2017 PDC Pro TourThe 2017 PDC Pro Tour is a current series of non-televised darts tournaments organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Players Championships, UK Open Qualifiers and European Tour events are the events that make up the Pro Tour. This year there are 40 PDC Pro Tour events being held – 22 Players Championships, six UK Open Qualifiers and 12 European Tour events. Prize moneyPrize money for each European Tour event has increased from £115,000 to £135,000. The UK Open Qualifiers and Players Championship events stays the same as 2016.[1][2] This is how the prize money is divided:
PDC Tour Card128 players are granted Tour Cards, which enables them to participate in all Players Championships, UK Open Qualifiers and European Tour events. Tour cardsThe 2017 Tour Cards were awarded to:
Afterwards, the playing field was complemented by the highest qualified players from the Q School Order of Merit until the maximum number of 128 Pro Tour Card players had been reached. In 2017, that means that a total of 12 players qualified this way.[3] Q-SchoolThe PDC Pro Tour Qualifying School takes place at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan from January 19–22. The following players won two-year tour cards on each of the days played:
A Q School Order of Merit was also created by using the following points system:
To complete the field of 128 Tour Card Holders, places were allocated down the final Qualifying School Order of Merit. The following players picked up Tour Cards as a result:
UK Open QualifiersAs with recent years, 6 qualifiers took place to determine seedings for the 2017 UK Open.
Players ChampionshipsCompared to the previous year, there were two Players Championship events added to the calendar, increasing the number to 22. In addition, the top 64 of the Players Championship qualified for the Players Championship Finals. European TourCompared to last year, there are two European Tour events added on the calendar. In addition, the top 32 of the European Tour will qualify for the European Championship. PDC Challenge TourThe Challenge Tour consisted of 5 weekends of 4 events. PDC Development TourThe Development Tour consisted of 5 weekends of 4 events. Professional Darts Corporation Nordic & BalticThe Scandinavian Darts Corporation was renamed as the Professional Darts Corporation Nordic & Baltic (PDCNB). There were 10 events held over 5 weekends.[68]
Dartplayers Australia Grand Prix Pro TourThe Dartplayers Australia Grand Prix rankings are calculated from events across Australia. Gordon Mathers was the top player in the rankings, and therefore has automatically qualified for the 2018 World Championship.
EuroAsian Darts Corporation (EADC) Pro TourThe 6 EADC Pro Tour events and the 2018 World Championship Qualifier were played at Omega Plaza Business Center, Moscow. Players from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine are eligible to play.
World Championship International Qualifiers
World Championship PDPA QualifierThe winner qualified directly for the first round of the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship. The runner-up qualified for the preliminary round, as did the winner of the third-place playoff.
References
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