Peter Jacques kept his hopes alive of claiming one of two two-year PDC tour cards up for grabs in this year’s Unicorn Challenge Tour after winning Event 17 in Wigan this afternoon.
The Huddersfield thrower is currently ranked 83rd on the PDC Order of Merit, by virtue of his surprise run to the final of Players Championship 1 in Barnsley back in February, as well as playing in three European Tour events so far this season.
But Jacques will be looking to secure an automatic tour card for 2018 and 2019 by finishing in the top two on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit, with the competition reaching its conclusion this weekend with the final four events of the season.
Jacques has boosted his chances of moving into the top two after winning the first of those tournaments, Event 17, earlier today, beating Order of Merit leader Wayne Jones 5-2 in the final.
It was Jacques’ second Challenge Tour title of the season, following on from his Event 11 triumph in May, and the £2,000 winner’s prize money has moved him level on £5,200 with Aaron Dyer in third spot on the Order of Merit.
Jones still leads the way on £7,750, while former World Championship finalist Mark Dudbridge, in second, was knocked out in the last 64 by Paul Phillips and is on £6,100.
Event 18 is currently underway, while Events 19 and 20 will take place tomorrow before we know the final Order of Merit and the two players who have won two-year tour cards onto the main PDC circuit for 2018 and 2019.
Unicorn Challenge Tour
Event 17
Quarter-Finals
Adam Smith-Neale 5-3 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez
Peter Jacques 5-1 Arjan Konterman
Wayne Jones 5-4 Paul Phillips
Adam Huckvale 5-1 Ian Withers
Semi-Finals
Peter Jacques 5-4 Adam Smith-Neale
Wayne Jones 5-2 Adam Huckvale
Final
Peter Jacques 5-2 Wayne Jones
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