Alan Tabern secures return to PDC Pro Tour
Monday 29 January 2018 20:47, UK
Alan Tabern picked up one of day two's three PDC Pro Tour cards as Q-School continued in Wigan and Germany.
After youngster Corey Cadby took the headlines on the opening day, it was 51-year-old Tabern who was the most high-profile name to win a card - joining fellow St Helen's seasoned campaigner Eddie Dootson in sealing a prestigious place on the PDC Tour.
Tabern is a former World Matchplay and World Championship quarter-finalist and also made the semi-final of the UK Open during his mid-2000s pomp.
The Saint has been on the Tour since 2005 but had lost his card in 2017 although a string of strong performances saw him chalk up eight victories on an epic day to return to the Pro Tour circuit after his 12 month hiatus.
He was joined by Welshman Robert Owen in claiming the two places on offer at Wigan's Robin Hood Tennis Centre, while in Hildesheim it was another Dutchman who followed Jeffrey de Zwaan in sealing the place on offer - Mario Robbe beating Frantisek Humpula in the European final.
Tabern was beaten in the last 32 by Ryan Harrington in Wigan on Thursday while Owen lost out at the same stage to Mark Wilson, but it was a different story on day two as the pair secured their status among the Tour's professionals for 2018.
Steven Kirby and Mike Norton were the unlucky losers in the final four on Friday, although their run will have given them a decent standing for a place on the Q-School Order of Merit at the end of what promises to be an arduous four days.
The record field, which started out at more than 600 players in Europe and the UK are back in action again on Saturday for their penultimate chance to win a card.
Six more cards will be given out for the 2018 PDC season to the winners over the next two days and at the end of the four days, points accrued will determine an Order of Merit for each event and 15 further cards will be handed - 15 at the UK school and the top six from the European equivalent.
Darts returns to Sky Sports in less than a fortnight with the Premier League getting underway in Dublin on Thursday February 1 - coverage gets underway from 7pm on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Mix
Live Premier League Darts
Keep up to date with the latest darts news, previews, reports, reaction and expert analysis. Get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts- don't forget to use #LoveTheDarts
