Detailed explanation of the PDC darts players championships events

What are the PDC darts players championships?

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What are the PDC darts Players Championships?

The PDC darts Players Championships events for the backbone of the professional darts season. These tournaments are the bread and butter for the vast majority of the pro players as they are open to all 128 of the tour card holders whereas majors see far fewer players qualified. 

Quick guide to PDC darts players championship events

  • The players-championship events played behind closed doors (not open to the general public) with four boards streamed on PDC TV. You might hear the TV commentators referencing these tournaments as floor events as they are played without a stage or podium.
  • These one day events play down from 128 (any tour card holders not taking part are replaced by the top challenge tour players) all the way down to the winner. These tournaments are played as straight knockouts over a fixed number of legs of 501, best of 11 legs all the way to the semi-finals which are both best of 13 legs, with the final being played as a best of 15 legs. 
  • Prize money is on offer which counts to the overall PDC order of merit table AND the pro-tour order (a combined ranking with the Euro tour darts) of merit tables. It should be noted that first round losers receive no prize money
  • After completion of the 34 events in the season the 64 highest ranked players from the pro-tour order of merit qualify for the season ending players championship finals. This event traditionally takes place in November and is broadcast on ITV in the UK 

a far cry from hte vast stadiums of the Premier League darts for the PDC floor events

Prize money for the players championships

In 2025 the number of Players championship events increased from 30 to 34 in 5 different locations (Milton Keynes, Leicester and Wigan in the UK, Hildesheim in Germany and Rosmalen in The Netherlands) with each event offering up the following prize money:

Winner: £15,000

Runner up: £10,000

Semi-finalists: £5,000

Quarter-finalists: £3,500

Last 16: £2,500

Last 32: £1,500

Last 64: £1,000

To see when the players championships take place head over to the calendar and schedule of all PDC darts events 

Image credit: PDC media