prosten and former tour owner Campbell 6-3 before losing to Richard Ulrich by the same score.
King beat Tom Lonsdale and Martin Grierson with a high average of 94.17 before losing to Ireland’s Stephen Rozney.
Some other names include Boris Krchmar, Cristo Reyes, Jele Klassen, John Part, Mason Whitlock, Willie Borland and Nathan Rafferty.
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