World Championship Qualifier Round-Up | Jose de Sousa set to make return to Alexandra Palace as trio of Englishmen follow in suit

The lineup for the PDC World Darts Championship has been completed after the conclusion to the World Championship Qualifier. Jose de Sousa, Adam Hunt, Haupai Puha, Stephen Burton and Tavis Dudeney are the five players to confirm their place at Alexandra Palace, with the event kicking off on Thursday, 11th December.

De Sousa has endured a torrid year on tour, but his season have had a turn for the better after coming through a dramatic last match against Andy Boutlon to secure his spot in the World Darts Championship. The Portuguese star impressed throughout the day, defeating Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (7-2) and Christian Kist (7-5) while averaging 99.81 and 95.05.

It would be a clash between 'The Special One' and Boulton for a spot in at Ally Pally. De Sousa found himself 6-2 ahead in a race to seven legs. However, he was pegged back brilliantly by the charging Scot who in the final leg had a huge lead. Boulton, who left tops after 12, was miles ahead of the straggling de Sousa. Nevertheless, the former Grand Slam of Darts champion made a daring comeback. He survived match darts before pinning double 18 to confirm his place at the World Championship. After failing to qualify last year, de Sousa is set to make a popular return to the pinnacle of darts.

Hunt will return for the first time since 2022 after clawing through a last-leg decider against Tytus Kanik. The Englishman fended off Maximilian Czerwinski (7-2) and Thomas Lovely (7-4) ahead of a tense final clash against the Pole. Similar to de Sousa, Hunt allowed a hefty lead to slip in the closing stages but a 14-darter completed by taking out 64 in two gets the job done.

It is disappointment for fellow Englishman Brett Claydon who spurned match darts in his clash against Puha. The New Zealander made a majestic comeback in the final, reeling off five legs on the spin ahead of a nervy deciding one saw the pair squander opportunities. In the end, Puha managed to crawl over the finishing line. He will compete at his third World Darts Championship, as he still awaits his maiden victory.

Burton was another player who was at risk of losing his tour card. He has now been handed a lifeline after defeating the competition in front of him to qualify for a second successive World Darts Championship. The 37-year-old got the better of Adam Paxton (7-1) and Marvin van Velzen (7-5) to set up a showdown against Jitse van der Wal. When tied at 5-5, Burton clinched the upper hand, clinching the last two legs with 16 and 14 darters to secure a ticket for Ally Pally once more.

The only darter out of the five to qualify who has not yet competed in the prestigious event is 21-year-old Dudeney. Despite not averaging above 90 in any of his matches, he still managed to squeeze past Darryl Pilgrim (7-6) and Jim Long (7-6) before a more comfortable conclusion saw him beat Martijn Dragt 7-4. The Dude won five of the final six legs to complete the 128-player field destined to challenge for the Sid Waddell trophy.

The draw for the World Darts Championship will take place at 16:30 BST, with the event starting 11th December - 3rd January.