Andrew Gilding sets out aim to retain PDC Tour Card

Andrew Gilding faces a huge battle to keep his PDC Tour Card for 2019.

The Bungay-born ace has reached the last 16 in two events in 2018, winning £1,500 each time. Earnings elsewhere have been sparse, and Andrew Gilding has dropped down the PDC Order of Merit. Now 63rd in the rankings, his battle to stay on the Tour will go down to the wire. Goldfinger, the 2015 UK Open semi-finalist, has one clear aim for the rest of the season.
"The aim's to stay in the top flight," Gilding told Darts Planet TV.
"Form's picked up a little recently. I've got to stay out of the dreaded Q-School."
With more than 600 entrants in 2018, and just 33 Tour Cards on offer, Q-School has become the most competitive event in professional darts. Gilding has a successful record at Q-School, but is determined to avoid it.
"First time, there was about 150 entries. Now there's hundreds and hundreds. And they're all decent players.
"You've got to have lots of stamina if you don't qualify on the first day. You have to ride it out and beat some of the best players in the world."
As the world number 63, the Suffolk thrower is in a precarious position. His quest to retain his card may lead him to the Alexandra Palace.
"I don't look too closely at (the Order of Merit), I'll end up worrying too much!
"It's about qualifying for the World Championship, and defending money from two years ago."
Gilding bagged £17,000 in prize money for reaching the second round of the World Championship in 2017.
"That money comes off this year, and that'll be a huge knockdown for my rankings," he admitted.
"I've got to get into the top 48 for the year, or qualify through the qualifiers."