Darts star Keegan Brown, 19.
DARTSYOUNG darts star Keegan Brown has become the first IW player to earn his tour card from the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
Keegan, 19, of Newport, earned his two-year pass to all PDC competitions — effectively making him a professional player — after a brilliant performance at a qualifying tournament, held over four days at the Barnsley Metrodome.
More than 200 from around the country took part in the competition, with the top 24 earning their cards.
Keegan, who is sponsored by Unicorn Darts, enjoyed four good victories on the first day, before losing to 2003 world masters’ champion Tony West.
On the second day he lost his only match but then earned more victories and qualification points on the third day, with three wins. The final day he picked up another three points with victories over Toon Greebe, Dave Ladley and Peter Evison.
He said: "It was the most mentally and physically exhausting thing I’ve ever done, but I’m over the moon to get my tour card.
"I’ve played darts for as long as I can remember and now I’m really excited about the year to come."
His first PDC event will be the two-day UK Open qualifier held in Crawley in two weeks’ time.
Four other IW players took part as well, and all did well enough across the tournament to become affiliated members of the PDC, enabling them to enter the eight PDC UK opens, and the European tour.
Those players were Joe Hunt, Jason Simpkins, Andrew Palmer and Stu Woodmore.