Great streak broken, but is there still hope for the Whitlock family?

For the first time in history, Simon Whitlock will not compete in the World Cup of Darts this year. The iconic Australian, nicknamed “The Wizard,” is ineligible for a spot on the national team after compatriot Adam Leek surprisingly secured a PDC Tour Card at Q-School. That ends a unique streak for Whitlock, who had taken part in all sixteen editions of the country tournament to date.

The Australian team is normally selected from the two highest-ranked PDC Tour Card holders from the country. For a long time it looked as though Whitlock would line up alongside Damon Heta again in 2026, despite losing his Tour Card at the end of last year. Since Heta was the only Australian Tour Card holder in 2025, Whitlock was still allowed to participate. That scenario is now off the table for good.

The big surprise came from Adam Leek, who won no fewer than six matches on the first day of the final stage of UK Q-School in Milton Keynes. That secured him a PDC Tour Card for the next two seasons. Leek claimed impressive victories over, among others, Dylan Slevin, a former Tour Card holder, and darts legend Steve Beaton.

In the decisive match for the Tour Card, Leek edged Tyler Thorpe 6-5 after a tense battle. With that win, he is now officially a PDC Tour Card holder and moves ahead of Whitlock in the pecking order, which in principle means he may partner Heta to represent Australia at the World Cup of Darts.

Missing the World Cup marks a historic moment for Whitlock. Along with Willie O’Connor (Ireland) and Mensur Suljovic (Austria), he was one of only three players to have contested every edition of the tournament. Whitlock won the event in 2022 alongside Damon Heta and had already reached the final a decade earlier with Paul Nicholson.

The 56-year-old Australian boasts an outstanding career. He reached the World Darts Championship final in 2010 (and earlier the BDO World Championship final in 2008), won the European Championship, and was a fixture at the top of the global game for years. Whitlock is rightly regarded as the greatest Australian darts player of all time.

Last month he qualified for the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace by winning the ANZ Premier League, but he exited in the first round after a narrow 3-2 defeat to Connor Scutt.

Even so, Adam Leek’s selection for the World Cup of Darts in June is not one hundred percent certain. There is another contender: Mason Whitlock, the son of Simon Whitlock. The young Australian is competing at EU Q-School this week and will make one last attempt this afternoon on the final day to win a PDC Tour Card. If he succeeds, Leek and Mason Whitlock will decide between themselves who will join Heta at the World Cup of Darts.