Former Lakeside Champions Secure PDC Tour Cards on Penultimate Day of Q-School

Jimmy Van Schie and Shane McGuirk, the last two darts champions from Lakeside, have earned their first PDC Tour cards on the second-to-last day of the Q-School tournament. Van Schie, who recently defeated 15-year-old Mitchell Lawrie in the WDF World Darts Championship final, fell short of a direct win after losing to 18-year-old Yorick Hofkens in the European qualifying school's semi-finals. However, his run to the semi-finals ensured he would receive a card through the event's Order of Merit, regardless of Sunday's outcome. Hofkens, who edged out Van Schie 6-5, will make his Pro Tour debut alongside 44-year-old Matthias Ehlers, who won a nail-biting 11th-leg match against Belgium's Lennert Faes. Meanwhile, at the UK Q-School in Milton Keynes, Ireland's McGuirk, the 2024 WDF champion, secured his maiden tour spot by beating Charlie Manby 6-2 in the semi-finals. Tom Sykes, 33, from England, also earned a tour card by defeating Stephen Burton 6-4. The final day of Q-School on Sunday will award two more cards at each venue to the winning semi-finalists, with additional places awarded via the respective Order of Merits. Charlie Manby rose to 10th place on the UK Order of Merit and remains in contention for a top-five finish. However, Steve Beaton's hopes of returning to the tour were diminished by a round-one exit, while John Part and Fallon Sherrock also lost in round one and remain without points after three days.