Adam Gawlas and Richard Veenstra were among the first eight players to make it through PDC Qualifying Schools Stage 1A on Monday, while Raymond van Barneveld made his highly-anticipated return.
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- Barney: I feel reborn
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- Qualifying School Guide
The opening day of Q Schools saw Stage 1A began in Milton Keynes (UK Q School) and Niedernhausen (European Q School), with over 300 players bidding to reach the Final Stage, where PDC Tour Cards will be awarded.
The opening day in Europe saw Gawlas, Veenstra, Michael Plooy and Lorenzo Pronk become the first four players to make it through, while in the UK, Eddie Lovely, Chas Barstow, Derek Coulson and Dale Hughes advanced.
Former World Youth Championship runner-up Gawlas set the standard on the opening day in Germany, as the 18-year-old Czech averaged well over 90 in four of his five wins, sealing his path through with victory over Croatia's Pero Ljubic.
Experienced Dutchman Veenstra, a former Lakeside Championship semi-finalist, also enjoyed a successful start to his bid for a place on the PDC tour for the first time.
Multiple-European Tour event qualifier Plooy and Q School debutant Pronk made it a trio of Dutch successes on Day One thanks to last eight wins over the much-fancied German prospect Nico Kurz and Belgium's Geert De Vos respectively.
Much of the attention in Niedernhausen was focused on five-time World Champion Van Barneveld, making his comeback appearance in PDC competition after announcing his decision to come out of retirement.
The Dutch legend got off to a strong start with a trio of victories, including a 100 average in the last 32 against Gillian Koehoorn, before going down to Ljubic 6-5 in the last 16.
Van Barneveld will be among the players returning for the second day of Stage 1A on Tuesday where the final four players from each venue will once again advance to Final Stage.
In Milton Keynes, experienced campaigner Lovely got the better of Scottish youngster Nathan Girvan in their qualification decider.
Barstow, in his third Q School appearance, defeated former Grand Slam of Darts qualifier Adam Smith-Neale, while Welsh pair Coulson and Hughes defeated John Imrie and Josh McCarthy respectively.
Elsewhere at the Marshall Arena, Fallon Sherrock exited at the last 64 stage, Wes Newton reached the last 32, while Kevin Painter and Wayne Warren failed to make it beyond the last 128.
UK Qualifying School Stage 1A Day One
Last 16 onwards. For all the results and detailed stats from day one of UK Qualifying School, head to Dart Connect (tv.dartconnect.com/events/pdc)
Last 16
- Eddie Lovely 6-2 Stephen Gallimore
- Nathan Girvan 6-2 David Wawrzewski
- Adam Smith-Neale 6-5 David Airey
- Chas Barstow 6-5 Kevin Thomas
- John Imrie 6-1 Kevin McDine
- Derek Coulson 6-0 John Scott
- Josh McCarthy 6-2 John Brown
- Dale Hughes 6-3 Connor Scutt
Last Eight
- Eddie Lovely 6-2 Nathan Girvan
- Chas Barstow 6-4 Adam Smith-Neale
- Derek Coulson 6-4 John Imrie
- Dale Hughes 6-5 Josh McCarthy
European Qualifying School Stage 1A Day One
Last 16 onwards. For all the results and detailed stats from day one of European Qualifying School, head to Dart Connect (tv.dartconnect.com/events/pdc)
Last 16
- Nico Kurz 6-3 Dennie Olde Kalter
- Michael Plooy 6-3 Mario Vandenbogaerde
- Pero Ljubic 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
- Adam Gawlas 6-1 Jiri Brejcha
- Geert De Vos 6-5 Moreno Blom
- Lorenzo Pronk 6-2 Michael Unterbuchner
- Remo Mandiau 6-4 El Abbas El Amri
- Richard Veenstra 6-2 Niko Springer
Last Eight
- Michael Plooy 6-4 Nico Kurz
- Adam Gawlas 6-1 Pero Ljubic
- Lorenzo Pronk 6-4 Geert De Vos
- Richard Veenstra 6-4 Remo Mandiau
