BARRIE BATES and Alan Tabern continued their superb recent form by qualifying for July's Stan James World Matchplay on Friday night, alongside Andy Hamilton and Steve Hine.
Both Bates and Tabern reached the last four of the Budweiser UK Open in Bolton at the start of June, and came through the field of 135 PDPA members at the Lakeside Holiday Village, Hayling Island to win spots at Blackpool.
The duo will join the top 28 in the PDC rankings and the two other qualifiers when the World Matchplay takes place from 23-29 July at the Winter Gardens.
There was an early surprise in the qualifiers, when UK Open champion Raymond van Barneveld was knocked out 5-3 by Hamilton in the first round.
And the Stoke star went on to win a place in Blackpool by defeating American John Kuczynski - who had travelled over with compatriot Ray Carver in a bid to qualify - 5-2 in his final match.
Bates overcame fellow Welshman Richie Burnett 5-4 to clinch his place in Blackpool, while St Helens' Tabern won 5-3 against World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Jones.
Steve Hine, who enjoyed his breakthrough year in 2005, secured his place at the World Matchplay with a 5-0 win over Lancashire's Dave Johnston, which followed on from victory over veteran Cliff Lazarenko.
Blackpool's Dale Newton fell short of joining elder brother Wes in the event, when he lost to Johnston in his Board Final.
Stan James World Matchplay Qualifiers
Last Eight
Steve Hine 5-0 Dave Johnston
Barrie Bates 5-3 Richie Burnett
Alan Tabern 5-3 Wayne Jones
Andy Hamilton 5-2 John Kuczynski
Winners progress to Stan James World Matchplay
Losers £500
Last 16
Dave Johnston 5-4 Jan van der Rassel
Steve Hine 5-1 Cliff Lazarenko
Barrie Bates 5-0 Shayne Burgess
Richie Burnett 5-3 Ray Carver
Wayne Jones 5-2 Alan Reynolds
Alan Tabern 5-1 Steve Cusick
John Kuczynski 5-4 Jamie Harvey
Andy Hamilton 5-2 Steve Grubb
Losers £250
Last 32
Dave Johnston 5-2 Colin Monk
Jan van der Rassel 5-0 Bob Crawley
Cliff Lazarenko 5-4 Paul Anthony
Steve Hine 5-0 Kevin Pearson
Jamie Harvey 5-1 Mark Pooke
John Kuczynski 5-4 Henry O'Neill
Andy Hamilton 5-2 Stuart Dutton
Steve Grubb 5-1 Dean Williams
Wayne Jones 5-3 Mark Frost
Alan Reynolds 5-4 Ian Eames
Steve Cusick 5-3 Ray Farrell
Alan Tabern 5-3 Mark Lawrence
Shayne Burgess 5-4 Colin Osborne
Barrie Bates 5-3 John MaGowan
Ray Carver 5-4 Jason Clark
Richie Burnett 5-2 Michael Barnard
Last 64
Dave Johnston 5-1 Dale Newton
Colin Monk 5-4 Dave Honey
Bob Crawley 5-3 Sean Palfrey
Jan van der Rassel 5-0 Eddie Lovely
Paul Anthony 5-3 Geoff Wylie
Cliff Lazarenko 5-4 Sean Dowling
Kevin Pearson 5-3 Andy Hayfield
Steve Hine 5-2 Aaron Turner
Mark Pooke 5-3 Robbie Widdows
Jamie Harvey 5-4 Lee Palfreyman
John Kuczynski 5-0 Ian Critchett
Henry O'Neill 5-2 Jimmy Mann
Stuart Dutton 5-1 Carl Myers
Andy Hamilton 5-3 Jason Lowe
Steve Grubb 5-2 Bob Avenell
Dean Williams 5-4 Joeri Raets
Mark Frost 5-3 Wayne Atwood
Ian Eames 5-4 Mark Robinson
Alan Reynolds 5-3 Dennis McCarthy
Steve Cusick 5-4 Darren Johnson
Ray Farrell 5-4 Alan Caves
Mark Lawrence 5-2 Norman Fletcher
Alan Tabern 5-3 Mick McGowan
Jason Clark 5-0 Tony Smith
Ray Carver 5-4 Gary Welding
Michael Barnard 5-0 Steve Blyth
Richie Burnett 5-4 Mark Salmon
John MaGowan 5-0 Tony Vince
Barrie Bates 5-4 Steve Alker
Shayne Burgess 5-3 Tony Randell
Colin Osborne 5-3 Colin McGarry