One darts star’s PDC dream was almost ended by the snow (Image: Getty)
PDC hopeful Devon Petersen almost saw his dreams buried in the snow. Petersen, 38, was one of thousands of Brits to be affected this week by .
Huge numbers of flights were grounded by the freezing temperatures, and Petersen’s journey was not only heavily delayed by the snow, but it was almost ended completely. Petersen, who is from South Africa but based in Bradford, had to travel down to Milton Keynes as part of his journey.
Before he could begin his three-hour, 150+ mile trip, though, he found that his car was stuck in the heavy snow. In one of the best feel-good stories in recent weeks, Petersen’s community came out with their shovels to get the ‘African Warrior’ back on the road.
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In a video he recorded for his followers on X (formerly known as Twitter), while wearing a huge coat and beanie hat, Petersen thanked those who helped him battle the elements, as well as those wishing him well on social media.
He said: “So we’re in Bradford and I couldn’t get out. Now we’ve dug out that bit there that’s my car (shows car). The entire community came out to make sure that I get to Q-School.
“It’s got to be the way in which I get this Tour Card. It has to be. Can’t dig out the snow, mad days. Hopefully everybody’s driving safely on the roads and getting to Q-School. I’m digging my way to Q-School.”
Petersen’s social media post had accumulated more than 1,000 likes at the time of writing, as well as well-wishing messages from the likes of Damon Heta and Nick Kenny.
My qschool journey was under threat but my community came out to shovel my car out of the snow to make sure i can make the journey.Team work makes the dream work.
— Devon Petersen 369 (@devon_petersen)
Unfortunately for Petersen, after reaching the top 64, Petersen’s tournament in Milton Keynes would come to an end. He was whitewashed 5-0 by Jarred Cole, having beaten Jack Male in the previous round. The loss will be a huge source of frustration, considering the promising form he had shown before.
He won the Amateur Darts Circuit Championship last month, defeating Adam Lioscombe in the final to claim the title as well as the top prize of £25,000.
Petersen has qualified for the PDC World Darts Championship on seven occasions. In 2014, 2019 and 2021, Petersen put in his best performances at Alexandra Palace, reaching the last 16 in all three years.
Darts fans may also recall his 2020 run to the semi-final of the European Championship, as well as his UK Open campaigns in 2015 and 2021, where he got all the way to the quarter-finals.