Winter Series

The PDC Winter Series will be held in Coventry from November 10-14. The event consists of five consecutive Players Championship tournaments.

The PDC wants to create a so-called bubble around the PDC Winter Series. Players and staff (such as tournament officials, security and production staff) undergo a Coronavirus test on a predefined time slot on the day of arrival. They must then await the results in their hotel room. The corona test (£ 110 each) is paid in full by the PDC.

A negative result means that a player is free of Coronavirus. As proof of this, a player is presented with a wristband, which must be worn throughout the event. With this wristband, a player can move freely within the bubble, which consists of a hotel, restaurant and playing area.

When a player has tested positive, the darts player in question must leave the hotel immediately to go in self-isolation. Non-British players are first given the opportunity to make arrangements to self-isolate in the United Kingdom. They have to go in isolation for two weeks before they can return home.

The PDC advises players with Coronavirus symptoms to first undergo a Covid-19 test in their own environment. In this way a possible wasted trip can be prevented. Even if that test is negative, a player must still participate in the PDC test.

There are consequences for leaving the bubble. Regardless of the length or content of the trip, a second Coronavirus test will be done and in the meantime a player must go into hotel room isolation. A second test must be paid by the player himself.

It can take up to 12 hours for the results to be confirmed, putting a player at risk of being excluded from participating in any of the Players Championship tournaments during the PDC Winter Series.

Medically qualified doctors are also present at the location. They can send players with symptoms to their hotel room until they are declared medically healthy again.

Measures are also taken during the tournaments to prevent infection. Players are expected to keep a distance of one meter from each other and wash their hands regularly.

In addition, walk routes are utilised and there is a waiting area where players must stand when their opponent is throwing. Players each have their own table where they can put their belongings (such as a bottle of water, phone and darts equipment). These tables are cleaned after every game. Once players have lost and done their marking duties, they must immediately leave the playing area and return to the hotel.

The PDC Winter Series consists of five Players Championship tournaments, each with £75,000 in prize money on offer. Players earn £500 with a win in the first round and this adds up to £10,000 for the winner of an event.

The prize money counts towards the PDC Order of Merit, Pro Tour Ranking and the Players Championship Order of Merit. In addition, a special PDC Winter Series Order of Merit is being set up. The highest player on this ranking who hasn't qualified yet receives an invitation to the Grand Slam of Darts.

Winner £10,000

Runner-Up £6,000

Semi-Finals £3,000

Quarter-Finals £2,250

Last 16 £1,500

Last 32 £1,000

Last 64 £500

Total £75,000