PREVIEW: Who will prevail at last chance World Championship qualifier?

The World Championship qualifying tournament for Tour Card holders will take place in Wigan today. There are still four starting spots available for Alexandra Palace, with some notable names still yet to secure qualification.

92 of the 96 places have already been filled, but four places are still vacant for the upcoming World Darts Championship. 55 Tour Card holders who did not yet manage to qualify for the World Cup registered for this qualifying tournament in Wigan and thus get a very last chance to still force their participation.

Two former world champions.

Among the participants we find two former world champions. One of them is Steve Beaton, winner of the 1996 BDO World Championship. The now 60-year-old Englishman, who will end his professional career at the end of this year, was present at the World Championship every year since 1992 (BDO and PDC). Will he succeed in grabbing his last chance today to qualify for the Worlds for the 34th consecutive time?

Besides Beaton, another former world champion is present at this qualifying tournament in the form of Jelle Klaasen. Klaasen won the BDO World Championship in 2006 and was also a semifinalist at the PDC World Championship in 2016. His last participation at Alexandra Palace dates back to 2020, though.

Another notable participant in the qualifying tournament is Simon Whitlock. The Australian reached the finals of both the BDO and PDC World Championships in the past, but has slipped to 60th place in the world rankings and has been at Alexandra Palace since 2010. Whitlock would do well to still qualify for this year's edition, otherwise he could lose his Tour Card.

And what of Mervyn King? Losing finalist in no less than seven PDC major finals and in 2009 a semifinalist at the PDC World Championship. 'The King' has been present at a BDO or PDC World Championship every time since 1997, but that long series is now in danger of being stopped. Without qualification for the World Championship, the 58-year-old Englishman is another one in danger of losing his Tour Card .

To put favorites forward is always difficult for this qualifying tournament. None of the participants have had a great year, otherwise they would have already qualified for the Alexandra Palace. Besides, anything is possible at such a one-day tournament. A good draw or some luck and you anyone could capture one of the four tickets.

But, of course, there are some players to whom we attribute slightly more chances than others. And then we think first of all of José de Sousa, a big name that we have not yet mentioned. The 50-year-old Portuguese, in 2020 winner of the Grand Slam of Darts and in 2023 good for the last sixteen at the World Championship, had a less than stellar season, dropping to 40th in the world rankings. However, De Sousa is someone who is always capable of magic, so why not do it when it really has to be done. If De Sousa can come close to his old level, a World Championship ticket is certainly within the realm of possibility.

There are also players such as Robert Owen, Maik Kuivenhoven Keane Barry and King, who fell only narrowly outside the top 32 on the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

Interestingly, not all Tour Card holders who have not yet qualified for Alexandra Palace will be present at this qualifying tournament. These are Benjamin Drue Reus, Adrian Lewis, Leighton Bennett, Jacques Labre, Christian Perez, Jules van Dongen, Haupai Puha, Vincent van der Voort and Patrick Geeraets. Van der Voort underwent surgery last week and did not recover in time. Dutch American Van Dongen had previously indicated that he is skipping this tournament due to a form crisis. Bennett is currently serving a suspension.

Lewis, world champion in 2011 and 2012, has not been in action at an official tournament since the middle of last year and will also lose his Tour Card after the World Championship.

The draw for the qualifying tournament will take place this morning. It will then be played in a knockout tournament until the semifinals. The four semifinalists are guaranteed a trip to the Ally Pally this December.