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Wayne Jones set to lose PDC Pro Tour card

Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones must come through an open qualifier for the PDC World Championship to stand any chance of keeping his Pro Tour card.

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The former worlds semi-finalist's chances of staying among the organisation's top darters are dangling by a thread,

writes Craig Birch.

The Players Championship and European Tour non-televised 'floor' events are now at an end, concluding the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

Jones won't get another chance to add to his tally, having not qualified for the televised Grand Slam in his hometown and the European Championship and Players Championship finals.

'The Wanderer' had a go at making the Grand Slam through the qualifier, but didn't take part in the same event with World Series places on offer because of illness.

The 51-year-old currently sits 64th - the last place that can secure his Pro Tour position for 2017 - but will be dropping down.

Mickey Mansell, in 65th, will eclipse his prize money winnings of £33,500 by £750 just for toeing the oche at the Players Championship finals.

Jones' last hope is to prevail with one of the two spots available, one in the first round and the other in the preliminary phase, for the World Championship qualifier on November 28.

Should he do so, even losing in the preliminary round at the Alexandra Palace in London would net him £4,500. A first round exit would glean £10,000.

He finished joint 65th on the Pro Tour and joint 66th in the Players Championship, just missing the top 64 place needed for the latter's finals. He stood 88th in the European Tour standings.

His last action came at the Barnsley Metrodome at the weekend, where the Players Championship was wrapped up with two tournaments along with the qualifiers.

Jones lost in the first round of the opening Players Championship competition, 6-3 to Nigel Heydon. He defeated Darron Brown 6-4 in the second, before going down 6-5 to Matthew Edgar.

He made little headway in the the Grand Slam event, falling at the first hurdle 5-2 to Chris Quantock. He was drawn with David Pallett for the World Series wildcard, but withdrew.

Bloxwich's Matthew Dennant is safe for another year, by virtue of the two-year Pro Tour card he obtained at Qualifying School in January. Jones may be headed there next year.

He finished a joint 130th on the Order of Merit, joint 118th on the Pro Tour, joint 111th with the Players Championship and joint 113th on the European Tour.

He also competed in the Players Championships swansongs, with first round losses to Jim Walker 6-4 and Joe Murnan 6-1.

Dennant was also beaten 5-3 by Mike de Decker in the Grand Slam qualifier, but wasn't involved in the World Series counterpart.

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