Monk and Sparidaans claim first Tour Cards of 2023 Q Schools
2011 World Youth Champion Monk was victorious at UK Q School in Milton Keynes, while surprise package Sparidaans reigned supreme at European Q School in Kalkar, Germany.
Monk, who first burst onto the scene in 2010, defeated Dom Taylor 6-3 in the final to regain his place on the professional circuit for the first time since 2019.
The 32-year-old posted averages over 95 in wins over Cliff Prior and Luke Smith en route to the quarter-finals, where he whitewashed Mark McGeeney 6-0.
This was followed by a 6-1 rout of Stephen Burton in the semi-finals, before he averaged 94.6 to defeat Taylor and seal his Tour Card.
Elsewhere at the Marshall Arena, Fallon Sherrock reached the quarter-finals for the first time, while former World Championship runner-up Andy Hamilton also made it as far as the last eight.
At the Wunderland in Kalkar, Sparidaans won a Tour Card for the first time on just his second Q School appearance.
The Dutchman, whose only PDC experience came at 2020 Q Schools, defeated former Tour Card Holder Maik Kuivenhoven in the last 16, before averaging 101.62 in his semi-final win over Jacques Labre.
Sparidaans scored a 6-2 victory over veteran Ronny Huybrechts in the final to book his place on tour in 2023 and 2024.
Friday will offer a further chance for players to win Tour Cards, with play commencing at 1200 CET in Kalkar and 1200 GMT in Milton Keynes.
In addition to the daily Tour Card winners, a further 19 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 - ten in Europe, and nine in the UK.
The Orders of Merit for both UK and European Qualifying Schools are listed below - click here to see the full Q School Orders of Merit
Click here for full results and match stats from European Qualifying School Final Stage Day One
Click here for full results and match stats from UK Qualifying School Final Stage Day One
2023 PDC Qualifying Schools
European Final Stage Day One
Last 16
Thibault Tricole 6-5 Max Hopp
Niels Zonneveld 6-3 Jeffrey De Zwaan
Ronny Huybrechts 6-2 Robbie Knops
John Michael 6-5 Marcel Hausotter
Jacques Labre 6-5 Andy Baetens
Pascal Rupprecht 6-4 Franz Roetzsch
Jeffrey Sparidaans 6-1 Maik Kuivenhoven
Owen Roelofs 6-5 Richard Veenstra
Quarter-Finals
Niels Zonneveld 6-3 Thibault Tricole
Ronny Huybrechts 6-4 John Michael
Jacques Labre 6-3 Pascal Rupprecht
Jeffrey Sparidaans 6-4 Owen Roelofs
Semi-Finals
Ronny Huybrechts 6-1 Niels Zonneveld
Jeffrey Sparidaans 6-4 Jacques Labre
Final
Jeffrey Sparidaans 6-2 Ronny Huybrechts
UK Final Stage Day One
Last 16
Christian Perez 6-4 Scott Baker
Andy Hamilton 6-2 Owen Bates
Graham Usher 6-5 John Henderson
Dom Taylor 6-5 Nick Kenny
Fallon Sherrock 6-5 Ryan Harrington
Stephen Burton 6-4 Nathan Girvan
Arron Monk 6-4 Luke Smith
Mark McGeeney 6-4 Andy Boulton
Quarter-Finals
Christian Perez 6-2 Andy Hamilton
Dom Taylor 6-3 Graham Usher
Stephen Burton 6-4 Fallon Sherrock
Arron Monk 6-0 Mark McGeeney
Semi-Finals
Dom Taylor 6-1 Christian Perez
Arron Monk 6-1 Stephen Burton
Final
Arron Monk 6-3 Dom Taylor
C/Ds Josh Phillips/PDC