Richard Veenstra captured his Tour Card for the next two years at Q-School last week. The 41-year-old Dutchman was a semi-finalist at the BDO and WDF World Championships in the past.
Veenstra captured his Tour Card via the Q-School rankings, in which he finished second. "On the last day, I already knew in the quarter-finals that I was sure of my Tour Card, therefore I could finish the last matches very relaxed. I am really particularly satisfied that I did manage to secure a Tour Card this year," Veenstra told Darts Actueel.
For Veenstra, it was his third participation in Q-School. "The first time it took some getting used to and the second time I was unlucky with the draw. Last year I didn't go because of the pandemic. So third times the charm!"
Combining work and darts career
Veenstra works at a luxury boat builder. "I am responsible for purchasing. I will also continue to combine it with darts. Over the past few days, I made my calendar for the coming year and actually it is not that different from last year, even then I was away regularly for tournaments of the WDF and Modus Super Series.
'Flyers' is Veenstra's nickname. "Around here, a hockey team called the Veenstra Flyers plays. Friends also started calling me that and whenever we registered a team for a quiz or a tournament, it was under the Flyers name," he laughs.
Worlds aim
In his first year at the PDC, Veenstra mainly wants to enjoy himself. "Of course it's a goal to be at the PDC World Championship one day, but we'll see how it goes. The most important thing is to be in the top-64 of the world rankings at the end of next year to keep my Tour Card."