Vandenbogaerde on declining WDF Lakeside invite: "I don't want to miss Pro Tours that could earn me a place at the PDC World Championship"

Mario Vandenbogaerde won a PDC Tour Card for the next two years at Q-School last month but Super Mario will not play at Lakeside for the WDF World Championship.

Vandenbogaerde finished first in the European Q-School ranking with twelve points. "I had already participated in Q-School twice before and noticed that I could handle the level, this year the objective was really to claim a Tour Card. After the first two days of the final phase I already had seven points, which ensured I was able to start the last two days relaxed. It is a great feeling that I have managed to claim that coveted Tour Card," he told Darts Actueel .  

The 48-year-old Belgian does not want to set himself too big goals for the time being. "This is a completely new world that opens up for me. I want to play without stress and we'll see what is possible then. My main goal is just to secure my Tour Card at the end of next year."

In addition to darts, Vandenbogaerde is also an independent building contractor. "I have the support of my son, who gives me the freedom to go to all the tournaments. I also have a lot of support from my wife, hopefully she can often accompany me to the tournaments."

At the end of last year, Vandenbogaerde also qualified for the WDF World Championship via the qualifying tournament. That was normally played in early January, but due to the pandemic, it was moved to early April. The WDF recently came to an agreement with the PDC that new Tour Card holders who had qualified for that WDF World Championship can still participate. "But in consultation with my manager, I decided to decline that invitation. I don't want to miss Pro Tours and thus miss out on important points that could earn me a place at the PDC World Championship," concludes Vandenbogaerde.