Zoran Lerchbacher (born 30 May 1972) is an Austrian professional darts player from Graz, currently playing in events of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
Lerchbacher qualified for the 2014 PDC World Darts Championship and won 4âÂÂ1 in the preliminary round against Ben Ward. He then went out in a 3âÂÂ0 loss to Michael van Gerwen. Lerchbacher was able to score a slightly higher average than Van Gerwen, but was only able to win one leg in the match. He entered Q School to try and win a tour card to compete on the PDC tour and lost in the final round of the fourth day 5âÂÂ1 to Joe Murnan. Nevertheless, Lerchbacher had done enough to finish tied second on the Q School Order of Merit to seal his place on the PDC for 2014 and 2015. He had a disappointing first year on tour as his deepest runs were three last 64 defeats.
In 2015 Lerchbacher, attempted to qualify for six European Tour events and was successful at the final attempt in the European Darts Matchplay, but lost 6âÂÂ1 to Darren Johnson. After his tour card expired Lerchbacher again entered Q School, but one last 32 exit over the four days was not enough to stay on tour.
Lerchbacher qualified for three European Tour events in 2016, losing 6âÂÂ5 from 3âÂÂ0 up in the first round of the Dutch Darts Masters to James Richardson. At the Austrian Darts Open he beat Jeffrey de Zwaan 6âÂÂ4, before being whitewashed 6âÂÂ0 in the second round by Jelle Klaasen. Lerchbacher advanced to the same stage of the European Darts Trophy by seeing off Joe Murnan 6âÂÂ2 and lost 6âÂÂ5 to Terry Jenkins.
A 10âÂÂ1 thrashing of Dietmar Burger in the final of the East European Qualifier saw Lerchbacher play in the 2017 World Championship. He saw off Simon Stevenson 2âÂÂ1 in the preliminary round and then lost 3âÂÂ0 to Robert Thornton in the first round.
His best professional run came at the 16th Players Championship on the 2017 PDC Pro Tour: Six (four of them 6âÂÂ5) wins en route saw him reaching his first PDC final. Players Lerchbacher beat included Mark Webster, Robert Thornton and Steve Beaton, before he fell to Joe Cullen 6âÂÂ4 in the final.
At the 2018 World Championship he reached the second round after beating Mervyn King 3âÂÂ2 in sets.
Lerchbacher fell off the Pro Tour at the end of 2019, and after a year without a Tour Card in 2020, he was successful at European Q School in February 2021 to turn professional again.
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PDC