“No pressure, just play relaxed and go for it” – Charlie Manby remaining level-headed after Tour Card success and brilliant Ally Pally run

After four grueling days at Q-School 2026, everything fell into place for Charlie Manby. The young Englishman secured his PDC Tour Card, taking the next big step in a rapidly progressing rise. “it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” he admitted in an interview with talkSPORT Darts. “It’s been a tough four days — it’s always tough at Q School — but I’m just happy to come out on the right side and pick up the tour card."

Q-School remains one of the most unforgiving events on the calendar. Four days, a minimal margin for error, and no crowd to drag you through. It was no different for Manby. “It’s always tough at Q-School,” he said. Everything’s been so jam-packed. You feel like you’re never at home and can’t settle down. But that’s the price you pay if you want to play this game.”

Still, contrary to what you might expect at such a pivotal moment, there was no emotional outpouring when it was confirmed. “No, there weren’t [tears] actually,” he smiled. “Ihere almost were, don’t get me wrong, but with everything that happened around Christmas and New Year, it was mainly just very tiring. It’s a great feeling, but I think the realisation still has to come.”

With standout displays on the Development Tour, strong averages, and an impressive World Championship run, Manby was widely tipped to win his Tour Card. The question was whether those expectations brought extra pressure. “Not really,” he said firmly. If there is pressure, it’s usually what I put on myself — and I do that sometimes. But when I settle down and there’s no pressure, that’s when I play my best, and I think that showed."

That mindset proved crucial, because the opening days were anything but smooth. The first two days were a bit heartbreaking," he admitted. results weren’t going my way, but I was still playing well, so you’ve got to take the positives, but that’s not easy.”

One of those early setbacks came against Jack Aldridge, who impressed with particularly high averages but ultimately missed out on a Tour Card. "I’d never heard of Jack before," Manby said. “But what a player. He did the right things at the right times and you’ve just got to take your hat off to him.”

After those defeats, doubt crept in. “There were always doubts that it might not be this time,” he acknowledged. A conversation with his manager flipped the switch. “If it’s not this year, it’s not this year.” A year on the Challenge Tour and Development Tour isn’t the end of the world. That took the pressure off.”

It turned out to be the right mindset. Manby fought back and “did it the hard way,” as he put it. “In the end, I did it the hard way, but I pushed through.

The move from the big stage to the bare floorboards of the Pro Tour is a mental test for many players. Manby, however, believes it suits him. On the Development Tour and Challenge Tour last year, I played well," he said. "And I’ve done well enough in the Pro Tours I’ve been invited to."

Interestingly, he even sees himself as stronger on the floor than on stage. Yet his breakthrough to the wider public came at the Worlds, in the cauldron of Alexandra Palace. There he beat, among others, Cameron Menzies. “At the Worlds I knew how to win,” Manby said. “I had to fight, but I got it over the line. I learned a lot about myself there.”

His Worlds campaign ended against Gian van Veen, who went on to reach the final. There was disappointment, but no self-reproach. “No one’s ever happy losing, but it wasn’t heartbreaking,” Manby said. “If you’d told me at the start of the tournament I’d reach the last 16, I’d have snapped your hand off.”

For him, it mainly felt like confirmation. "Beating the players I did showed that I can compete. And if my A-game comes out and everything clicks, then I’m right up there with the rest of them."

A key chapter in the 20-year-old’s development played out in Portsmouth, at the Modus Super Series. “What MODUS are doing for players not on the tour is brilliant,” he said. "It gives people confidence, and in darts you need that little five percent here and there — confidence, backing from family and friends.”

He cites winning finals and building rhythm in short formats as decisive. "I went down there a few times last year and it pushed me in the right direction. Winning the Champions League and then going straight into the Worlds gave me a huge boost."

The fact that several players from that environment also picked up a Tour Card clearly pleased him. "There are so many good players who go to Q School," he said. "If you look at the ones who didn’t get a card, it’s crazy. It’s great to see players kick on from there and succeed at this level."

Manby doesn’t want to set overly big goals for himself. “I’m still young and I feel like I’ll be around for a long time in this game,” he said. “So this year, I just want to give it a good shot and see what happens.”

As at the Worlds, he views his Tour Card as an opportunity. “No pressure, just play relaxed and go for it. Hopefully over the two-year tour card, I can push on, break into the top 64 and climb the rankings.”

The Worlds prize money hadn’t hit his account at the time of the interview. “It’s a lot of money for a young lad,” Manby admitted. “But you’ve got to think about your future.” He does have one specific wish: a new car. “I’ve got a Hyundai i20 at the minute. I’ve always wanted an i20N, ever since I got this one about 18 months ago, so I’ll be looking at a few of those.”

And his job in construction? Manby is very fond of his boss. “He’s sound,” he laughed. “He’s always been into darts and he’s over the moon for me. There are things lining up for next year — sponsors and support — so hopefully I won’t have to work as much, or maybe not at all.”