Darts player who had never played in PDC event wins surprise tour card after incredible Q-School run
The first tour card winner from the 2025 Q-School had never played a PDC darts event prior to this week - but will now be on the tour for the next two years after securing victory in Thursday's event.
Q-School is effectively the qualifying stage for all players who do not have a PDC tour card for 2025, with any player eligible to enter the first stage as long as they pay a set £475 fee.
Because of logistics and the amount of players who enter, Q-School events are held in Milton Keynes for UK players, while European players compete in the EU Q-School in Kalkar, Germany.
In the UK version of the second and final stage - which also allows players from outside Europe to compete - there was a shock on day one.
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The event is featuring a crowded field, with the likes of Mervyn King, Simon Whitlock and Christian Perez all trying to win back their tour cards while Fallon Sherrock and Beau Greaves are among those trying to secure a card for the first time.
Eventually, it was relative unknown Tom Bissell who triumphed, winning seven best-of-11-leg matches over the course of day to secure an automatic tour card for two seasons.
Bissell averaged at least 85 in all seven matches in a show of remarkable consistency, and even dumped out former tour card holder John Henderson via a last-leg decider in the last 32.
His second-best average of the day came in the final, as he saw off former World Youth Championship winner Bradley Brooks 6-5.
The success came as a major surprise to even seasoned darts fans, with very little of Bissell's name on social media prior to the four-day event.
In his post-final interview, PDC reporter Dan Dawson even asked Bissell: "With the greatest of respect, Tom - who are you?"
In the first stage, the Englishman only won one match on day one and was knocked out in the first round on day two.
On the third day, he reached the last 32 - starting from the round of 256 - to secure his place in the final stage.
Speaking to the PDC after the match, the 37-year-old from Dudley said that he believes he is 'ready' to play on tour, despite never playing in the PDC before this week.
He said: "I'm really chuffed, just overwhelmed. I've probably been playing about 10 years... I've always been a bit humble with it, never backed myself really. But today I had to, and it paid off."
Bissell has enjoyed major success in local darts leagues and recently won the Amblecote RBL Premier League title, averaging 101.70 in one game and fending off a field that contained former PDC tour card holder Nick Fullwell.
His other opponents at local level include Jason Lowe, who once reached the fourth round of the PDC World Championship, and Bissell has achieved individual and team success in various competitions in 2024.
Q-School continues today in the UK and Europe, with the remaining 127 players from each continuing to battle for nine and 12 tour cards - and the three remaining automatic cards for winning each day - respectively via the Order of Merit.
Q-School has the ability to throw up memorable stories every year, and Bissell is not the first surprise name to pick up a tour card.
Back in 2021, former prison officer Aaron Beeney - who DartsNews claimed had previously won just £150 in prize money - picked up a two-year card by winning the third day outright.
Topics: Darts
Ryan Smart