From quitting his job in Australia to pursue Q-School dream - the remarkable story of unknown Adam Leek: "Where am I going to live? I don’t know"

Adam Leek could barely put the moment into words as he realised he had done it — winning a PDC Tour Card on Day One of UK Q-School after edging past Tyler Thorpe in a dramatic final-leg decider.

The Australian came through four consecutive 6–5 matches on the final day, including an intense decider against Thorpe in which all 11 legs were holds of throw. Thorpe had the chance to win the match but never managed to throw a dart at a double, leaving Leek to hold his nerve once again.

“I can’t believe it, to be honest. I can’t believe it,” Leek said moments after sealing the victory to the PDC. “Honestly, I can’t believe it.”

"It’s been a stressful day,” Leek admitted. “But I just had to keep telling myself — shout out to Dave Hannell back home, playing online darts. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to do this. Honestly, the amount of last-leg deciders I play against him, that’s made me for this moment.”

Leek’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. The relative unknown has travelled from Adelaide to the UK, quitting his job and committing fully to darts, arriving in November with one clear goal in mind. “Since November 5th, yeah,” he said when asked how long he had been in the UK. “Playing darts in various tournaments, and always with an eye on this.”

Despite the belief that drove him across the world, even Leek did not expect success to come quite so soon. “To be honest, I thought next year was going to be more likely,” he admitted. “I had a lot of things I still have to work out. I don’t even know where to start. I don’t even know how I’m going to work it out, but I’ve got to work it out.”

He will also open new doors with Leek now set to partner Damon Heta at the World Cup of Darts if no other Aussies get their Tour Cards so it is very much the opportunity of a lifetime that will open so many other doors too.

One thing is certain — Leek is now a professional darts player, though the reality of that is still sinking in. “Where am I going to live? I don’t know. I don’t know,” he laughed. “I don’t even know how I’m going to get back now."

His Q-School run included victories over some formidable opponents, including former world champion Steve Beaton and a tense match against Aidan Kirk, who had multiple match darts to deny him a Tour Card.

“That one was stressful,” Leek said. “But I have always believed I had the talent. To be fair, I think I’ve been as good as this two years ago — I think it’s just mindset.”

That mindset shift, he believes, has been the biggest change in his game. “I used to get so frustrated playing darts. I used to beat myself out of winning games,” he explained. “I knew how good I could play, but I’ve learnt that I’ve just had to learn to lose.

“Really, I’ve had to learn to lose, and it’s got me to this moment. Now I just enjoy playing the game of darts. I go, you know what — if I lose, fair play.”

Asked what pushed him to take the gamble on a darts career, Leek’s answer was simple. “Just belief. Watching people on TV play, and knowing — watching those guys — I know I can compete. I just believe I can compete with those guys.”

Those “guys” will now include the very best in the world. Over the next two years, Leek will share the stage with names such as Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson — a prospect that still feels surreal. “I don’t even know what to say, honestly,” he said when it was put to him.