"Now is the time to apply myself more" says Q-School winner Alan Tabern
NewsSaturday, 20 January 2018 at 12:00
Alan Tabern hailed victory on day two at UK Q-School as the springboard to bigger and better things.
The 51-year-old became the second St Helens player to win at Q-School this week, after Eddie Dootson. Tabern, the 2007 World Championship quarter-finalist, overcame seven opponents to claim a Tour Card. Craig Reeves, Darren Place and Gary Eastwood were the first to fall at the hands of the 2006 UK Open semi-finalist. Tabern's most impressive win came in the last 32, where he beat Jamie Hughes 5-2. Terry Temple and Phillip Borthwick were the next two defeated by Tabern. In the semi-finals, Steven Kirkby was brushed aside by a 5-1 scoreline.
Tabern joined Robert Owen, Corey Cadby and Dootson in earning a Tour Card. But his celebrations were more muted than the others'.
“I’m happy but I think of myself as someone who shouldn’t have to be qualifying to play the game,” he said.
“I’ve not been putting the hours in and now is the time to apply myself more. I’ve been on the fringes for a while now and you can relax a little more on the Challenge Tour, but hopefully this makes me try harder and practice more."
Play resumes at Wigan on Saturday, with two more players earning a precious automatic spot on the 2018 Tour.
The last two players from the UK Qualifying School secure automatic PDC Tour Cards, with remaining players earning ranking points. Ranking points are awarded with one point per win from rounds where there are no Byes onwards.
Click here for detailed information about the Q-School.
Click here to join the Fantasy Darts 2018! At least £1,320 in prizes with a 1st prize of £200!
Tabern joined Robert Owen, Corey Cadby and Dootson in earning a Tour Card. But his celebrations were more muted than the others'.
“I’m happy but I think of myself as someone who shouldn’t have to be qualifying to play the game,” he said.
“I’ve not been putting the hours in and now is the time to apply myself more. I’ve been on the fringes for a while now and you can relax a little more on the Challenge Tour, but hopefully this makes me try harder and practice more."
Play resumes at Wigan on Saturday, with two more players earning a precious automatic spot on the 2018 Tour.
The last two players from the UK Qualifying School secure automatic PDC Tour Cards, with remaining players earning ranking points. Ranking points are awarded with one point per win from rounds where there are no Byes onwards.
Click here for detailed information about the Q-School.
Click here to join the Fantasy Darts 2018! At least £1,320 in prizes with a 1st prize of £200!
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UndartedWaters19-11-2024 - Luke Littler played incredible darts yesterday in the semi-final and the final, heralding a new era of darts (along with some of the other brilliant young players who are emerging). And yet, at Luke's celebration feast, de Decker's ghost is Banquo to Littler's Macbeth, mournfully looking on.UndartedWaters18-11-2024
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