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.
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
ππ’π’π ππ’π’π ππππ¦π§π¦ π§ππ₯π’π¨ππ π€ π¦πππ’π’π π₯ 18-year-old Leighton Bennett secures a PDC Tour Card after defeating Thomas Cromwell 6-3 in today's UK Qualifying School final! #QSchool
