The PDC have announced another steep rise in darts prize money for next year with a record-breaking £5 million up for grabs.
More cash on offer as PDC announces record prize money
The PDC have announced another steep rise in prize money for next year, with a record-breaking £5 million up for grabs, while a new Tour Card system similar to golf will be introduced in 2011.
The announcement by the leaders of professional darts around the world means that the 2009/10 PDC World Championship will have a prize pot of £1 million, with the winner handed a whopping £200,000 first prize.
In all, five tournaments will have at least £100,000 first prizes, with both the next Grand Slam of Darts, and the ever-popular Premier League of Darts, which again will be screened live on
Sky Sports in 2009, handing out £125,000 to the winner.
Two other of the PDC's flagship tournaments shown on
Sky Sports, the World Matchplay in Blackpool and Dublin's World Grand Prix, will both see the winner take home a cool £100,000.
Massive boost
"This is a massive advance for the sport of professional darts," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
"Fuelled by our record TV ratings and huge live gates, the PDC is now in a position to increase prize money levels that will make millionaires of the top darts players.
"Our growth in the last five years has been nothing less than dramatic and we are committed to taking this sport even further forward."
At a meeting in Ireland the PDC met with the Professional Darts Players Association and Darts Regulation Authority, where a new Tour Card system was given the go-ahead.
In a system similar to golf, the top 96 players in the PDC after the 2011 World Championship will earn their place on the Pro Tour for that year, and they will join 32 players who progress through a Qualifying School event.
"Our overseas investment is creating a truly global game and the introduction of a Tour Card for 2011 will confirm our status as a major sport," Hearn added.
"This is already a very good time to be a professional darts player with the PDC and the future is looking even brighter."
Future
With prize money also increased for the smaller Players Championship events and UK Open Regional Finals, darts has never been in better health.
"The Tour Card and Qualifying School is without doubt the most exciting initiative in World Darts for many years," said PDPA Chairman Peter Manley.
"It will give all players an equal opportunity to compete on the PDC Pro Tour and earn the right to be a professional in their chosen sport.
"We, the PDPA, fully support the Tour Card and Qualifying School and are delighted that we participated in the initial planning and have been involved in its implementation alongside the PDC. We believe that, through this initiative, world darts will become one of the major forces in world sport."
