Barry Hearn tells two-time PDC World Champion he will receive no special favours after losing tour card
If two-time world champion Adrian Lewis expected back door tournament entries after losing his tour card, he would be wrong. The man dubbed ‘Jackpot’ was one of the world’s best on the oche throughout the 2010s. Lewis is a two-time World Darts Champion Lewis’ finest moments came when he won the PDC World Championship by beating Gary Anderson and Andy Hamilton in the 2011 and 2012 finals respectively. In total, the 39-year-old appeared in 14 PDC major finals from 2006 to 2016, with 12 of those coming from 2010 onwards. However, Lewis’ last appearance in a televised tournament was at the UK Open in March 2023. He also failed to land a spot among the 96 players competing for this year’s World Darts Championship, which begins on December 15. The reason behind Lewis’ absence from the darts scene is because he had to care for his ill wife, who has an incurable kidney disease, and his daughter, who has autism. Lewis has since declared his intention to return next year on the Modus Super Series, but having lost his tour card, he now faces a battle to regain professional status. Given all that he has accomplished in the sport, some had speculated whether Lewis might be given a free pass to compete in the major tournaments and avoid Q School, which all players without a tour card must go through. But Matchroom president Barry Hearn issued a blunt response when asked if Lewis would receive any hand-outs. “Absolutely none. Nor can they be,” Hearn the former PDC chairman, told The Sun. “It’s not about what you used to do – it’s about what you can do. Former PDC chairman Hearn confirmed Lewis will have to regain his tour card like everyone elseGetty “Does he have to go through Q School? Yeah. We’d welcome him back with open arms. “He’s a great lad and a great player. He has had his own personal problems. “Which he has to come to terms with. “But they are not our problems, they are his problems and it is up to him to solve them.” Although Lewis faces a battle to regain his tour card, he certainly does not appear to be fazed by it. Lewis made an appearance at an exhibition event in Boston alongside fellow former world champions Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld. Lewis has declared his intention to return to darts after some time off But it wasn’t Lewis’ skill at the oche that made headlines. Instead, it was his remarkable rendition of Robbie Williams’ smash hit ‘Angels’. With his left hand in his pocket, Lewis cut a cool and composed figure on the microphone as fans sung along. Don’t bet on Lewis taking up a full-time karaoke career though, as ‘Jackpot’ previously confirmed he has every intention of returning to the oche. “It was never my intention to put the darts away forever,” Lewis said. “I never said I was retiring and there was always a possibility I was going to come back. “I didn’t really have the hunger, which I knew I needed to have to succeed.”
If two-time world champion Adrian Lewis expected back door tournament entries after losing his tour card, he would be wrong.
The man dubbed ‘Jackpot’ was one of the world’s best on the oche throughout the 2010s.
Lewis’ finest moments came when he won the PDC World Championship by beating Gary Anderson and Andy Hamilton in the 2011 and 2012 finals respectively.
In total, the 39-year-old appeared in 14 PDC major finals from 2006 to 2016, with 12 of those coming from 2010 onwards.
However, Lewis’ last appearance in a televised tournament was at the UK Open in March 2023.
He also failed to land a spot among the 96 players competing for this year’s World Darts Championship, which begins on December 15.
The reason behind Lewis’ absence from the darts scene is because he had to care for his ill wife, who has an incurable kidney disease, and his daughter, who has autism.
Lewis has since declared his intention to return next year on the Modus Super Series, but having lost his tour card, he now faces a battle to regain professional status.
Given all that he has accomplished in the sport, some had speculated whether Lewis might be given a free pass to compete in the major tournaments and avoid Q School, which all players without a tour card must go through.
But Matchroom president Barry Hearn issued a blunt response when asked if Lewis would receive any hand-outs.
“Absolutely none. Nor can they be,” Hearn the former PDC chairman, told The Sun.
“It’s not about what you used to do – it’s about what you can do.
“Does he have to go through Q School? Yeah. We’d welcome him back with open arms.
“He’s a great lad and a great player. He has had his own personal problems.
“Which he has to come to terms with.
“But they are not our problems, they are his problems and it is up to him to solve them.”
Although Lewis faces a battle to regain his tour card, he certainly does not appear to be fazed by it.
Lewis made an appearance at an exhibition event in Boston alongside fellow former world champions Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.
But it wasn’t Lewis’ skill at the oche that made headlines.
Instead, it was his remarkable rendition of Robbie Williams’ smash hit ‘Angels’.
With his left hand in his pocket, Lewis cut a cool and composed figure on the microphone as fans sung along.
Don’t bet on Lewis taking up a full-time karaoke career though, as ‘Jackpot’ previously confirmed he has every intention of returning to the oche.
“It was never my intention to put the darts away forever,” Lewis said.
“I never said I was retiring and there was always a possibility I was going to come back.
“I didn’t really have the hunger, which I knew I needed to have to succeed.”
