Former two-time BDO champion Ted Hankey has accepted the offer of a Tour Card to play on the PDC circuit.
'The Count' gets his teeth into two-year deal
Former two-time BDO champion Ted Hankey has accepted the offer of a Tour Card to play on the PDC circuit.
'The Count' had been offered a place along with the other three semi-finalists from the recent BDO World Championship but was the only one to accept.
While Hankey will make his debut in the two Players Championships in Benidorm on January 28 & 29, over 200 players will be bidding for the right to win Tour Cards at Qualifying School this week.
"It's an exciting time for me and I'm starting a new chapter in my career," said Hankey. "I had 15 great years with the BDO and I thank them, but it's time to move on now.
"This is a great opportunity for me and my family and one I'm really looking forward to. I can't wait to play in Benidorm next week."
Always a confident character, Hankey insists he can live with the big boys in the PDC, but accepts he needs to up his game to achieve his ambition of making the Premier League.
"Of course I can play in the PDC, everyone knows I can, I've won two world titles and they aren't just given to you, you've got to earn them," Hankey added. "And obviously I had a good Grand Slam as well so it's just a case of knuckling down and getting on with the job.
"Everyone wants to play in the Premier League. I watch it at home and think wow look at those crowds but I've got to work to get there, you don't just get handed the Premier League. So that's a big challenge for me to try and make that step up and make it into the Premier League.
"I love the sport, I try my best every time I walk out there, but I've got to pick my game up as the last couple of years I've been a bit idle but now I'll be playing almost every week."
The Q-school in Barnsley will see four players earn cards on each of the four days' play.
Entrants include two former Lakeside champions, Andy Fordham and Les Wallace, former world number one Peter Manley, 2001 World Grand Prix champion Alan Warriner-Little and 1996 World Matchplay champion Peter Evison.
