PAYNE WINS BACK HIS GOLDEN TICKET - PDC QSCHOOL
MODUS Super Series star Josh Payne secured his return to the PDC Pro Tour after winning the third available tour card in Milton Keynes, battling back from 5-3 down to beat Chris Quantock 6-5 in a dramatic Final on Day 3 at UK Qualifying School.
The Maximum lost his card in 2021 but will be eligible to play in the Players Championship events for the next two years, showing last year through the MODUS events he was returning to top form including a victory in Phase 4 back in July, beating Conor Heneghan in the Final to qualify for Champions Week.
The Red Dragon man came very close to hitting a perfect nine dart leg in Milton Keynes, missing D12 in his Semi Final victory over Graham Hall. Payne ran out a 6-3 winner including an average of 100.30 to reach his first Final in the Final stage of Qualifying School 2023.
The 29-year-old ends a one year wait for a tour card, including some fantastic performances on Day 3, beating Scotsman Andy Boulton in a last leg decider at the Last 64 stage. The Englishman hadn’t made it beyond the Second Round after the opening two days of action in Milton Keynes, including a First-Round exit against Fallon Sherrock on Thursday.
The former UK Open Quarter Finalist performed when it really mattered though on the Saturday, including a win over the MODUS Super Series Champions Week winner Conan Whitehead in the Quarter Finals, winning 6-4 with an average of 96.79.
Payne will hope to push on now in 2023 as he joins the likes of Peter Wright, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, Jamie Hughes, and Ryan Meikle as part of Team Red Dragon for the upcoming PDC darting year.
The Maximum will be on the hunt for a spot at the 2024 World Darts Championship come the end of the year, appearing on the Alexandra Palace stage three times so far in his darting career.
The Professional Darts Corporation Pro Tour kicks off on the 11th of February from the Barnsley Metrodome, with thirty events scheduled for this year as well as the European Tours which Payne will be now eligible to qualify for, after earning his golden ticket in Milton Keynes.
By Harry Masterson
Qualifying School Day 3 Results:
Quarter Finals:
Chris Quantock 6-3 Lewis Gurney
Dylan Slevin 6-3 Keegan Brown
Josh Payne 6-4 Conan Whitehead
Graham Hall 6-2 Lee Evans
Semi Finals:
Chris Quantock 6-4 Dylan Slevin
Josh Payne 6-3 Graham Hall
Final:
Josh Payne 6-5 Chris Quantock