Mitchell, Baggish, Gilding and Shepherd among UK Q-School Tour Card winners

After 10 days of darts in Milton Keynes, 2021 PDC UK Q-School is complete with multiple new faces and well-known names set for action with the PDC ProTour restarts with the Super Series.

Outright winners featured Kirk Shepherd who was seen after his win as a master of Q-School and he was this time around. A superb day from the former World finalist saw him rejoin the tour at the first time of asking earlier this week.

Jason Heaver joined him following that. From the master of Q-School to a novice of the tournament.

A former UK Open qualifier and a player well known in particular by Luke Humphries who lives a short distance away from him and played with him growing up but had never given Q-School a go before. That changed this year and he is now set to join the former World Youth Champion on the tour in a superb story.

Jake Jones became the next player through outright on Day Three with the Stoke-on-Trent scaffolder achieving darting dreams by claiming his spot on the PDC Tour.

A multiple winner on the BDO circuit but a while back, will he become the next darting star to come from the town of Taylor, Lewis, Hamilton and White?

From there, it was a former BDO World Champion who claimed the honours on the final day in 'Scotty Dog' Scott Mitchell.

A Challenge Tour winner last year which saw him compete on the PDC ProTour throughout, he will now step up as a full-time Tour Card holder but only after he made it difficult for himself on Day Four.

He was sat needing a run to likely the semi-finals after an indifferent few days and he achieved it going all the way to winning it when it was last chance saloon.

His opponent in the final did similar but from zero points and was the big story of the final day at UK Q-School. That was Danny Baggish.

Coming into 2021 Q-School, Baggish was seen as one of the favourites to win his Tour Card but he lived up to his Gambler moniker twice.

First in winning through Q-School Stage 1B on the final day and he did the same here, he likely needed an outright win and when his back was against the wall, he produced.

He went into the final needing one leg to edge past Chas Barstow and he got what he needed. Now the American becomes the first since Darin Young and Stacy Bromberg in 2011 to join the PDC ranks.

Topping the Order of Merit though was a player who learnt under the tutelage of Darren Webster in Jack Main. He produced some superb darts in both Stage 1 and the Final Stage to lead in the end with nine points without even playing the final day.

Andrew Gilding will make his return to the PDC ProTour as well after finishing second also on nine points. 'Goldfinger' reached the semi-finals on the final day where he lost to eventual victor Scott Mitchell.

Martin Lukeman was another player who like Main didn't play the final day but 'Smash' was one of the most consistent throughout his three days and the former UK Open qualifier will make his debut on the tour.

As will Welshman, Lewy Williams. Well known for his run at the UK Open and his performances in a year full of online darts, he lived up to the hype over the four days finishing on eight points and even deciding to play on Day Four.

Eddie Lovely finished fifth with 'Steady Eddie' living up to his moniker with consistent form throughout. He played on the PDC ProTour last year in the Summer Series before having to go home for family reasons. Now he will get a full time shot at the tour for the next two years.

As will Alan Soutar. A former WDF World Cup winner and BDO World Championship participant finished on 7 points after impressing in both stages.

Speaking to the PDC during their update segments, he revealed that Gary Anderson offered to help him go to Q-School some years ago but he declined his offer - now he might be facing 'The Flying Scotsman' when he joins the PDC Tour.

In and amongst all of the new names, the likes of Jon Worsley, Joe Murnan and Peter Hudson will make their returns to the PDC Tour also finishing inside the top 13.

Gordon Mathers like Danny Baggish made the sacrifice of coming over to the UK to attempt to win his Tour Card and it worked out for the multiple PDC World Championship participant as he finished eighth with a final on Day Three helping his cause.

While Brett Claydon will also join the PDC ProTour as will John Brown in the first father son duo on the tour alongside Steve 'The Bomber' Brown who also has a Tour Card.

Those to miss out just outside the top 13 include Gavin Carlin, Kevin McDine and the likes of Robert Thornton, Jamie Lewis and Kevin Painter will not make their return to the PDC Tour.

Fallon Sherrock similarly was not successful over the four days as the full group of players is now confirmed.

Automatic winners

Kirk Shepherd

Jason Heaver

Jake Jones

Scott Mitchell

Tour Card through UK Q-School Order of Merit

Jack Main

Andrew Gilding

Martin Lukeman

Lewis Williams

Eddie Lovely

Alan Soutar

Joe Murnan

Gordon Mathers

Peter Hudson

Jonathan Worsley

Brett Claydon

John Brown

Daniel Baggish