Michael Barnard delighted at World Championship expansion

The PDC announced that its flagship tournament would be expanded for the 2019 event. The field has to 96 players, with at least two women guaranteed to enter. The top two players on the Challenge Tour will earn passage to the first round. That's great news for Michael Barnard, the front-runner to take one of the two spots. With just four Challenge Tour events left, Barnard is £5,800 clear at the top of the Order of Merit. In an interview with sports journalist Josh Green from , the Essex thrower shared his delight at the news. "I was in work when the news was announced and one of my mates said 'have you seen the PDC website' and I replied 'no'. I checked the site and couldn't believe my luck!" he said. "I've obviously got work to do but the wins I've collected so far should put me in with a good chance of qualifying from the top two anyway." Barnard is on the verge of securing a second World Championship appearance. His last Ally Pally outing came in 2009, and ended in a 3-0 first round defeat to Andy Hamilton. Despite the loss, Barnard enjoyed the experience, and can't wait to have another go. "To qualify for the World Championships again would be amazing. "It's one of the things you always want in darts, and it's the sort of thing you don't forget. I can't wait to get back up there."