By Trevor Jackson
THE German Club will provide some exciting darts action Friday night.
Limestone Coast star player Karl Schaefer is off to England in an attempt to gain a Professional Darts Corporation tour card and will put on a display at the German Club, up against another top player, Jason Fulham.
It is a huge decision to uproot and head over to England, with just a small chance of making the tour, but it is something Schaefer has given plenty of thought to over the last couple of years.
“I have to get over there, adjust to the climate, set myself up and try to knuckle down and work my way into the PDC,” he said.
“You qualify for a PDC card over a 10-day period and if you can stay in the top 16 you can get one, or if you win an event you get one automatically.”
Schaefer said he expected to face anywhere from 200-300 players, with just the one chance a year to reach the tour.
But it something he not completely new to.
“I have played quite a few of the PDC Pros online,” he said.
“When DartStream Live came in I was playing against the likes of Michael Smith and David Chisnall and holding my own.
“I beat Michael Smith 6-2 in one of them and he was ranked world number four at the time.”
Schaefer said the main aim of the venture is to make a living and name in the professional darts industry and if successful will spend a fair amount of time in the UK.
“If I can manage to secure my PDC card I will be over there for a minimum of two years because I will be under contract,” he said.
“I am probably a bit behind the ball – over here people are throwing in the 80s average.
“I am between 70 and 80 now but once I get to England and these guys are pushing me to the limit, that is where I want to be.
“Here you get the odd player who throws 100 average and they can push you to the next limit but I don’t have access to those players all the time.”
Schaefer has tasted plenty of success in recent years domestically, with a notable victory in the Anzac Murray Bridge Open.
He will soon head to Alice Springs to play in the Alice Open then a week later to Tennant Creek for the Golden Nugget tournament.
Once in England the level rises exponentially, with crowd support in a while different ball park, along with the obvious pressure of competition.
“I like pressure,” Schaefer said.
“You find a lot about yourself when you are in that pressure situation.
“I can’t wait to see the crowds.
“If I can find myself in a TV situation or anything like that it would be great.”
For now anyone interested in what Schaefer is up to can head to the German Club Friday night and watch two of the best players in the region.
The night will include the raffle of three Ultimate Darts lights, with tickets $20 each.
Tickets are available by visiting the Danger Point Darts or German Club Facebook pages.
Other free raffles will be drawn throughout the night, which includes a $200 Spot On Fishing voucher, a $200 Western Tavern voucher and a trailer load of wood donated by Ferguson’s Diesel.
Proceeds from the night go towards Schaefer’s trip, with all welcome to provide support.
The exhibition match will take place after the main raffle draw, which kicks off at 7pm.
Pool tables will also be available for use on the night.
