INTERVIEW: Participation in Q-School was all or nothing for Robbe

The two-time Lakeside participant is thus assured of participation in all Pro Tour tournaments in 2018 and 2019. Robbe ventured a last attempt to start the dart career at the PDC, he says in an interview with Dartsnews.com. If it had not been possible to win a Tour Card, he would not have played tournaments with the PDC anymore. The Tilburg native is not completely unknown in the darts world. More than a decade ago, he frequently came into action on the BDO circuit. After a break of six years, Robbe made his official return at the Dutch Open in 2014. "I stopped darts. In 2008 I had a busy home situation. Then I chose for my family with three children at the time, now we have five children. In 2013 I started again with darts at Xtreme Sport with friends. " "Then in 2015 I participated in a qualifying tournament for the PDC World Championship, where I lost the final to qualify. I received as a consolation prize those free entries to the Euro Tour qualifiers. Then I met Michael van Gerwen and Vincent van der Voort and they sponsored me for one year, including participation in the Q-School. " Van Gerwen and Van der Voort stopped after the last season with the cooperation, which Robbe had to look for a new lender. Café de Wijk in Beverwijk was willing to sponsor him for the Q-School and so he got one last chance at the PDC. "If I did not get a Tour Card, I would not have played tournaments with the PDC anymore," says 44-year-old Robbe. 'The Dutch Robot' took its chance on the second day of the Q-School and won a place with the elite of the PDC. The same day there was more good news for Robbe; MDA Promotions wanted to sponsor him for the next three years. The English company is currently also the management of players such as Daryl Gurney, Benito van de Pas, James Wilson and Jamie Hughes. The former couple world champion at the WDF has played eight floor tournaments this year at the PDC. Qualifying for the UK Open was not for Robbe. He did earn a thousand pounds in prize money during the first two Players Championship tournaments. "I played well during the first Pro Tour weekend, but it has to be even better. You have to look up step by step. The organization at the PDC is certainly what I expected from it. Everything is arranged much better than at the BDO. In addition, you can make darts from darts. At least, if you know how to beat the top players. " "Looking back on my period at the BDO, I think they do not organize enough tournaments there. That is why the level at the PDC is higher. There you only throw top matches and many television tournaments, that only makes you better. "