European Tour Rule Changes Announced

[Ginge]

There is also a change which has clearly been put in because of MvG - the draw will be reversed in half the events so that the number #1 seed is at the bottom of the draw rather than the top. This is presumably so the #1 seed doesnt always have the longest rest time on the final day when matches are played in draw order.

[foggs3355]

I think it was better to expand the field to 64 players, with two stages.

I agree with you there make top 24 from pro tour rankings then 20 from uk qualifier 12 from west Europe qualifier 4 from host naction and 2 each from other 2 day 1 play on 2stages then all on 1 from weekend


I see the WGP changed it top 16 from pro tour no 2 Irish players getting unless they in top 16

[The Jolly Man]

The big question in all this is where do the Montenegrins play? Or do the PDC not class them as European?

[ssjsa]

What player seeded in an event is going to give that up to play qualifying so that prize money counts??

Can't see that scenario happening very much unless a real need to gain some money to qualify for a tv event.

I dont think anyone is expecting that scenario to happen. In any case the PDC are hardly going to allow someone who is seeded through to the last 32 to just give it up to play a qualifier.

Its only being done so that people dont get OoM credit for not winning a game. Although in the name of consistency, the same needs to happen with the Last 64 of the UK Open, and in Pro Tour events where there is a late withdrawal and a player/players get byes through to the Last 64.

Only just through the door from work, and seeing this for the 1st time, so haven't really given this much thought, but might there be a benefit to the No16 seed prefering to play a qualifier to potentially avoid MVG in the last 16.

[Ginge]

What player seeded in an event is going to give that up to play qualifying so that prize money counts??

Can't see that scenario happening very much unless a real need to gain some money to qualify for a tv event.

I dont think anyone is expecting that scenario to happen. In any case the PDC are hardly going to allow someone who is seeded through to the last 32 to just give it up to play a qualifier.

Its only being done so that people dont get OoM credit for not winning a game. Although in the name of consistency, the same needs to happen with the Last 64 of the UK Open, and in Pro Tour events where there is a late withdrawal and a player/players get byes through to the Last 64.

Only just through the door from work, and seeing this for the 1st time, so haven't really given this much thought, but might there be a benefit to the No16 seed prefering to play a qualifier to potentially avoid MVG in the last 16.

Maybe. But then what happens if the new #16 doesn't want to be seeded? And so on and so on?

[26scored]

What player seeded in an event is going to give that up to play qualifying so that prize money counts??

Can't see that scenario happening very much unless a real need to gain some money to qualify for a tv event.

I dont think anyone is expecting that scenario to happen. In any case the PDC are hardly going to allow someone who is seeded through to the last 32 to just give it up to play a qualifier.

Its only being done so that people dont get OoM credit for not winning a game. Although in the name of consistency, the same needs to happen with the Last 64 of the UK Open, and in Pro Tour events where there is a late withdrawal and a player/players get byes through to the Last 64.

Only just through the door from work, and seeing this for the 1st time, so haven't really given this much thought, but might there be a benefit to the No16 seed prefering to play a qualifier to potentially avoid MVG in the last 16.

Maybe. But then what happens if the new #16 doesn't want to be seeded? And so on and so on?

First one to accept it would get the seeding I guess. But I really can't see anyone playing a qualifier, it's far too risky.

[ssjsa]

What player seeded in an event is going to give that up to play qualifying so that prize money counts??

Can't see that scenario happening very much unless a real need to gain some money to qualify for a tv event.

I dont think anyone is expecting that scenario to happen. In any case the PDC are hardly going to allow someone who is seeded through to the last 32 to just give it up to play a qualifier.

Its only being done so that people dont get OoM credit for not winning a game. Although in the name of consistency, the same needs to happen with the Last 64 of the UK Open, and in Pro Tour events where there is a late withdrawal and a player/players get byes through to the Last 64.

Only just through the door from work, and seeing this for the 1st time, so haven't really given this much thought, but might there be a benefit to the No16 seed prefering to play a qualifier to potentially avoid MVG in the last 16.

Maybe. But then what happens if the new #16 doesn't want to be seeded? And so on and so on?

First one to accept it would get the seeding I guess. But I really can't see anyone playing a qualifier, it's far too risky.

I agree. I don't think anyone would take that chance, but interesting scenario.

[B78]

I wonder if Q school player from Europe get this membership for European events.
Any thoughts?

[Zeyes]

There is also a change which has clearly been put in because of MvG - the draw will be reversed in half the events so that the number #1 seed is at the bottom of the draw rather than the top. This is presumably so the #1 seed doesnt always have the longest rest time on the final day when matches are played in draw order.

This was added to the rules last year, and I think they were already doing it informally during part of the 2015 season as well.

[simonbals]

This is from the PDPA website:

Day PDPA Membership: Non PDPA Members can play as Day Members in European & Host Nation Qualifiers at European Darts Tour events only with the payment of a PDPA supplement as part of their entry fee (some restrictions apply). See PDC Rules
NOTE: In 2017 to play in ET Qualifiers, you can enter as a day member once only then you are subject to the new European Tour Associate Membership details (TBC).

Not a lot of clarity from the PDC and the PDPA on this point. Probably they are going to force the players to pay something if they want to try and qualify for the other European Tour Events. I think that BDO players are safe from the ban reserved to Tour Card holders and reserve players who play in a PC, but that is their decision to take.

[WCDPA]

I suppose it's only an issue once they have played twice !

[ifm]

Interesting change there. Winning a match to get OoM credit seems fair enough to me, used to be in the BDO rankings you had to win at least one match in TV events to earn any ranking points (even for the 16 parachuted into the Masters). Although this rule has gone in the last year or so.

Ginger bringing the bdo into it, there.

[Ginge]

Interesting change there. Winning a match to get OoM credit seems fair enough to me, used to be in the BDO rankings you had to win at least one match in TV events to earn any ranking points (even for the 16 parachuted into the Masters). Although this rule has gone in the last year or so.

Ginger bringing the bdo into it, there.

It's a legitimate comparison and it's a shame they now give points to people who lose their first game. Should never had changed it.

[simonbals]

I dont think anyone is expecting that scenario to happen. In any case the PDC are hardly going to allow someone who is seeded through to the last 32 to just give it up to play a qualifier.

Its only being done so that people dont get OoM credit for not winning a game. Although in the name of consistency, the same needs to happen with the Last 64 of the UK Open, and in Pro Tour events where there is a late withdrawal and a player/players get byes through to the Last 64.

Only just through the door from work, and seeing this for the 1st time, so haven't really given this much thought, but might there be a benefit to the No16 seed prefering to play a qualifier to potentially avoid MVG in the last 16.

Maybe. But then what happens if the new #16 doesn't want to be seeded? And so on and so on?

First one to accept it would get the seeding I guess. But I really can't see anyone playing a qualifier, it's far too risky.

I agree. I don't think anyone would take that chance, but interesting scenario.

Don't we forget that this year the prizemoney for a L32 in a ET event is £2,000. Even if the money doesn't count toward the Orders of Merit, you still have to be really bold to refuse that kind of guarantee pay and decide to maybe pay yourself £100 and play a tough qualifying tournament!

[Zeyes]

Interesting change there. Winning a match to get OoM credit seems fair enough to me, used to be in the BDO rankings you had to win at least one match in TV events to earn any ranking points (even for the 16 parachuted into the Masters). Although this rule has gone in the last year or so.

Ginger bringing the bdo into it, there.

It's a legitimate comparison and it's a shame they now give points to people who lose their first game. Should never had changed it.

They haven't given points to first-round losers who were World Trophy wildcards or World Masters seeds.

[Ginge]

Interesting change there. Winning a match to get OoM credit seems fair enough to me, used to be in the BDO rankings you had to win at least one match in TV events to earn any ranking points (even for the 16 parachuted into the Masters). Although this rule has gone in the last year or so.

Ginger bringing the bdo into it, there.

It's a legitimate comparison and it's a shame they now give points to people who lose their first game. Should never had changed it.

They haven't given points to first-round losers who were World Trophy wildcards or World Masters seeds.

Should be given them to anyone who doesn't win at least one game.

[armchairfan]

The first three Eastern Europe qualifiers will take place in Hungary on the 25th and 26th of February.

https://www.pdc-europe.tv/qualifier/

[26scored]

The first three Eastern Europe qualifiers will take place in Hungary on the 25th and 26th of February.

https://www.pdc-europe.tv/qualifier/

Not sure if it was mentioned before. but a good move from the PDC that they lowered the entry fees. Now it's 50 quid for PDPA members, and 65 quid for non-members.

[armchairfan]

The first three Eastern Europe qualifiers will take place in Hungary on the 25th and 26th of February.

https://www.pdc-europe.tv/qualifier/

Not sure if it was mentioned before. but a good move from the PDC that they lowered the entry fees. Now it's 50 quid for PDPA members, and 65 quid for non-members.

But that's because there's only one place up for grabs. The entry fee for the bigger qualifiers is unchanged.