Photo: PDC
In 2024 and 2025 we will see yet another two players from the Nordic and Baltic region on the PDC Pro Tour, as Jeffrey de Graaf and Benjamin Drue Reus won Tour Cards at this years Q-School in Kalkar.
Last season the Nordic and Baltic region was represented by Madars Razma, Darius Labanauskas and Vladimir Andersen on the PDC Pro Tour. This year it will be a bit different, as Labanauskas and Andersen lost their respective cards. However they will be replaced by Jeffrey de Graaf and Benjamin Drue Reus, who both secured a Tour Card earlier this month at Q-School.
Jeffrey de Graaf managed to secure the latest possible way, as he won the last day of Q-school.
“It was very tough, especially since I haven’t played that well on the final days before. Q-school is definently a struggle and maybe the hardest tournament there is, because of all the pressure,” Jeffrey de Graaf tells pdc-nordic.tv.
For Benjamin Drue Reus the Tour Card came close already after the second tournament of the Final Stage, however he also had to wait until the very last day, to make sure, that he got enough points in the rankings.
“I had my uncertainties on the last day after I lost my first game. However I still believed, as I saw I advanced in the rankings because of a better leg-difference,” the Dane tells pdc-nordic.tv.
Keep developing
With the Tour Card in hand, Benjamin Drue Reus is looking forward to try a whole new setting at the PDC Pro Tour.
“I’m looking forward to try the Pro Tour. I know it is a different level than what I’m used to. So I’m really excited to see how I will deal with it.”
“I’m aware that it will probably be a bit of a fight in the first period, but I do believe that if I continue my development, I will be able to make a good figure on the tour.”
The Dane, however, is really humble when it comes to set himself a goal for the next year with his Tour Card.
“I want to play as much as possible and just try my hand at it.”
Photo: Mikal Schlosser/PDC
Opposite to the Dane, Jeffrey de Graaf has tried to have a Tour Card earlier in his career. Maybe because of that, the new Tour Card means a lot for de Graaf.
“It is fantastic to have a Tour Card again. After the World Championship I was really looking forward to play as a pro again. But it will be a tough year. I definently need to train more and find a more consistant form,” says Jeffrey de Graaf.
And with the former Tour Card, Jeffrey de Graaf believes, he will have an advantage this time coming into the Pro Tour.
“When you are new, you look up to everyone in the beginning. I know how the players now and have played against them before, so I think I know how it will be. And now I also know a lot of the pro’s in person.”
“The goal for the next two years is to keep the Tour Card, so I need to climb up to the top 64. And then if I succeed, I want to climb as high as possible in the rankings.”
Playing both tours
But even though both players now will compete in the PDC Pro Tour, they still have plans about playing in the Nordic and Baltic Pro Tour this season.
“I do hope and cross my fingers that I will get a spot in the top two, but otherwise the goal is to end in top five,” Benjamin Drue Reus tells.
For Jeffrey de Graaf the goal is a bit different.
“Hopefully I can win the tour this year.”
