Unseeded Players Shine against Seeded Counterparts in European Tour Qualifications
In a captivating analysis of the football qualification structure, Christopher Kempf, the statistics expert at the PDC, has shed light on the remarkable performance of unseeded players against their seeded counterparts.
This season, the qualification criteria have undergone a significant change. While last year’s football Tour events only welcomed the top 16 players from the Pro Tour rankings, the current format has expanded to include the top 16 from both the World Rankings and the Pro Tour Order of Merit.
The 32 invited players are then ranked according to their Pro Tour standings, with the top 16 receiving protected status in the tournament draw, entering the event from the second round.
A deep dive into the data from 2014 to the present day reveals that Stephen Bunting, known as “The Bullet,” has emerged as the standout performer among unseeded players. Bunting has won an impressive 19 out of his 27 matches against seeded players in the second round, boasting an average of 70.37%.
Closely trailing Bunting is Danny Noppert, affectionately nicknamed “The Freeze,” who has secured victory in 9 out of his 14 matches against the seeded contingent, achieving a formidable 64.29% average.
Rounding out the top three is Joe Cullen, who has managed to win 6 out of his 10 second-round encounters against the tournament’s top seeds.
“This insightful analysis not only highlights the remarkable talents of these unseeded players but also underscores the evolving landscape of the football Tour, where the competition for coveted spots is fiercer than ever.”
🔗 Source
