Update World Championship Qualifier: Mervyn King into last 16, early exits for Simon Whitlock, Keegan Brown and Steve Lennon among others

The final qualifying tournament for the 2025 World Darts Championship is underway this afternoon in Wigan. In it, the 52 Tour Card holders present are competing for the last four starting spots for the tournament at Alexandra Palace.

The first matches have now been completed. In the opening round, notable results include Jeffrey de Zwaan managing a difficult 6-4 win over Ronny Huybrechts, Berry van Peer too strong for George Killington (6-5) after a final leg. Owen Roelofs turned a 1-5 deficit into a 6-5 win over Daniel Klose. Jitse van der Wal narrowly took the win against Josh Payne (6-5). Martijn Dragt defeated Steve Lennon convincingly 6-1. Jurjen van der Velde gave up only one leg in his first match against Radek Szaganski and also advanced to the last 32.

Rhys Griffin defeated the controversial Adam Smith-Neale 6-5, with victories also for the likes of Graham Hall against Keegan Brown and Owen Bates against Robert Grundy, as Mario Vandenbogaerde triumphed 6-2 against William Borland.

Three players are now already certain of a place in the last sixteen, and thus two wins away from a place at the World Darts Championship. Mervyn King won 6-3 against Lauby, while Adam Hunt took a big win against Adam Gawlas (6-1). Simon Whitlock lost 6-5 to Paul Krohne in the last 32 and thus misses out on participation in Ally Pally.

Jose de Sousa (BYE)

Adam Smith-Neale 5-6 Rhys Griffin

Jeffrey Sparidaans 2-6 Michele Turetta

Lukas Wenig 6-5 Brett Claydon

Adam Gawlas (BYE)

Callum Goffin 6-2 Adam Hunt

Lee Evans (BYE)

Arron Monk 6-2 Robbie Knops

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Boris Krcmar (BYE)

Pascal Rupprecht 5-6 Joshua Richardson

Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-4 Ronny Huybrechts

Jurjen van der Velde 6-1 Radek Szaganski

Simon Whitlock (BYE)

Nathan Rafferty 3-6 Paul Krohne

Maik Kuivenhoven (BYE)

Matthew Dennant 5-6 Graham Usher

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Steve Beaton (BYE)

Adam Warner 4-6 Darren Beveridge

Keegan Brown 4-6 Graham Hall

Martijn Dragt 6-1 Steve Lennon

Jamie Hughes (BYE)

George Killington 5-6 Berry van Peer

Dylan Slevin (BYE)

Jitse van der Wal 6-5 Josh Payne

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Matt Campbell (BYE)

Mario Vandenbogaerde 6-2 William Borland

Daniel Klose 5-6 Owen Roelofs

Jelle Klaasen 5-6 Andy Baetens

Mervyn King (BYE)

Danny van Trijp 4-6 Danny Lauby

Rowby-John Rodriguez (BYE)

Owen Bates 6-3 Robert Grundy

Jose de Sousa v Rhys Griffin

Michele Turetta v Lukas Wenig

Adam Hunt 6-1 Adam Gawlas

Lee Evans v Arron Monk

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Boris Krcmar v Joshua Richardson

Jeffrey de Zwaan v Jurjen van der Velde

Simon Whitlock 5-6 Paul Krohne

Maik Kuivenhoven v Graham Usher

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Steve Beaton v Darren Beveridge

Graham Hall v Martijn Dragt

Jamie Hughes v Berry van Peer

Dylan Slevin v Jitse van der Wal

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Matt Campbell v Mario Vandenbogaerde

Owen Roelofs v Andy Baetens

Mervyn King 6-3 Danny Lauby

Rowby-John Rodriguez v Owen Bates