"If I was a player in that situation I wouldn't be happy" - Matthew Edgar has mixed emotions about PDC's controversial changes to Euro Tour

The PDC recently announced that the qualification criteria for European Tour tournaments will be changed in a decision which is causing quite a stir among players.

The qualification format for the PDC European Tour tournaments is changing in 2024. The biggest change is that now the top-16 players in the world rankings will also automatically qualify for an event. However, the top-16 of the PDC Order of Merit will also receive an invitation. They will have to start the tournament from the first round. As a result, fewer starting spots are to be earned in the qualifying tournament for Tour Card holders. This number has been reduced from 24 to only 10 available spots.

Matthew Edgar, himself a former Tour Card holder understands both sides of the argument. "If I was a player in that situation I wouldn't be happy. Because I'd think 'now it almost freezes me out or I'm going to struggle to get into those'," Edgar explains in conversation with Online Darts. "On the other side, yes they've restricted the opportunity but they've only done that within their organisation.

"One of the things we always said as Tour Card holders was 'we don't get enough protection. We're the Tour Card holders and we don't get opportunities but their giving opportunities to all these who don't have a Tour Card. We're the PDC players, why aren't they looking after us?'" Edgar continues. "The Associate members have opportunities anywhere they want."