Alan Soutar has voiced his ongoing frustrations with the European Tour qualification system, describing it as "hard to take" for players ranked outside the elite bracket. Speaking to Tungsten Tales, the Scottish darts professional highlighted the challenges faced by those ranked around 40 to 60, noting that "you see players come in without qualifying and go straight into later rounds." Soutar, who is in his sixth year on the PDC circuit, reflected that when he first got his Tour Card, "there were more qualifying spots," which he believes gave more players opportunities and made the events more exciting.
Despite these criticisms, Soutar is enjoying a strong start to the 2026 PDC season, balancing his darts career with roles as a firefighter and charity fundraiser. After six Pro Tours, he stated, "It's been a great start," adding that if asked at the beginning of the season about his position for the Worlds and Tour Card status, he "would have taken it." He acknowledged the increasing difficulty of staying competitive, saying, "The baseline is being in the top 64 every year, and it's getting harder," due to an influx of young players. Soutar also mentioned a lighthearted rivalry with Max Hopp, where they joke about rankings by saying "still green" when they see each other.
Soutar's commitment to fitness has been a key focus, partly in preparation for the London Marathon in April, where he is raising funds for Guide Dogs UK. He has already surpassed the initial £2,000 fundraising target and is now aiming for £5,000, a milestone that would allow him to name a guide dog puppy. He explained that the cause is personal, as he and his partner Amanda have raised eight guide dog puppies over the years. The training has transformed his routine during tournaments, with runs in locations like Leicester, Hildesheim, Wigan, or Milton Keynes helping him feel fresher and more prepared.
Reflecting on his World Championship campaign, which ended with a defeat to Gian van Veen, Soutar remained philosophical, joking that "someone moved double eight and double 16." He recalled going one set up and feeling van Veen was struggling, but noted that from then on, "he was just relentless, 180s, big finishes." Soutar believes van Veen's edge came from more experience on big stages, such as European Tours, but added that he "did beat him on the Pro Tour in Wigan recently, so I got my own back." Looking ahead, Soutar plans to retire from firefighting in 21 months, hoping to dedicate more time to darts and improve his consistency, as he has hit 100-plus averages this season but also dropped into the mid-80s.
On the World Cup of Darts, Soutar expressed excitement about the potential Scottish pairing of Gary Anderson and Cameron Menzies, saying, "It'll be brilliant to watch," and that if they both score well, "they could go very deep in the tournament." He added that as a Scot, he will support whoever plays, despite selection rarely being a realistic prospect for him given Scotland's strength in depth.
