Scott Mitchell feeling confident ahead of PDC Q School

Mitchell, the 2015 BDO world champion, is looking to win back his tour card to compete in the Professional Darts Corporation, which he did in 2021 and 2022.

‘Scotty Dog’ went to Qualifying School a few months after losing his card, narrowly missing out on a return to the tour for 2023.

But a year away from the top tier of PDC darts has allowed the 53-year-old to compete in various other tournaments, including the MODUS Super Series and World Seniors Tour.

Mitchell’s performances in the second tier Challenge Tour have earned him free entry to this year’s Q School, and a pass into the final stages of the event, which begins on Thursday, by which time the field of over 500 is slashed to around 150.

There are 30 lucrative tour cards on offer in total from more than 850 entrants across both the UK and European Q Schools, which are running concurrently this week.

Looking ahead to this week’s tournament in Milton Keynes, which concludes on Sunday, Mitchell told the Daily Echo: “I’d be daft not to go.

“I still feel I’ve got the game. It was a bit of a crazy year, changing manufacturers. I’m just starting to get a hang of the darts now and got a couple of nice wins on the way in.

“I won the Southampton Darts Series the week before Christmas, beating Simon Whitlock in the final, so that was nice.

“Then I won a local one at Hamworthy, the round robin, so confidence is good and I’m going in with a bit of form, which is a change.”

He added: “I played more last year than I had the previous two years with a card.

“To be honest, farming wise, I’d love to get a card so I can have a bit of a rest! Which sounds absolutely daft, but that is the modern day state of the way darts is.

“Once you get a tour card, you can’t play elsewhere, so it would be a more restful year with a tour card, there’s no two ways about that.”

This year will be Mitchell’s fourth visit to Q School, having first tried his luck in 2020.

Two have ultimately ended in disappointment, notably last year where Mitchell looked well placed heading into the final day of action, only to squander a 5-0 lead to lose 6-5 against talented youngster Dylan Slevin.

The year Mitchell did win his tour card saw him suffer three early exits, including a defeat to Fallon Sherrock, before going all the way to win the event on the final day of action.

Slevin ended Mitchell's run at Q School last year (Image: PA)

Asked how helpful those past experiences can be this time around, Mitchell said: “There’s always going to be the next Luke Littler that I don’t know kicking about!

“Last year I dropped on one in Dylan Slevin, who got his card.

“It really is a bit of a lottery, but it’s a free go at it, I feel pretty confident going in and it’s just about how you start on the day.

“I’ve done it both ways. When I got my card, I lost early on the first three days and then won the last day. I do know how to do it consistently and non-consistently.

“It’s just a case of keep believing the whole time you deserve to have a card.

“When you look at what I’m running on the Challenge Tour, it’s right up there. I was above two of the guys in the averages that got a card.

“Averages don’t get you your card though, it’s all about winning your right legs in the right moments.”

He added: “Last year I had three good runs at Q School. On the last day, I didn’t and that’s what cost me getting a card.

“I finished 19th in the rankings and they gave out nine tour cards, so I didn’t miss it by much out of 800 last year. I’m hoping for a bit more of that this year, if I can.

“But it is just all on the day, you never know who you are going to draw.

“You never know what form they’re going to be in and of course, I’m a former world champion and a nice scalp to have, even if you go home without a card.”

• ‘This kid is brilliant’ - Mitchell recalls first meeting with teen sensation Littler

A lot of attention in recent weeks has been on 16-year-old Littler, after his stunning run to the World Championship final.

Asked if, given the talented youngsters rising through the ranks, he sees this year as his last chance at attempting to win a card, Mitchell said: “Probably. Because there’s so much else to play for now if you haven’t got a card, maybe it will be my last go.

“I’m not sure, we’ll see how I feel when I come out of it.

“When I’ve spoken to other people who have knocked the high end of the game on the head and continued playing locally or with their counties, they said you just know (if you can still do it).

“At the moment, I know that I’m not at that position.”

Mitchell will be joined by fellow Dorset darters Tommy Morris and Carl Beattie, who progressed through the first stages of Q School earlier this week.