After three gruelling days of off camera Players Championship action, the players returned to the Mattioli Arena in Leicester looking to seal their spots on the European Tour.
There were ten places up for grabs in each qualifier - firstly, for the Baltic Sea Darts Open, which takes place next month absolutely nowhere near that particular body of water (Kiel, Germany). The other was for the Flanders Darts Trophy, hosted where it should be - in Antwerp, Belgium at the end of August. Those two events being the ninth and tenth respectively on this year’s Euro Tour calendar.
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It was a good afternoon for the Poles in the opening qualifier, with three of them soon booking their flights to Deutschland. Making the cut from that neck of the woods were Sebastian Bialecki, Krzysztof Ratajski, and Tytus Kanik. It might have been four if World Cup partner to the Polish Eagle, Radek Szaganski, hadn’t been paired against Bialecki. Still, a nice trio stamping their tickets.
The cheeriest - and possibly the smallest - player on tour, Justin Hood, will also be heading to the Baltic Sea Darts Open, taking his happy feet over to Kiel. There’s also a Belgian in the draw - Andy Baetens - as well as The Barber (Ryan Meikle) and someone who looks like he needs one - Callan Rydz. Euro Tour specialist (well, he was a few years ago) Ian White threw his name in the hat too - and he’d do the same thing again later on.
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Here’s the full list of those added to Euro Tour 9: Justin Hood, Sebastian Bialecki, Krzysztof Ratajski, Ryan Meikle, Andy Baetens, Martin Lukeman, Tytus Kanik, Callan Rydz, Mensur Suljovic, and Ian White.
A few hours later and five players made it a dream double, qualifying for both events. Three are English - Martin Lukeman, Ian White, and Callan Rydz - and also planning an August trip to Belgium is a quartet who starred in World Cup action last week, managing to last the pace. They are: No nickname De Graaf, Evil Charlie ( Sedlacek), Pikachu (Pietreczko) and The Gentle (Suljovic).
In summary, your ten Flanders bound boys are: Ricardo Pietreczko, Steve Lennon, Martin Lukeman, Jeffrey de Graaf, Leon Weber, Christian Kist, Karel Sedlacek, Ian White, Callan Rydz, and Mensur Suljovic.
It’s now time for a well-earned rest - which, after four long days, I’m sure will be much welcomed.
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