Check out the PDC calendar for October here as the run to the World Championship heats up

October has begun and that traditionally means we can start getting ready for the three most important months of the season. The first major tournaments of the autumn season begin this month.

But in addition to the majors, there are a number of other tournaments on the PDC calendar. Important tournaments are also breaking ground for youth players and women in October.

Oct. 1-3: Players Championship 24-26 

All players with a PDC Tour Card are expected at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan from Tuesday, Oct. 1, to Thursday, Oct. 3, for the continuation of the Pro Tour season. The Players Championship tournaments 24, 25 and 26 of the season will be played then.

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Each Players Championship tournament involves 128 players. First, the 128 PDC Tour Card holders are invited. If not all Tour Card holders participate, Challenge Tour players are invited.

A number of matches during these Players Championship tournaments will be played on a livestream. This livestream can be viewed via PDC TV. The winner of a Players Championship tournament collects the top prize of 15,000 pounds. Through the Pro Tour tournaments, players can qualify for majors such as the Players Championship Finals and the World Darts Championship.

Oct. 7-13: World Grand Prix

The first major this fall will take place at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester where the 27th edition of the World Grand Prix will take place. This event is a unique tournament on the PDC calendar because the legs must also be started with a double.

The field of participants for the World Grand Prix consists of 32 players. The top-16 of the world rankings have been invited and sixteen of the Pro Tour's best players are also there. They will compete together for the main prize of 120,000 pounds.

Last year's title at the double-in double-out tournament was won by Luke Humphries, who thus forced his big breakthrough. 'Cool Hand Luke' was too strong for Gerwyn Price in the final 5-2.

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Oct. 12-13: Development Tour 21-24

The greatest talents aged 16 to 24 are expected in Wigan in mid-October for the four final tournaments of the PDC Development Tour. The Development Tour consists of a total of 24 tournaments.

At the end of this season, the top two players will receive a PDC Tour Card for the next two seasons and may compete in the World Darts Championship. In addition, the top 82 ranked players will receive an invitation to participate in the PDC World Youth Championship.

October 14: World Youth Championship

The start of this year's PDC World Youth Championship 24 begins on Monday, Oct. 14. The tournament is bigger than ever this year, as as many as 128 players may compete. All of them will compete for the youth world title at the PDC.

As every year, the tournament will be played until the two finalists are known. As usual, the World Youth Championship final will be played on the final night of the Players Championship Finals in November.

In 2023, Luke Littler crowned himself youth world champion at the PDC by defeating Gian van Veen in the final. Both players may compete again this year. Other well-known participants include Wessel Nijman, Niko Springer, Keane Barry, Nathan Rafferty, Jurjen van der Velde and Adam Gawlas.

Oct. 15-16: Players Championship 27-28

Youth players who also hold a PDC Tour Card can stay in Wigan as two Players Championship tournaments will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 15 and Wednesday, Oct. 16.

This is the penultimate diptych of the Players Championship season, so there are many important pounds to be earned for the various qualifying races.

Oct. 18-20: Czech Darts Open

The Euro Tour season also comes to an end in the month of October. In the Czech capital Prague, the last Euro Tour tournament of the season will be played. It is the fourth time Prague has been allowed to host such an event.

After this tournament the balance will be drawn and the top-32 of the Euro Tour Order of Merit will receive an invitation to participate in the European Championship in Dortmund.

The list of participants for the Czech Darts Open includes Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, Gary Anderson, Luke Littler, Danny Noppert, Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Raymond van Barneveld, Peter Wright, Dimitri van den Bergh and Mike de Decker.

Oct. 19-20: Women's Series 21-24

The Women's Series also concludes this month. The Mattioli Arena in Leicester will be the site of a wildly exciting denouement of the Women's Series season on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20.

Well-known names such as Beau Greaves, Fallon Sherrock, Lisa Ashton, Mikuru Suzuki and Noa-Lynn van Leuven will take a shot at the titles in this event. Greaves currently leads the Women's Series Order of Merit and, because of her title at the Women's World Matchplay, already receives an invitation to the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship.

The two highest-ranked players behind her also get to compete in the Darts World Cup, while the runner-up in the final rankings also gets to compete in the Grand Slam of Darts.

Oct. 24-27: European Championship

The best players in the world have to travel to Dortmund one more time for a big tournament, because like the past two years, the European Championship will be held in the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund.

The field of participants for the European Championship consists of the 32 players who performed best during the 13 Euro Tour tournaments in 2024. The draw is based on the final ranking of the Euro Tour Order of Merit. The number one will face the number 32, the number two will face number 31, and so on.

Peter Wright managed to win this tournament from nowhere in 2023 after a deep crisis of form. The two-time world champion won 11-6 over James Wade in the final.

Oct. 30-31: Players Championship 29-30

This year's Pro Tour season will conclude in Leicester on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and Thursday, Oct. 1. For a number of players, these will be the two most important days of the season, and for some, perhaps the two most important tournaments of their careers.

After this duel, it is clear which 64 players will be allowed to compete in the Players Championship Finals in November. The field of participants for the World Darts Championship after these Pro Tour tournaments is also largely known.