Expanded field for 2019 PDC world championship plus £700,000 prizefund incress

[Bram_1900]

Just another bunch of non-meaning, non-interesting qualifiers from Panama, Cameroon and Saint Kitts en Nevis. Hail to the PDC!

What I would love to, and maybe the expansing is part of this. Is a WC-card for ex-WC's from both BDO and PDC. Up for everyone interested. Maybe it's an attempt to get Taylor in

[Zeyes]

interesting move. Will surely mean more coming over from Asia. Extra players from Australia and North America will have to be a must. I do wonder if this change may be a sweetener. NDFC had one entrant into the field this year. NDB? ADO? DFA? next? There are rumours a foot about Lakeside etc are the PDC going to break up the WDF with this?

I could also see an open British qualifying event, considering that Associate members apparently won't be allowed to compete in the PDPA qualifier anymore.

[Canuck_bully]

Wow a huge increase its good to see the whole field rewarded...and half a million for the winner. Just think if Rob Cross retains his title he bags 900,000 from 2 World Champs alone, this is almost as much as Taylor won for his 14 titles! (not including his losers cheques). Shows how much of a rapid expansion has occurred in recent years!

Or to look at it another way - 2.5 mil is approximately the same prize money as the first seven World Championships under Hearn had combined (2002-2008).

Amazing....just hope bookmaker advertising is never banned?!

[Canuck_bully]

Just another bunch of non-meaning, non-interesting qualifiers from Panama, Cameroon and Saint Kitts en Nevis. Hail to the PDC!

What I would love to, and maybe the expansing is part of this. Is a WC-card for ex-WC's from both BDO and PDC. Up for everyone interested. Maybe it's an attempt to get Taylor in

Taylor is retired...they wouldn't need to do anything to get Taylor in, he could sit on his arse all year and will still qualify if he really wanted to play.

[oche balboa]

There were only 2 sessions with no Prelim game so could add 2 easily - although that would ruin the '4 games per night' 1st round schedule. So it will need a little re-engineering what ever they decide.
Maybe just go to a full prelim round and go to 96 and add 3 or 4 more evenings.

There will be afternoon sessions on First Friday and Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday

[wimpster]

PDC World Championship prelims to be held at Lakeside next year .......?

[Skewball]

Just another bunch of non-meaning, non-interesting qualifiers from Panama, Cameroon and Saint Kitts en Nevis. Hail to the PDC!

What I would love to, and maybe the expansing is part of this. Is a WC-card for ex-WC's from both BDO and PDC. Up for everyone interested. Maybe it's an attempt to get Taylor in

well of course its actually part of a proper commercial strategy to develop interest around the world and help set up World Series events and so on. But you probably knew that. Especially given how much improved the Prelim games were this year. And WC''s straight into the comp for former champions should not, and never will happen.

[Skewball]

PDC World Championship prelims to be held at Lakeside next year .......?

they already are

[foggs3355]

I reacken extra 8 players 12 prelim games up from 8? I reckon extra players from Germany and I reckon 2 prelims games 1st few night session just 7 to 12

[nevil22]

For any serious darts player that has a spine or doesn't work on a farm or is a chippy, the only way to make a decent living is in the PDC

[ChrisW]

For any serious darts player that has a spine or doesn't work on a farm or is a chippy, the only way to make a decent living is in the PDC

You forgot an electrician.

[PVDarts180]

Maybe 80 players. 32 Seeds and 16 Pro Tour qualifiers directly into the first round, everybody else through the prelims. Would be the fairest way to account for the fact that qualifying through the full tour is harder than the other routes.

Seems to be the first option for me. I'm hoping for 96 places with top-32 receiving a bye in the first round.

[Little Lonely Garry]

PDC World Championship prelims to be held at Lakeside next year .......?

they already are

[Paddy McGinty]

Money's not everything, never judge a contest by the purse. Passion, sportsmanship and determination are what should be applauded.

[Mgt]

Money's not everything, never judge a contest by the purse. Passion, sportsmanship and determination are what should be applauded.

True, there's nothing more inspiring than Montgomery's passion for Lakeside.

[Zeyes]

I reacken extra 8 players 12 prelim games up from 8?

8 more players means 8 more prelim games, not 4.

[Duneh9617]

Incredible news once more! I think on the long term the pdc will be looking at a 128 player field in a format comparable to the tennis grand slams. Especially as the general standard keeps rising, at some point in time too many quality playets would not qualify when only 72 places are at stake. In such a future scenario we would not get to see each 1st and 2nd round game of the 7 live on the main stage, but it would make for a proper playig field and the champion would have to win seven matches, which is the ideal number in my opinion.

[oche balboa]

The thing is the Grand Slam in Tennis not all matches are televised.

[Booji Boy]

The thing is the Grand Slam in Tennis not all matches are televised.

Thats what he said you dumb idiot.

[Ginge]

I would suggest the PDC dont really want to go down the road of not showing WC matches on telly. Think they will just whack in a couple of extra afternoon sessions in the days leading upto Xmas if the field is getting expanded up to 76/80.