Darts legend to miss World Cup for first time ever after rival claims Tour Card

Simon Whitlock will not be part of the Australian pairing at this year’s World Cup of Darts.

Instead, Damon Heta is set to be joined by a new name after a second player from Down Under earned a spot on the PDC Tour.

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Adam Leek won six matches on day one of the final stage at UK Q-School on Thursday to gain tour status for the next two years.

His run in Milton Keynes included wins over former Tour Card holder Dylan Slevin and darts legend Steve Beaton.

Leek then guaranteed his place on the PDC Tour alongside Heta with a 6-5 win over Tyler Thorpe.

Wales’ Rhys Griffin also reached the last two, whilst Filip Bereza and Arno Merk came through EU Q-School in Kalkar, Germany.

Will Whitlock be at the World Cup?

The addition of another Australian to the PDC Tour means Whitlock will not appear at the World Cup of Darts for the first time ever.

He is one of three players to have featured at all 16 editions of the tournament alongside Irishman Willie O’Connor and Austria’s Mensur Suljovic.

Pairings at the event are determined by the two highest ranked PDC players, where a nation has two Tour Card holders.

As Heta was the only Australian on the PDC Tour in 2025, Whitlock was able to feature despite losing his status at the end of the previous year.

The duo previously won the World Cup of Darts in 2022, whilst Whitlock was a runner-up alongside Paul Nicholson a decade earlier.

His illustrious career also includes reaching the final of the PDC World Darts Championship in 2010 and winner the European Championship.

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The 56-year-old qualified for last month’s PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace by winning the ANZ Premier League.

However, he was beaten 3-2 in the first round by Connor Scutt.

Leek’s place on the Australian team in June is not yet guaranteed, though.

In fact, he could be pipped to a spot by another Whitlock, with the Wizard’s son Mason competing at EU Q-School this week.

Mason also reached the final stage after three days of action earlier this week.

Having won his first match on Thursday, he was beaten in the last 64 and sits 36th on the Order of Merit.

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The last two players remaining on each of the four days in Milton Keynes and Kalkar will receive a Tour Card.

Meanwhile, a further eight and five slots are on offer through the Order of Merit at EU and UK Q-School, respectively.

If Whitlock joins Leek and Heta on the PDC Tour, the Australian World Cup of Darts team will consist of the two highest ranked players at the cut-off point.

Heta, who has been on the PDC Tour since 2020, is currently 17th on the two-year rankings.