The PDPA ¦ Professional Darts Players Association

PDC EUROPEAN TOUR 2013

THE 2013 European Tour will feature eight £100,000 tournaments, including events in the UK and Gibraltar for the first time.

Five European Tour events – each featuring 64 players competing for a £15,000 first prize – were held during 2012 as the new concept enjoyed a successful introduction to the PDC calendar. Prize money next year will rise from £82,100 in total to £100,000 per event, with a £20,000 first prize to the winner.

The 2013 European Tour will kick off with a new tournament to be held at the Butlins Minehead Resort from March 8-10 as the events make their UK debut, with the UK Masters replacing the Players Championship double-header which had been planned for Barnsley that weekend. Sindelfingen – with two events – and Dusseldorf will again host tournaments in Germany alongside a new venue in Hildesheim, with Wiener Neustadt again staging the Austrian leg of the European Tour, while Gibraltar will host an event from June 28-30.

The venue for eighth and final EDT event is Koningshot, Holland. ”The European Tour has been a huge success after being introduced in 2012,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn. ”These events have not only been vital for our leading players but also a great way for new faces in Europe to have the opportunity to play in important tournaments. ”We’re delighted not only to be able to increase prize money next year but also to add new venues in the UK, Gibraltar and Germany to take us to eight events.”

The format is best of 11 legs throughout, the top 32 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit Table at the time of entry will qualify with 32 qualifiers. There will be 3 qualifiers:

1-UK Qualifier (20 Places) This qualifier is for any UK or World PDPA Member ‘Not European or Top 32 on PTOoM’

2-European Qualifier (8 Places) This qualifier is for any European player inc day member ’Not Top 32 or Host Nation’

3-Host Nation (4 Places) This qualifier is for any European player inc day member from the host nation

Total 32

The 2013 PartyPoker.net European Championship will now be played from July 4-7, with the dates in September hosting European Tour Event Seven from September 20-22.