Karel Sedlacek became the first player from the Czech Republic to win a coveted PDC tour card on Saturday evening in Hildesheim, while Jeff Smith announced his return to the professional scene and a surprise package arrived in Aaron Beeney.

Sedlacek, who narrowly missed out on securing his two-year tour card last year, defeated the resurgent Berry van Peer to create history for not only himself, but Czech darts as a whole.

‘Evil Charlie’ began his triumphant campaign with back-to-back whitewashes, before coming through deciding leg thrillers against Dutchman Levy Frauenfelder and Sweden’s BDO World Championship qualifier Andreas Harrysson.

The 40-year-old ploughed on with wins over Croatia’s Dragutin Pecnjak and Sweden’s Daniel Larsson, prior to defeating the German duo, Stefan Siepmann and Michael Hurtz, and van Peer to prevail victorious.

Jeff Smith, the former BDO World Championship finalist, announced his return to the professional circuit with a blistering 110 checkout in denying Japan’s Seigo Asada.

The Canadian raced into the last 16, dropping just five legs in as many matches, including a 5-0 whitewashing of Alan Norris in his opener, before battling back from 3-1 behind to see off a valiant Lee Evans.

A scintillating 103.6 was clocked by Smith in his penultimate match, with William Borland being comfortably ousted as the 44-year-old pinned a 106 checkout and 56 per cent of his attempts at doubles in an immaculate display.

Smith was joined in the Wigan winners’ circle by the surprise spectacle in London’s prison officer, Aaron Beeney – who defeated teenager Jarred Cole to reign victorious.

Beeney departed on the opening days early on with sub-70 averages, before being overcome with sincere emotion following the biggest scalp of his career.

The Londoner survived seven match darts in his opening match, before defeating BDO World Championship qualifier Scott Williams and Dave Ladley and Martin Atkins of Wigan late on to seal the deal, and ignite a dream.

Elsewhere, Ryan Murray remains at the pinnacle of the UK Q School Order of Merit after another valiant run, while Seigo Asada remains well in contention of becoming the second Japanese ace to win a tour card, though, work is still needed to be done on Sunday.

Former World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton stands in good stead of a professional return after a two-year absence, as the Dutch quartet of Derk Telnekes, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Martijn Kleermaker and Berry van Peer are in comfortable position on the European Q School table.

The simultaneous Qualifying Schools both come to a close tomorrow in both Wigan and Hildesheim, with hundreds of players still eyeing the factor of changing their lives.

EUROPEAN QUALIFYING SCHOOL

Halle 39, Hildesheim, Germany

Last 16

Zoran Lerchbacher 5-3 Wesley Harms

Michael Hurtz 5-3 Mario Vandenbogaerde

Steffen Siepmann 5-2 Cody Harris

Karel Sedlacek 5-0 Daniel Larsson

Derk Telnekes 5-4 Lukasz Sawicki

Berry van Peer 5-1 Romeo Grbavac

Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-1 Rusty-Jake Rodriguez

Krzysztof Kciuk 5-1 Jeremy van der Winkel

Quarter-Finals

Michael Hurtz 5-3 Zoran Lerchbacher

Karel Sedlacek 5-2 Steffen Siepmann

Berry van Peer 5-3 Derk Telnekes

Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-3 Krzysztof Kciuk

Semi-Finals

Karel Sedlacek 5-3 Michael Hurtz

Berry van Peer 5-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Final

Karel Sedlacek 5-1 Berry van Peer

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS FROM DAY THREE AT EUROPEAN QUALIFYING SCHOOL

CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED EUROPEAN QUALIFYING SCHOOL ORDER OF MERIT

UK QUALIFYING SCHOOL

Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan

Last 16

William Borland 5-4 Ryan Murray

Jeff Smith 5-3 Lee Evans

Ryan Hogarth 5-3 John Bowles

Seigo Asada 5-1 Paul Nicholson

Darryl Fitton 5-2 Colin Osborne

Jarred Cole 5-2 Frankie Ansell

Martin Atkins (Wigan) 5-2 Andy Hamilton

Aaron Beeney 5-3 David Ladley

Last Eight

Jeff Smith 5-1 William Borland

Seigo Asada 5-0 Ryan Hogarth

Jarred Cole 5-1 Darryl Fitton

Aaron Beeney 5-3 Martin Atkins (Wigan)

Last Four

Jeff Smith 5-4 Seigo Asada

Aaron Beeney 5-4 Jarred Cole

CLICK HERE FOR FULL RESULTS FROM DAY THREE AT UK QUALIFYING SCHOOL

CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED UK QUALIFYING SCHOOL ORDER OF MERIT