Hadleigh’s Curtis Hammond lost 5-2, at the preliminary round stage to Germany’s Tomas Seyler, in the first PDC Q-School tournament, in Wigan, on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old is aiming to win a PDC professional tour card and one semi-final appearance in the remaining three tournaments, which run until Saturday, would definitely be sufficient.

Seyler lost to Kevin Painter in the first round at last month’s World Championships.

A minimum of 40 Tour Cards will be on offer at Qualifying School, with the 16 automatic Tour Cards given to the last four players from each day to be accompanied by at least 24 players from the final Q-School Order of Merit.

Hammond works for Suffolk County Council and has been playing darts five years.