Qualifying School Day Four: Waites, Kenny and Siepmann seal tour cards on final day

Scott Waites, Nick Kenny and Germany’s Stefan Siepmann sealed their coveted PDC tour cards as the intense, gruelling Qualifying School came to a close in both Wigan and Hildesheim.

Waites, who lifted the prestigious Grand Slam of Darts a decade ago, will make his debut on the PDC circuit this year after whitewashing 17-year-old Keane Barry in the decider at the Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan.

The Halifax man found himself in a position of needing to go to the distance on Sunday, having underwent a rather disappointing start to his Q School campaign.

The two-time BDO world champion did just that, beating Scott Mitchell in a fifth round thriller, whilst averaging just below the 100 mark, before defeating both Connor Scutt and Adam Hunt to reach the final – where he eased past a below-par Barry.

Nick Kenny, who also participated in early January’s BDO World Championship in London, pocketed his yearned for PDC tour card for the first time, overcoming Scott Taylor in the decider.

The Welshman was in blistering form in a make or break campaign in Wigan, averaging over the 100 mark on two occasions.

Kenny recorded a 104.6 average in ousting BDO World Championship runner-up Jim Williams, before impressive performances against Dave Prins, Darren Penhall and Stephen Burton moved him on the cusp of becoming a professional.

Bolton’s Taylor led 2-0 in the tour card decider, though, the two-time Development Tour event winner clicked into gear, averaging a staggering 110.4 in reeling off six legs in succession to claim his place amongst the elite.

Germany’s Stefan Siepmann became the first German to come through this year’s European Q School as he denied Wesley Harms in the final.

Siepmann, who has made six appearances on the European Tour, survived match darts in two matches during his triumphant run.

The 33-year-old battled back from 4-1 down against Tony Veenhof in his opener, before averaging 102 in his semi-final against the Netherlands’ Danny van Trijp and defeating Harms in the final.

Harms himself did enough to secure a tour card for the first time, after finishing towards the upper end of the European Q School Order of Merit.

Elsewhere, Fallon Sherrock’s hopes of following up her unprecedented William Hill World Darts Championship with success at Q School were scuppered early on, as she departed at the hands of Irish youngster, Shane McGuirk.

Lisa Ashton also endured an early exit on the final day in Wigan, though, her deflation of being defeated was later met with jubilation as she became the first woman to come through Qualifying School via the Order of Merit.

Paul Nicholson fell at the same hurdle as Ashton, with Stuart Davies doing for the former Players Championship Finals winner, while 2012 world finalist Andy Hamilton was knocked out in the opening round, however, announced his return to the professional circuit courtesy of the Order of Merit.

It’s been a phenomenal, yet tiring and intense four days in both Wigan and Hildesheim, with 31 players picking up tour cards and receiving the opportunity to change their lives.

EUROPEAN QUALIFYING SCHOOL

Halle 39, Hildesheim, Germany

Last 16
Steffen Siepmann 5-4 Zoran Lerchbacher
Jose Justicia 5-4 Gino Vos
Lukasz Sawicki 5-0 Wesley Plaisier
Danny van Trijp 5-3 Dennis Nilsson
Wesley Harms 5-3 Boris Krcmar
Kevin Blomme 5-3 Michael Unterbuchner
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-3 Derk Telnekes
Cody Harris 5-0 Daniel Larsson

Quarter-Finals
Steffen Siepmann 5-4 Jose Justicia
Danny van Trijp 5-4 Lukasz Sawicki
Wesley Harms 5-0 Kevin Blomme
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-2 Cody Harris

Semi-Finals
Steffen Siepmann 5-1 Danny van Trijp
Wesley Harms 5-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Final
Steffen Siepmann 5-3 Wesley Harms

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS FROM DAY FOUR AT EUROPEAN QUALIFYING SCHOOL

CLICK HERE FOR THE FINAL EUROPEAN QUALIFYING SCHOOL ORDER OF MERIT

UK QUALIFYING SCHOOL

Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan

Last 16
Wayne Jones 5-4 Thomas Lovely
Scott Taylor 5-3 Alexander Morrison
Stephen Burton 5-0 Darren Johnson
Nick Kenny 5-3 Darren Penhall
Matthew Dennant 5-0 Wes Newton
Keane Barry 5-1 Graham Usher
Scott Waites 5-3 Connor Scutt
Adam Hunt 5-4 Steve Hine

Last Eight
Scott Taylor 5-1 Wayne Jones
Nick Kenny 5-1 Stephen Burton
Keane Barry 5-2 Matthew Dennant
Scott Waites 5-4 Adam Hunt

Last Four
Nick Kenny 5-2 Scott Taylor
Scott Waites 5-0 Keane Barry

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS FROM DAY FOUR AT UK QUALIFYING SCHOOL

CLICK HERE FOR THE FINAL UK QUALIFYING SCHOOL ORDER OF MERIT

About The Author

Ben Hudd Ben is a dedicated sports writer and has been covering all forms of darts for a number of years, from the grassroots to professional level.

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