Arron Monk, George Killington and Tytus Killington win PDC Tour cards
Final cards to be handed out on Sunday with three automatic spots and Order of Merit spots to be finalised
Monday 29 January 2018 20:46, UK
Former world youth champion Arron Monk was joined by George Killington and Tytus Kanik in claiming three PDC Tour cards on Saturday.
After a two-year gap Monk, who beat Michael van Gerwen to win the world youth title in 2011, defeated Lee Evans 5-2 in their UK Q-School match to return to the professional ranks and end hopes of having to rely on the final standings.
At the end of the four days, when the two automatic spots each day will have been decided, the top 15 places on the Q-School Order of Merit will also be awarded Tour cards and Monk was well placed even if he lost the final.
However, the 27-year-old from Basingstoke claimed seven wins on Saturday, including a victory over Cameron Menzies to seal his card and he was joined by 21-year-old Killington, who beat Gary Eastwood in the other decider.
"I'm pretty relieved and happy," said Monk.
"I've seen the opportunities in the game now and the levels of prize money going up, and I've seen some of the players that I was beating in my youth doing really well.
"I knew I had to take it more seriously and I've concentrated more. It's a fresh start for me now - Arron Monk Mark Two; it's a different Arron with a different attitude.
Killington took out former world no 1 Colin Lloyd, Dean Winstanley and Dawson Murschell among others on his way to a meeting with Eastwood whom he beat 5-3 in their decider.
A couple of wins on Sunday for both Evans and Eastwood should be enough to secure a Merit place while Killington was delighted to end an emotional road.
"It's an emotional moment but I'm so happy," said Killington. "I knew I had the ability and I showed that when I won the Development Tour event and reached a couple of other finals at a young age.
"Then my mother was taken ill and I put my family first to help bring up my brother and sister. I had to learn how to grow up as a man and it's been a long road.
"I still believed that I could make it in the game and to win my Tour Card today is a dream come true. I knew I was capable and I tried my hardest and made it happen - I'm speechless.
In Northern Germany, history was made when Kanik beat Jose Justica in the final of European Qualifying School to become the first Polish player to win a PDC Tour card.
It had been Dutchmen who had taken the honours on the opening two days in Hildesheim with Jeffrey de Zwaan and Mario Robbe earning their places for next year.
But on Saturday Kanik beat Spain's Justica 5-3 to join them as one of the automatic qualifiers and earn a debut on the Pro Tour.
"Today was fantastic - yesterday I lost in the semi-final but today I played very well," the 33-year-old said after his victory.
"I thought I had a little chance to win a Tour Card, 10 per cent, but I'm very happy."
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