In the high-stakes world of **PDC Qualifying School**, where dreams are forged and shattered in a matter of legs, few moments have captured the imagination quite like the stunning breakthrough of Polish darts star **Filip Bereza**. On the opening day of the European Q-School in Kalkar, the relatively unknown player clinched one of the two automatic two-year **PDC Tour Cards** up for grabs, marking what many are calling one of the biggest shocks in the tournament’s history.
Bereza, who had never previously competed in a PDC event, produced an improbable and resilient run that defied all expectations. He went unbeaten throughout the entire day, securing six crucial victories in the Final Stage. Remarkably, this came on the back of a perfect performance in the First Stage, where he won all five of his matches, allowing him to bypass the additional days of that phase entirely.
His path included solid wins over Michael Hurtz and Peter Keleman early on, followed by a convincing 6-2 victory against former tour card holder Michael Unterbuchner. Bereza then dispatched Marcel Otter and Maikel Verberk to reach the semi-finals, setting up a dramatic showdown against **Jeffrey de Zwaan**, the Dutch former two-time Players Championship winner and one of the day’s overwhelming favorites.
De Zwaan had been in scintillating form earlier, thrashing Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer 6-1 in the quarter-finals with an average exceeding 100. He held multiple match darts against Bereza and appeared poised to secure his return to the ProTour after losing his card at the end of 2024. Yet, in a tense best-of-11 encounter, Bereza fought back valiantly from a deficit, holding his nerve to win the deciding leg in just 20 darts and seal a thrilling 6-5 victory.
This outcome sent ripples through the darts community, highlighting the unpredictable and brutal nature of Q-School. With 128 competitors facing off in rapid, high-pressure matches, the format allows for underdogs to string together hot streaks and upset the odds. Bereza’s achievement is even more striking given his modest profile—he reached the second round of the WDF World Masters last year but remains a newcomer to most fans. His success means Poland will have three representatives on the ProTour in 2026, joining established star Krzysztof Ratajski (a recent World Championship quarter-finalist) and Sebastian Bialecki.
The day also saw Germany’s **Arno Merk** claim the other automatic Tour Card from the European event. Merk, who had impressed by defeating big names like Kim Huybrechts and Peter Wright en route to the third round of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, secured his first-ever Tour Card with a hard-fought 6-5 win over Jeffrey Sparidaans in the final, surviving several match darts in the process.
Meanwhile, over in the UK Qualifying School in Milton Keynes, the first day’s automatic cards went to **Rhys Griffin** and Australia’s **Adam Leek**. Griffin, who had lost his Tour Card at the end of 2025, reclaimed his spot in emphatic fashion, capping his day with a 6-0 whitewash of former Grand Slam champion Scott Waites. Leek, making his mark on the biggest stage, edged out Tyler Thorpe 6-5 in a nail-biting decider after earlier knocking out the experienced Steve Beaton.
Q-School’s intensity is legendary—players must navigate quick turnarounds, maintain composure under pressure, and capitalize on fleeting momentum. Historical surprises, like Aaron Beeney (a prison officer at the time) winning a card in 2020, remind everyone that the event rewards those who peak at the perfect moment. Bereza’s low-key averages throughout the week only add to the astonishment, proving that in darts, raw talent, resilience, and a bit of fortune can overcome experience and reputation.
With more days of action still to come, additional automatic Tour Cards and Order of Merit qualifiers will fill out the 29 spots available overall. For Bereza, though, the hard work is just beginning. He now has two years to prove himself on the ProTour, facing off against the world’s best in Players Championships, European Tours, and beyond. From relative obscurity to the professional stage, his story is a thrilling reminder of why Qualifying School remains one of the most captivating and unforgiving events in darts—a true meritocracy where anyone can seize their chance at glory.
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