Southland plumber chases pro darts contract
Qualifying School will see players competing at venues in the UK and Germany simultaneously across the three-day “First Stage” and four-day “Final Stage” from January 6 to12.
Southland 24-year-old Kayden Milne is in Germany attempting to win a pro darts contract.
Milne will take part in the highly contested Professional Darts Corporation Qualifying School.
The event provides any darts player aged 16 and above the opportunity to win a two-year PDC Tour Card to compete alongside the sport’s biggest stars on the professional circuit.
Qualifying School will see players competing at venues in the UK and Germany simultaneously across the three-day “First Stage” and four-day “Final Stage” from January 6 to12.
UK Qualifying School will take place at Milton Keynes’ Marshall Arena, with Milne lining up at Wunderland Kalkar in Germany which plays host to European Qualifying School.
The First Stage will be held across three days, with the eight quarter-finalists from each day qualifying automatically for the Final Stage.
The remaining places in the Final Stage - up to a total of 128 at each venue – are decided from an Order of Merit.
Players who lost their Tour Card at the end of 2024 will progress through to Final Stage in either the UK or European Qualifying School.
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Milne has emerged as one of New Zealand’s more talented players and made a name for himself when in 2023 he knocked out British professional Fallon Sherrock at the New Zealand Darts Masters before being beaten by 2023 world champion Michael Smith.
The Invercargill plumber has represented New Zealand at the PDC World Youth Championships.
In 2024 he reached the round of 16 at the World Youth Championships and came very close to booking a quarter-final spot.