Sunday was the first of four days of the Final Stage of Q-School in Milton Keynes and Niedernhausen. The overall winner at each venue will receive a Tour Card on each of the four days, and Merit Orders will be used to award a further 13 Tour Cards in the UK and eight in Europe.
Last updated: 14/02/21 8:17 pm
Kirk Shepherd has successfully come through Q-School on his last three attempts; in 2017, 2019 and now 2021
Kirk Shepherd and Geert De Vos said the first two available PDC tour cards went through the Final Stage of Q-School on Sunday.
Shepherd, who enjoyed a famous run to the 2008 PDC World Cup final before losing to John Part, got his tour card back in style with seven straight wins at the Marshall Arena.
The 34-year-old sealed the deal with a 6-1 victory over Jack Main in the decision.
🏴 𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗣𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗗 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗔 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗗!
Kirk Shepherd will be back on the PDC tour in 2021!
The World Championship vice-runner defeated Jack Main 6-1 in the final of Day One at the UK Q School. pic.twitter.com/Mi9FTpGKCn
– Dartan PDC (@OfficialPDC) February 14, 2021
Shepherd fell to John Part in the final
In Germany, BDO World Cup winner De Vos took his place among the PDC elite for the first time. The Belgian thrower took over Jerry Hendriks, Michael Unterbuchner, Richard Veenstra and Geert Nentjes along the way, as he saw a strong challenge to qualify for the professional tour.
Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld failed in the last 16, losing to Martin Schindler in a high-profile meeting in which the two average players were over 100.
Barney is pleading to return to the top board
Meanwhile, Fallon Sherrock suffered a second-round loss to Sean Fisher, after ‘Queen of the Palace’ overtook BDO world vice-champion Scott Mitchell in her opening game .
Sherrock was not the only big name left in the 64-round round in Milton Keynes, as Kevin Painter, Alan Norris and Danny Baggish also dropped in the second round.
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