Notable statistics after Q-School: two new countries with Tour Card holders and for the first time no Spaniard on the Pro Tour

Last week, 2024's Q-School was completed. In it, players from all over the world went on the hunt for a PDC Tour Card.

In the end, there were 31 Tour Cards to be distributed, spread across the European and UK Q-School. Since the PDC introduced the Tour Card system in 2011, 420 different players have been part of the final 128 Tour Card holders each year.

As we enter the 14th season of PDC ProTour darts, there are 23 players who have a Tour Card for the first time. That includes Andy Baetens, who after Stephen Bunting and Glen Durrant is the third player to make the move to the PDC as a reigning world champion from another federation.

One of those new Tour Card holders is Benjamin Drue Reus. After Per Laursen and Vladimir Andersen, the Dane is only the third player from Denmark to manage to capture a Tour Card. Also new to the Pro Tour is Thibault Tricole, who is the second French Tour Card holder after Jacques Labre. In addition, there are two players who managed to make history at Q-School. Indeed, Haupai Puha from New Zealand and Michele Turetta from Italy are only the first players from their countries to win a Tour Card.

There are also five Dutchmen who managed to capture a Tour Card for the first time. Besides Wessel Nijman, who was already sure of a Tour Card through his strong performance on the Development Tour, they are Chris Landman, Jitse van der Wal, Patrick Geeraets and Martijn Dragt.

WDF

Just before the World Darts Championship, the WDF World Championship also took place. That association sees a lot of talent making the move to the PDC, as many as seven players of the current top ten obtained their Tour Card.

A total of 23 different countries will be represented on the PDC ProTour in 2024. England (45), the Netherlands (24), Germany (9), Belgium (7), Wales (7), Scotland (6), Northern Ireland (5), Republic of Ireland (4), Australia (2), Austria (2), Czech Republic (2), France (2), Poland (2) and the United States (2).

Nine countries have one representative, with Matt Campbell (Canada), Boris Krcmar (Croatia), Madars Razma (Latvia), Christian Perez (Philippines) & José de Sousa (Portugal) in addition to new Tour Card holders from Denmark, Italy, New Zealand and Sweden.

17 players always there

Notably, since the Tour Card system started, 17 players have had a Tour Card every year. Dave Chisnall, Mickey Mansell and William O'Connor also had to pass Q School before that. 14 other players have had a Tour Card through their PDC ranking status since 2011 and have never had to attend Q School - Gary Anderson, Steve Beaton, Joe Cullen, Brendan Dolan, Michael van Gerwen, Mervyn King, Adrian Lewis, Michael Smith, Mensur Suljovic, Vincent van der Voort, James Wade, Ian White, Simon Whitlock and Peter Wright.

Finally, one more notable fact. With Jose Justicia and Tony Martinez among the 30 players who lost their Tour Card, 2024 will be the first year without a Spanish player on the ProTour.

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