By Jaimie Eccles
Following the conclusion of the World Championship, the 2026 darting calendar is officially underway. The first event of the year for fans of the sport to turn their attention to is Q-School, with January 8th signalling the beginning of the final stage of the event.
This year sees a record 925 participants competing at Q-School, which has now narrowed down to 128 in the UK and 128 in Europe ready to compete to win their tour card. 29 tour cards are available to be won, and the stakes are as high as ever.
This piece will list five players competing in the final stage of Q-School who may be worth keeping an eye on as we get underway on Thursday.
Andreas Harrysson
The first man on the list is a very familiar name for those who were watching the World Championship in the form of Andreas Harrysson.
The Swede had a very successful debut campaign at the World Championship, making it to the last 16 with wins over Ricardo Pietreczko, Motomu Sakai and most notably, Ross Smith.
Harrysson is one of 27 players to get an exemption into the final stage of the European version of Q-School this year after topping the order of merit for the Nordic and Baltic Tour last year.
The 50-year-old came within a win of earning a tour card at the World Championship but will undoubtedly be a favourite to earn one here if he can do so much as come close to replicating his Ally Pally form.
Charlie Manby
Another man who impressed at the World Championship who finds himself looking for his tour card at Q-School this year is Charlie Manby.
Manby also made it to the last 16 at Ally Pally this year alongside Harrysson, overcoming Cameron Menzies, Adam Sevada and Ricky Evans before losing to runner-up Gian van Veen.
The 20-year-old Englishman has had a strong year as a whole, finishing 4th in the Development Tour order of merit to earn his exemption to the final stage. Along the way he famously broke the record for the highest average in the history of the Development Tour, averaging 130.70 against Patrik Williams.
2025 was a breakthrough year for Charlie Manby, and the odds seem to be in his favour to continue that rise and earn himself a tour card for 2026.
Cristo Reyes
The first name on this list to have qualified for the final stage of Q-School through the first stage of the event is Spaniard Cristo Reyes.
Reyes secured his place in the final stage at the second time of asking, overcoming Germany’s Marc Spalt by five legs to two to earn his spot.
‘The Spartan’ lost his first match at the World Championship this year to eventual finalist Gian van Veen but gave a very strong account of himself in the process. Reyes averaged over 96, hit five maximums and checked out 167 in a 3-1 loss to ‘The Giant’.
The 38-year-old has a wealth of experience to his name with many strong performances at major tournaments in the past, including a notable run in the 2015 World Championship in which he made the last 16 and made eventual champion Gary Anderson work hard to beat him.
After ending a prolonged period away from the sport last year, Cristo Reyes will be eager to earn back his tour card and will be a strong candidate to do so.
Arron Monk
A name viewers may be slightly less familiar with comes in the form of Englishman Arron Monk.
The 35-year-old, best known as a former World Youth champion, lost his tour card following the conclusion of the 2025 World Championship. He was unsuccessful in reclaiming his card last year at Q-School and will be looking to change his misfortune this time around.
Aside from his status as a World Youth champion, Arron Monk may be recognised as the son of former Winmau World Masters champion and BDO World Championship semi-finalist Colin Monk.
Monk secured his spot in the final stage with a 5-2 victory over fellow Englishman Daniel Ayres, in which he averaged over 94. ‘Mad Monk’ has demonstrated his quality in the past and could well be in with a shout of earning back his tour card this week.
John Henderson
Perhaps the most recognisable name on the list, John Henderson will join the other 127 UK representatives in looking to earn their tour card in the final stage of Q-School this year.
Henderson found himself at the top of the order of merit going into the final day of the first stage of Q-School, but secured his spot anyway with a 5-2 win over fellow Scotsman Darren Armstrong.
‘Highlander’ is a fan favourite among darts fans for a variety of reasons and moments, whether that be his emotional reaction to winning the World Cup with Scotland in 2021 or managing to get a draw out of World Champion Michael van Gerwen in the Premier League in 2019 to perhaps the greatest crowd reception ever seen.
Hendo lost his tour card after the 2022 season and has yet to win it back. Regardless, the Scotsman has stayed active in the sport and managed to pick up the 2024 World Seniors Darts Championship along the way. Should he be able to play close to his brilliant best, John Henderson has a very solid chance of reclaiming a tour card and will undoubtedly be one to watch.