Darting wonderkid Leighton Bennett comes of age to claim PDC Tour Card on Day 3 of Q-School
PDC
Leighton Bennett gets to prove himself against the absolute world's best over the next two seasons. The 18-year-old wonderkid picked up a PDC Tour Card on Saturday during the third day of play of the final stage at the UK Q-School.
Before the emergence of Luke Littler, Bennett was considered the great hope of English darts. The Englishman achieved impressive results in youth and was allowed to play exhibition matches at a young age against (former) world champions such as Phil Taylor and Rob Cross.
In 2019 Bennett became youth world champion at the BDO and a year later he was already allowed to compete at Lakeside. After a creditable match, he then lost 3-1 to the experienced Scott Mitchell.
However, the last two years have been quiet around Bennett, who managed to get past the last sixteen only once in two seasons on the PDC Development Tour. Perhaps inspired by the tremendous success of generation mate Littler at the World Darts Championship, Bennett's talent still came to fruition during this Q-School.
Bennett already comfortably qualified for the final stage as day winner, but lost to eventual winner Steve Lennon in his first match on Thursday during the first day of the final stage. On Friday, Bennett made it to the quarterfinals after wins over Conan Whitehead and Scott Mitchell, among others. It ultimately proved to be the prelude to the day's victory on Saturday.
He consecutively defeated Kamil Janowicz (6-1), Brandon Jones (6-2), Carl Wilson (6-4), Scott Winder (6-3), Brett Claydon (6-3), Kieron Bridgwater (6-2) and Thomas Cromwell (6-3), allowing Bennett to call himself a PDC Tour Card holder at least in 2024 and 2025.
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Results UK European Q-School.
Last 16
Kieron Bridgwater 6 | 4 Keelan Kay
Joshua Richardson 6 | 2 Mike Warburton
Brett Claydon 6 | 1 Jim McEwan
Leighton Bennett 6 | 3 Scott Winder
Darren Webster 6 | 4 James Huthwaite
Thomas Cromwell 6 | 3 George Killington
Rhys Griffin 6 | 3 Lee Cocks
James Beeton 6 | 2 James Hurrell
Quarterfinals
Kieron Bridgwater 6 | 3 Joshua Richardson
Leighton Bennett 6 | 3 Brett Claydon
Thomas Cromwell 6 | 4 Darren Webster
Rhys Griffin 6 | 3 James Beeton
Semi-final
Leighton Bennett 6 | 2 Kieron Bridgwater
Thomas Cromwell 6 | 4 Rhys Griffin
Final
Leighton Bennett 6 | 3 Thomas Cromwell
See comparisons here with a young MVG, a lot more than comparing Littler to MVG. MVG had a stellar early youth career though his move to the PDC where he failed to lift the Would youth championships and had a career lull. Bennett was widely touted and then had that lull. Earned his place the hard way and will be an interesting comparison between him and Littler, a possible rivalry in the making.
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- Beau also skipped Players Championships 7 & 8 next week, and PC 3 & 4 four weeks ago. If she next chooses to miss the Women's Series and PC 13 & 14 in mid-April then we can make a fair guess as to her reason.Scoobedybop13-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- Aspinall was a no-show: Carl Sneyd steps in from the Challenge Tour.Scoobedybop11-03-2025
- Likewise, I have always been a fan of Mervyn and with this worry on his mind, it explains why his form and ranking plummeted. It is really sad to hear this, often chatted to Mervyn and Tracey during the Lakeside days, both are lovely people. It does seem naive not acknowledging the fact it was earnings, surely there must be others in the same situation. I really hope the Kings can get through this....would a go fund me be permittedrichieburnettrocks11-03-2025
- I always like Merv,but he does he seems slightly naive with his comments. I wish you all the best, hope you can get sorted,and try and get back to a decent game,a bit of money.....and get rid of the dogs,if that's your main concern,I believe your priorities may be slightly wrongrick6710-03-2025
- What’s with the dogs element to this story, trying to pull at the heart strings? Just goes to show that being a good dart player does not equate to being that bright. Seriously, ‘I thought you didn’t have to pay tax on winnings’ , your a pro dart player and its your line of work, your not playing the lottery or placing a bet. I think it was Phil Taylor who said you should put a third to one side of all winnings into a bank account, obviously Merv was wearing his earplugs at the time.Mysstree10-03-2025
- The thing is... the folks who "humiliated" Taylor in the Seniors Events never really achieved anything in the important events - like Taylor did. Taylor had/has nothing to prove... and beating Taylor after he had retired is of zero value. Taylor in his prime would have made easy work of all of them. Cheers.MrYnyslas197107-03-2025
- Taylor was humiliated in the seniors events,so he really has nothing to lose by playing littler. I think he should put his darts away,and let us remember what a great player he wasrick6706-03-2025
- actually, since you're asking... yes. yes i do.colt06-03-2025