Matthew Dennant the scholar at Q School

The 24-year-old thrower is now a fully-fledged PDC professional for the next two years, after coming through Q School at the fourth attempt last week.

Dennant now joins the world's top stars on their bread and butter 'floor' (non-televised events) circuit, having previously competed on the organisation's Youth and Challenge tours.

His first port of call will now be to try and get back to the UK Open's televised finals, where he reached the last 64 in 2013 before losing 9-1 to Adrian Lewis, writes Craig Birch.

Six qualifiers, open to everyone who went to Q School, will determine who goes to Butlins in Minehead for the 128-player event.

Then it's in the Pro Tour only Players Championship, which starts in March, where 'the Scholar' will have to learn quick against the likes of Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor.

Dennant said: "It's been hard enough work getting there, but it might be even more difficult staying there. The last thing I want to do is be going back to Q School in two years time.

"I've always believed I had the talent but, with the standard of players looking to make the grade, sometimes you need a bit of luck as well.

"I think I'm capable of beating anyone on my day and this is where I need to show it. I'm really excited to be a part of the Pro Tour and I'm raring to go."

Dennant, who works as a recruitment advisor for Carillion, has the sport in his blood with dad Garry his biggest supporter.

His father, who played locally, goes with him to most events, while his grandmother Jean featured in county darts for Staffordshire.

Dennant is still planning on continuing in the Super League for the West Midlands and Staffordshire and for pub side the Gunners Club in the Bloxwich Friday Night League.

He also practices two nights a week with Chris Mason, the former BDO and PDC professional who is now based in Hednesford.

He said: "I don't drive, so my Dad will be taking me to my PDC dates when I need him to. He's always on at me about him being my taxi!

"It's important to get as much competitive darts under my belt as possible, so I'll be playing whenever I can. Some Fridays I won't be able to make, though, because of my PDC obligations.

"Chris has also been a big help. He's got a lot of experience and words of wisdom that he passes on to me."

An anxious wait befell Dennant at Q School after he nearly nabbed a spot automatically, reaching a winner-take-all decider on day two of three which he lost in the last leg.

A pointless first day after a 5-2 defeat to Scott Dale left him with work to do, but he rebounded to reach the quarter-final on day two.

He would taken a Tour Card there and then had he not been pipped to the post 5-4 by Jonathan Worsley, who picked up one of the four given to semi-finalists. He did gain nine ranking points.

Day three came and went without him adding to his tally, nudged out again in the last leg by Ian Walters 5-4 after a last 256 tie.

But two extra points accumulated for a last 64 run on the final day, recording three wins before suffering a 5-0 whitewash against Dyson Parody.

Tensions were then high before he found out that 5-3 victories over Evander Stevenson and Ben Ward, the latter after a 5-1 win Aaron Stevens, were enough.

He finished 12th with the top 14 receiving cards through the Q School Order of Merit. A total of 30 were distributed after four days of darts at the Robin Park Centre in Wigan, with 371 entering.

Dennant said: "When you look at some of the player who didn't get a card, it makes me feel like I've really accomplished something.

"My dad was running around the venue trying to find out whether I'd qualified and I live with my girlfriend, Amy, so she was waiting for a phone call at home. I was just glad to get over the line."