Henderson, Klaasen & Kurz confirm European Tour returns

John Henderson (PDC)

John Henderson, Jelle Klaasen and Nico Kurz were amongst the players to secure their spots in the opening European Tour events of 2023 last weekend.

The Host Nation Qualifiers for ET1-ET4 took place in Hildesheim from February 10-12, on a weekend which also saw the first five Associate Member Qualifiers held in Germany.

Former World Cup winner Henderson - a European Tour finalist in 2015 - came through Associate Member Qualifiers for ET2 and ET5 to confirm his place in March’s European Darts Open and April's Austrian Darts Open.

Henderson’s compatriot Andy Boulton also starred, coming through ET2, ET3 and ET4 Qualifiers in Hildesheim to seal his European Tour return.

Dutch duo Martijn Dragt and Jeroen Mioch prevailed in Friday’s opening event, and after Mioch also sealed his spot in ET3, three-time PDC event winner Klaasen joined Henderson in coming through Sunday’s ET5 Qualifier.

Elsewhere, Niko Springer and Liam Maendl-Lawrance won through two of the four Host Nation Qualifiers last weekend, with Springer posting a sensational 114 average to dispatch Nico Kurz and seal his place in ET3.

Kurz enjoyed success in Friday’s ET2 Qualifier alongside former World Championship qualifier Rene Eidams, with Dragutin Horvat joining Maendl-Lawrance in clinching a place in April’s German Darts Grand Prix (ET4).

Meanwhile, Lukas Wenig will feature at the Baltic Sea Darts Open later this month, after celebrating success in the ET1 Qualifier alongside Springer.

Last weekend also saw the East Europe Qualifiers for ET1-ET4 take place in Hungary, with Czech star Filip Sebesta securing a qualification double for the year’s opening two events.

UK Open quarter-finalist Sebastian Bialecki impressed to clinch his place in ET3, with his compatriot Tytus Kanik coming out on top in Sunday’s ET4 Qualifier.

2023 PDC European Tour
Associate Member Qualifiers
February 10-12
Halle 39, Hildesheim

ET1: Martijn Dragt & Jeroen Mioch
ET2: John Henderson & Andy Boulton
ET3: Jeroen Mioch & Andy Boulton
ET4: Andy Boulton & Berry Van Peer
ET5: Jelle Klaasen & John Henderson

Host Nation Qualifiers
February 10-11
Halle 39, Hildesheim

ET1: Niko Springer & Lukas Wenig
ET2: Rene Eidams & Nico Kurz
ET3: Niko Springer & Liam Maendl-Lawrance
ET4: Dragutin Horvat & Liam Maendl-Lawrance

East Europe Qualifiers
February 11-12
Budapest, Hungary

ET1: Filip Sebesta
ET2: Filip Sebesta
ET3: Sebastian Bialecki
ET4: Tytus Kanik