PDC darts (Part IV): Want to reach the major leagues? 'Attend and accend' is the key

PDC darts (Part IV): Want to reach the major leagues? 'Attend and accend' is the key originally appeared on The Sporting News

Right. So, you’ve read our pieces on the creation of darts' top echelon, paid attention to our guides to how it works, and how to get there, and even mastered the art of swimming in the PDC Pro Tour pool. Now you understand how everything at entry level works. Your next step? Climb that ladder, pass GO, and collect a nice chunk of cash – and we’re talking more than $200.

Getting a PDC Tour Card is only the beginning. As tough as it is to earn, it guarantees nothing when it comes to boosting your bank balance. What it does give you, however, is opportunity – and if you’re good enough, that opportunity can be huge.

You’ve been on tour a few months, mixed it with the big boys, and sussed out the system. So the next goal is earning well and getting on TV – and ideally, it will result in spending your days off polishing silverware.

PDC DARTS PART 1 - Where and how it all began

Don’t worry about the main Order of Merit just yet. Unless you’ve inherited Luke Littler’s DNA or have a built-in laser-guided arm, you won’t be climbing to the upper ranks of that list for a while. Your real focus should be the Pro Tour Order of Merit. That one runs on a one-year rolling system and includes prize money earned in Players Championship events and Euro Tour tournaments. You defend every penny in exactly twelve months – so it’s a level playing field for rookies and veterans alike.

Win a Players Championship and you’re £15,000 better off – that’ll help you climb the ladder. The number you want to circle in red is the top 16. Finish inside that bracket, and you’ll automatically qualify for big events like the World Matchplay (July) and World Grand Prix (October).

PDC DARTS PART II - What's the system and how does it work?

After some Players Championship events, there are usually qualifiers for the Euro Tour. There are 14 Euro Tour events this year, and if you’re not already in via the Pro Tour top 16, you can still qualify through those qualifiers – ten extra spots are up for grabs at each one.

If you do make it into a Euro Tour event, the prize money adds to both your Pro Tour Order of Merit and your Euro Tour OOM – yes, another ranking system to track. This one helps get you into the European Championship Finals – trophy currently held by Richie Edhouse.

So to summarise – think of the 34 Players Championship events as your bread and butter. These are your weekly shot at money, ranking boosts, and qualification for the majors. In short – don’t skip them unless it’s absolutely unavoidable.

These events are your foot on the rung. To get on TV regularly and start seeing serious money, you need to keep attending and ascending. In fact, that was so catchy - it should be a PDC slogan to any newbies joining the tour. Now the headline!

Perhaps the finest example of working your way up through the rankings and each element of the tour has been current World number one  Luke Humphries. Cool Hand won at each level available to him ( including youth titles) qualifying and slowing improving at each of the majors. In 2023/23 he began to win multiple streamed titles on stage at European tour events and had worked his way up to the top 5 without a major title to his name. Then the dam broke and he has captured or reached the final of almost every major and premier event in the PDC roster over a two year period. 

The other Luke took a somewhat simpler route!

There have always been shortcuts and extra opportunities available throughout each season to make the field for some of the biggest events. The Winmau World Masters, The Grand Slam and even The World Championships have event specific qualifiers for those with tour card and even those without - especially youth, women or international players.

Several of todays superstars broke through via these and then made an impact in the majors themselves. Fairy tale Word Champion Rob Cross reached his first major via the amateur qualifier route and came to the world attention going toe to toe with a peak Michael van Gerwen

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Once you’re a regular on the big screen – watched by fans around the world – your profile skyrockets. You’ll start earning more, and manufacturers will start ringing you up, offering to pay you to use their darts and wear their shirts. Sponsorships follow too. Companies will pay good money to have their logo on your back because, well, you’re on telly now. You’ll be invited to exhibitions, get paid for chucking a few darts and having a laugh – not bad for an evening’s work.

Once you're appearing in the major TV tournaments consistently, you can start pushing for the top 16 on the Main Order of Merit. Stay there, and you’re guaranteed to be in everything that matters – well, apart from the Grand Slam, but that’s a story for another day (or at least another article entirely).

PDC DARTS (Part III): You too can be a pro dart player

So there you have it – from grabbing your Tour Card to smashing early hurdles, landing on the big stage, and finally, becoming your bank manager’s new favourite person.

Want to be top of the tree? You’re heading in the right direction – you’re in the majors now. Just start winning a few. Sounds simple, right?

Next time we’ll take a closer look at these special events…

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