Report, Rankings after Day 1
Steve Lennon and Martijn Dragt became the first players to win PDC Tour Cards at the 2024 Qualifying Schools on Thursday.
Former World Cup of Darts runner-up Lennon was victorious at UK Q School in Milton Keynes, while Dragt took the first card at European Q School in Kalkar, Germany.
Lennon, who narrowly lost his Tour Card following the 2023/24 World Darts Championship, won it back at the first time of asking thanks to a succession of strong displays.
The Irishman kicked off the day with a 101.42 average in a 6-2 win over Leighton Bennett, before seeing off Shaun Wilkinson and Brett Claydon to reach the last 16.
There, he came through a dramatic encounter with Matthew Dennant, surviving seven match darts to reach the quarter-finals where he overcame Justin Hood.
Lennon defeated George Killington 6-2 in the semi-finals before coming back from 4-3 down to beat Borland 6-4 and seal his place back on the professional circuit.
Meanwhile, Dragt defeated former Tour Card Holders Jesus Noguera, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez and Mario Vandenbogaerde on his way to the final.
An all-Dutch final saw Chris Landman take a 5-2 lead, before Dragt won four successive legs to win a Tour Card for the first time.
Friday will offer a further chance for players to win Tour Cards, with play commencing at 1300 CET in Kalkar and 1200 GMT in Milton Keynes.
In addition to the daily Tour Card winners, a further 23 Tour Cards will be awarded on a pro-rata basis to players from the respective UK/European Qualifying School Final Stage Orders of Merit following Day Four - 13 in Europe, and 10 in the UK.
UK Qualifying School Order of Merit after first day
Rank | Name | Points | Leg-Diff | Legs Won |
1 | William Borland | 5 | 13 | 40 |
2 | George Killington | 4 | 11 | 32 |
3 | Andy Boulton | 4 | 2 | 32 |
4 | Justin Hood | 3 | 12 | 27 |
5 | Patrick Lynskey | 3 | 10 | 25 |
6 | Cameron Crabtree | 3 | 7 | 29 |
7 | Shane McGuirk | 3 | 4 | 27 |
8 | Matthew Dennant | 2 | 13 | 23 |
9 | Justin Smith | 2 | 12 | 23 |
10 | Ashley Coleman | 2 | 7 | 22 |
11 | Jamess Hurrell | 2 | 6 | 22 |
12 | Thomas Lovely | 2 | 5 | 23 |
13 | Darren Armstrong | 2 | 5 | 19 |
13 | Jamie Atkins | 2 | 4 | 23 |
15 | Colin Osborne | 2 | 3 | 19 |
16 | Scott Taylor | 1 | 8 | 17 |
17 | Jim McEwan | 1 | 7 | 17 |
18 | Seane Fisher | 1 | 5 | 17 |
19 | Carl Wilson | 1 | 4 | 17 |
20 | Lee Cocks | 1 | 4 | 15 |
21 | Nick Fullwell | 1 | 3 | 17 |
22 | Llew Bevan | 1 | 2 | 14 |
23 | Conan Whitehead | 1 | 1 | 17 |
24 | Richie Burnett | 1 | 1 | 16 |
25 | Brett Claydon | 1 | 1 | 14 |
26 | Christopher Harvey | 1 | 1 | 14 |
27 | Kevin Leadenham | 1 | 1 | 14 |
28 | Joe Croft | 1 | 0 | 14 |
29 | Kevin Bruness | 0 | 0 | 9 |
30 | Jarred Cole | 0 | -1 | 13 |
31 | Jonathan Kavanagh | -3 | 12 | 13 |
European Qualifying School Order of Merit after first day
Rank | Name | Points | Leg-Diff | Legs won |
1 | Chris Landman | 5 | 17 | 41 |
2 | Mario Vandenbogaerde | 16 | 34 | 35 |
3 | Christian Kist | 4 | 8 | 33 |
4 | Lukas Wenig | 3 | 12 | 29 |
5 | Tomas Houdek | 3 | 9 | 29 |
6 | Darius Labanauskas | 3 | 9 | 26 |
7 | Wesley Plaisier | 3 | 9 | 25 |
8 | Radek Szaganski | 2 | 11 | 23 |
9 | Stefan Schroder | 2 | 7 | 22 |
10 | Franz Roetzsch | 2 | 7 | 21 |
11 | Dragutin Horvat | 2 | 6 | 20 |
12 | Jules van Dongen | 2 | 6 | 20 |
13 | Laurens Admiraal | 2 | 5 | 22 |
13 | Rusty-Jake Rodriguez | 2 | 5 | 22 |
15 | Haupai Puha | 2 | 2 | 20 |
16 | Thibault Tricole | 1 | 7 | 15 |
17 | Jitse van der Wal | 1 | 6 | 17 |
18 | Mareno Michels | 1 | 5 | 17 |
19 | Ron Meulenkamp | 1 | 5 | 16 |
20 | Liam Maendl-Lawrance | 1 | 5 | 15 |
21 | Simeon Heinz | 1 | 4 | 14 |
22 | Jelle Klaasen | 1 | 3 | 17 |
23 | Ryuta Arihara | 1 | 3 | 16 |
24 | Dennie Olde Kalter | 1 | 3 | 14 |
25 | John Michael | 1 | 3 | 14 |
26 | Christopher Toonders | 1 | 3 | 17 |
27 | Benjamin Reus | 1 | 3 | 16 |
28 | Christian Goedl | 1 | 3 | 16 |
29 | Bradley Roes | 1 | 1 | 13 |
30 | Ricardo Perez-Ibarra | 1 | -1 | 14 |
31 | Jody Tobback | 1 | -4 | 3 |
Highlighted are the places for a Tour Card by the Ranking