The 2021 PDC UK and European Q-School is set to begin on Monday running from 8 to 17 February in Milton Keynes and Niedernhausen respectively.
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Divided over both locations, 29 new PDC Tour Card holders will be set for the next two years. Thirteen Tour Cards are available at the European Q-School in Niedernhausen. The UK Q-School in Milton Keynes will have sixteen. The number of Tour Cards per location is determined based on the number of registrations.
Q-School divided into two stages
As a result of hundreds of players participating in Q-School, it was decided to divide both UK and European Q-School into two stages due to Covid-19. As a result, there are fewer players on site and it is better to keep distance from each other.
The first stage is played in two blocks of three days. First from 8 to 10 February and then from 11 to 13 February. The final stage will be completed from 14 to 17 February.
Players who lost their PDC Tour Card or finished in the top 16 of the Challenge Tour and Development Tour last season will be directly qualified for the final stage.
The other participants must start in the first stage. You can qualify for the Final Stage by making the last four on one of the three days.
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If that does not occur, players must ensure that as many points as possible are won. Every win in a full round (without byes) earns one point. Via the Q-School Order of Merit from the first phase, players (top-43 at the European Q-School from each phase and top-36 players at the UK Q-School from each phase) will also advance to the Final Stage.
Tour Card distribution during final stage
During the final stage, Tour Cards are distributed. Of the 29 available Tour Cards, eight will be issued immediately through day wins with four days being played at both UK and European Q-School gleaming this.
The remaining 21 Tour Cards can be earned through the Q-School Order of Merit. You can earn points per victory (not including preliminary rounds) at both.
With consistent results, players can still get a Tour Card in this way, without winning the day. During European Q-School, eight Tour Cards are available via this route, there are thirteen in the UK.
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What can you do with a Tour Card?
Players holding a Tour Card can participate in Pro Tour events to go towards their Order of Merit ranking. In addition, you may participate in qualifying tournaments for European Tour events, the qualifiers for the Grand Slam of Darts and World Series of Darts Finals and the last chance World Championship qualifier.
Can you still play on the PDC circuit without a Tour Card?
The PDC Challenge Tour has been set up especially for players who have missed out on a Tour Card. This is usually 24 tournaments, each with a top prize of £2,000. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is still not completely clear what this secondary tour will look like in 2021. With good results on the Challenge Tour, spare spot can also be obtained for Pro Tour tournaments.
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Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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- He produced some impressive numbers in that qualifying campaign. I'm excited to see him compete at the World Championship once again, even if it will be difficult to replicate last year's success even with an improved performance, with the draw playing a huge role in determining his fortunes.Deduce635811-11-2026
- I often think about this very question. I think they should revive the format. They could even invite representatives from MODUS Super Series, with four series winners from the past year, and the ADC, with finalists from the Global Championship and perhaps other events. Why not throw in eligible representatives from the JDC and even the soft-tip game too?Deduce635811-11-2026
- So what if littler missed out, he doesnt have to enter everythingant10-11-2026
- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026