PDC to continue expansion in Europe with the launch of a European Qualifying School in 2018

The PDC have announced they will be staging a European Qualifying School for the first time in 2018.

Yesterday saw the organisation’s calendar for 2018 confirmed, with one of the most intriguing announcements the launch of a European Qualifying School.

The new event will run simultaneously with the existing Qualifying School in the UK from January 18-21, and will be held in Hildesheim, Germany next year.

More details are to follow in due course from the PDC, including how the allocation of tour cards will be given out between the two events, as well as if there are any restrictions on which Qualifying School players can enter.

The PDC introduced Qualifying School to its calendar in 2011, with the four-day event offering players the opportunity to win a two-year tour card onto the main circuit.

Since its first staging in 2011, 225 two-year tour cards have been given out through the Qualifying School system, with the most notable of those to have won one including Dave Chisnall, Daryl Gurney, Gerwyn Price, Benito van de Pas and Kyle Anderson.

This year’s Qualifying School back in January saw 28 tour cards handed out, with the four winners from each of the four days’ play joined by the top 12 players on the Qualifying School Order of Merit.

The most tour cards given out in one year at Qualifying School was in 2014 when 43 were available, but that figure has decreased in each of the last three years.