Jose de Sousa, Jelle Klaasen & Dom Taylor among 17 Euro Tour struggles in 2025

The road to the 2025 European Tour has proven a difficult one for many Tour Card holders, with a number of players continuing to fall short in their attempts to qualify. Thursday’s latest qualifying events in Hildesheim – for European Tour 11 (the Czech Darts Open) and European Tour 12 (the Hungarian Darts Trophy) – offered another chance, but for some, the wait goes on.

Among the 17 players who have entered every qualifier so far this year without success are some well-known names, highlighting just how competitive the field has become. Former major champion José de Sousa and ex Lakeside champion and former PDC World Darts Championship semi-finalist Jelle Klaasen are both yet to break their duck in 2025, despite consistent efforts.

Klaasen had made a promising start to the season with a final appearance at Players Championship 3, but that momentum hasn't translated into European Tour qualification. De Sousa, a Grand Slam winner in 2020, has also been unable to find a way through.

The list of winless qualifiers includes Dutchmen Dennie Olde Kalter and Martijn Dragt, alongside Adam Lipscombe, Adam Warner, Brett Claydon, Danny Lauby, Dom Taylor, Greg Ritchie, Kai Gotthardt, Maximilian Czerwinski, Pero Ljubić, Stefaan Henderyck, Stephen Burton, Tavis Dudeney and Viktor Tingström – all of whom are still chasing their first Pro Tour qualification on the European stage this season. It must be noted though that Maximilian Czerwinski did at least get one Euro Tour appearance under his belt, qualifying via the host nation qualifier route.

Their ongoing struggles underline the depth of competition and the fine margins at play in the qualifiers – a reality that even seasoned players are being reminded of in 2025. With the European Tour season not over yet though, all hope is not lost for these players and their ambitions.