6. Challenge Tour/Development Tour/World Youth Championship

6.1 Entry to Challenge Tour Events is open only to all players who participated in the 2021 Q Schools but did not obtain a Tour Card.

6.2 Entry to Development Tour Events and the World Youth Championship and its associated qualifiers is open to all players who are aged 23 or under and 16 or over on January 4 2021. Players who are ranked in the top 32 of the PDC Order of Merit on the cut-off date of an Event are not eligible to enter those Development Tour Events. Players who turn 16 during 2021 shall be eligible to enter Development Tour Events or World Youth Championship qualifiers once their 16th birthday has passed.

All Tour Card Holders meeting the age requirements shall automatically be entered in to the draw for the World Youth Championship for that year and must inform the PDC before the date of the draw whether they wish to participate or not.

6.3 The World Youth Championship starts at the Last 96 round and is comprised of a minimum of 16 invitations, plus any players who under rule 6.2 have qualified by virtue of holding a Tour Card with all remaining places up to 96 being taken from the final 2021 Development Tour Order of Merit, using countback as per rule 3.2 if required to determine positions.

6.4 Challenge Tour and Development Tour Events and the World Youth Championship are played under the same rules and regulations as ProTour Events where not otherwise specified in this section.

Registration and start times for Challenge and Development Tour Events will be advertised in advance of each Event on pdc.tv as they may vary due to entry levels or logistical reasons.

6.5 Development Tour matches are played over the best of seven legs up to the last eight and then best of nine legs from the last eight to the final. Challenge Tour matches are played over the best of nine legs.

The World Youth Championship is played over the best of 11 legs from the knock-out stage with group matches the best of nine legs. The group stage will consist of three players per group who will play each other once with two points awarded per win. In the event of a tie on points within the groups, players will be separated by leg difference. If two players have the same leg difference then the head-to head result between the two players will be used to determine positions. If all three players have the same leg difference then a three-way nine-dart-shoot out will be played.

6.6 Challenge Tour and Development Tour Events are played with an open draw with no seedings or exemptions. There are generally two Events per day, however this is subject to change.

The World Youth Championship Last 96 will include 32 seeds, being based on the Main Order of Merit with the remaining positions based on the final 2020 Development Order of Merit, and will be played down to a Final. The Final will then be scheduled during a PDC Premier or Invitational Event at a later date (expected to be at the 2021 Players Championship Finals).

6.7 All prize money in Challenge Tour and Development Tour Events won will count towards separate one-year Orders of Merit.

6.8 The Development Tour entry fee is £25 per Event. Challenge Tour entry is £50 per Event. Entries must be made online prior to 1400 the Friday preceding the weekend’s Events. There is no entry fee for the World Youth Championship.

6.9 The following incentives are on offer to players competing in the Challenge Tour, Development Tour and World Youth Championship: – The two highest ranked players on the 2021 Development Tour Order of Merit and then the highest ranked player on the 2021 Challenge Tour Order of Merit receive an invitation to the 2021/22 World Championship.

NOTE: if any of the players who achieve the above otherwise qualify for the 2021/22 World Championship, or reject their invitations, further places shall be offered to other players from the relevant Order of Merit until the places are filled.

– The finalists of the 2021 World Youth Championship will be included on the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts qualification criteria list subject to the entry criteria as stated in rule 3.1 of this document.

– The winner of the 2021 World Youth Championship receives an invitation to the 2021/22 World Championship.

NOTE: if any of the players who achieve the above otherwise qualify for the 2022 Grand Slam ofDarts or 2021/22 World Championship, or reject their invitations, no further places shall be offered.

– The top two players on the final 2021 Challenge and Development Tour Orders of Merit who have not otherwise qualified for Tour Cards for 2022 and 2023 will receive two-year Tour Cards.

NOTE: if any of the players who achieve the above otherwise qualify for a Tour Card or reject their invitations, places will be offered further down the Challenge and Development Tour Orders of Merit. In the event a player achieves the above from both the Challenge and Development Tours, the Challenge Tour will take priority.

– The players who finish third to eighth (countback applied in event of ties) on the 2021 Challenge Tour and Development Tour Orders of Merit will receive free entry to the 2022 Q School.

NOTE: in the event that any of the players who achieve the above qualify otherwise for a Q School place or reject their invitations, places will not be offered further down the Challenge and Development Tour Orders of Merit.