PDC Q-School 2026: Champions dominate third day's qualifiers

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PDC Q-School 2026: Champions dominate third day's qualifiers image

WDF/Chris Sargeant

Former WDF Champion Shane McGuirk, Tom Sykes, Matthias Ehlers and Yorick Hofkens were the latest players to pick up two-year PDC Tour Cards on Saturday, after coming through their respective Qualifying School fields in the UK & Europe, on the penultimate day of the Final Stage in Milton Keynes and Kalkar, Germany.  

Days One & Two of the Final Stage of 2026 PDC Qualifying School saw Rhys Griffin, Adam Leek, Carl Sneyd and Niall Culleton pick up Tour Cards in the UK, whilst Arno Merk, Filip Bereza, Cristo Reyes and Jeffrey Sparidaans achieved the same feat in Europe.  

UK Q School 

Former WDF World Champion Shane McGuirk secured a two-year Tour Card for the first time in his career on Day Three of the Final Stage, as he recorded victories on the day against Henry Coates, Ted Evetts, Adam Hunt, Robbie Martin, Nick Cocks and Charlie Manby to seal his spot on the PDC circuit.  

Joining McGuirk is Englishman Tom Sykes who also secured a Tour Card for the first time as he recorded victories against Harrison Leigh, Harry Ward, Andrew Cass, Tommy Morris, Llew Bevan and Stephen Burton in his decider.  

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European Q School  

Germany’s Matthias Ehlers secured a two-year Tour Card for the first time in his career as he recorded victories against Bjorn Quoiffy, Mitja Gustorf, Ricardo Ulrich, Ron Meulenkamp, Pal Szekely and Lennert Faes in his decider.  

Joining Ehlers is his compatriot Yorick Hofkens who also secured a Tour Card for the first time, as the teenager recorded victories on the day against Brian Raman, Martin Homola, Rainer Sturm, Jeroen Caron, Pascal Rupprecht and Jimmy Van Schie in his decider.  

Elsewhere, despite a narrow defeat in the Semi Finals, Dutchman Jimmy Van Schie has secured a two-year Tour Card via the Order of Merit having picked up 11 points across the opening three days of the Final Stage.  

2026 PDC Qualifying School concludes on Sunday, in the UK and in Europe, with Day Four of the Final Stage with two automatic Tour Cards up for grabs at each Q School, whilst the remaining Tour Cards will be rewarded via the respective Order of Merit’s, as play commences at 13:00 CET in Europe and 12:00 GMT in the UK. All live scores and results can be viewed at tv.dartconnect.com  

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UK Qualifying School Final Stage 

Day Three – Saturday 10th January 

Last 16  

James Parkin 6-5 Joe Hunt 

Charlie Manby 6-3 Derek Maclean  

Shane McGuirk 6-2 Robbie Martin 

Nick Cocks 6-5 Derek Coulsen 

Tom Sykes 6-2 Tommy Morris 

Llew Bevan 6-2 James Richardson 

Stephen Burton 6-2 Scott Campbell 

David Sharp 6-2 Wayne Jones 

 

Quarter Finals 

Charlie Manby 6-5 James Parkin  

Shane McGuirk 6-0 Nick Cocks 

Tom Sykes 6-0 Llew Bevan  

Stephen Burton 6-3 David Sharp 

 

Semi Finals 

Shane McGuirk 6-2 Charlie Manby 

Tom Sykes 6-4 Stephen Burton 

 

2026 European Qualifying School  

Final Stage Day Three 

Last 16  

Matthias Ehlers 6-1 Ron Meulenkamp 

Pal Szekely 6-3 Jarod Becker 

Jesus Noguera 6-4 Finn Behrens 

Lennert Faes 6-5 Robbie Knops 

Pascal Rupprecht 6-2 Patrick Maat 

Yorick Hofkens 6-5 Jeroen Caron 

Jimmy Van Schie 6-4 Daniel Klose 

Chris Landman 6-1 Joachim Duerbeck  

 

Quarter Finals 

Matthias Ehlers 6-1 Pal Szekely  

Lennert Faes 6-4 Jesus Noguera 

Yorick Hofkens 6-4 Pascal Rupprecht 

Jimmy Van Schie 6-2 Chris Landman  

 

Semi Finals 

Matthias Ehlers 6-5 Lennert Faes 

Yorick Hofkens 6-5 Jimmy Van Schie 

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Senior Editor