"Everything is case by case": PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter explains reasoning behind Van Barneveld World Seniors spot

Matt Porter has served as the PDC’s Chief Executive since January 2008, and during his time in charge, the sport has grown massively. With major stars like Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, and Adrian Lewis helping to raise the profile of darts over the years, the game has transformed into a more globally recognised sport.

While appearing on the Weekly Dartscast, Porter shared his thoughts on why Raymond Van Barneveld is being allowed to play in the upcoming World Seniors Champion of Champions event.

Since the 2024 World Darts Championship — where Luke Littler burst onto the scene — the sport has seen a huge rise in popularity. In response to this growth, Porter believes certain changes are needed to keep up with the evolving landscape of darts. These could include exploring new venues to connect with local fanbases or increasing prize money to attract more full-time professionals and raise the overall standard on tour.

Porter went on to explain why ‘Barney’ is allowed to enter the World Seniors event, despite it going against the stipulations of a Tour Card holder’s contract:

"So under the PDC player contract that applies for all Tour Card holders, players may apply for permission to play in non-PDC sanctioned events that are broadcast. That’s exactly what Raymond (Van Barneveld) did. We granted him permission, so everything is case by case".

Porter then offered a reason for why Beau Greaves may not be allowed to defend her WDF Women’s World Championship title:

"The Beau scenario is different because you’re talking about a different World Championship — you’re talking about another event that’s called a World Championship. Raymond’s not (playing in an event called the World Championship). So it is a different scenario. On this occasion, Raymond applied and we evaluated the request, and we had no issues with granting permission".

Following a question from a fan of the Weekly Dartscast, Porter reiterated his point about each case being considered on its own merits:

“Yeah, look, like I say, every application is considered on its merits, and we get numerous requests from players. You know, many of our overseas players — North American players, Asian players, European guys — play in streamed events, soft tip events, national championships, all sorts of different stuff, and we always grant permission for that type of thing at that level. So, as I say, it’s on a case-by-case basis".

Clearly, the intention is there for players to be allowed to compete in events outside of the PDC sphere. With more and more darts-based initiatives taking place, the PDC will only strengthen its position by giving players the chance to gain more exposure through participation. Raymond van Barneveld’s inclusion in the World Seniors Champion of Champions event will only add to the attraction and appeal of the competition.