PDC Challenge and Development Tours set to be split into UK and Europe for 2021

With the ongoing restrictions and other factors, the PDC Challenge and Development Tours have been unable to start so far this year with Q-School Order of Merit making up the reserve list for ProTours.

But details have been confirmed as to how the Secondary Tours will be played in 2021 with 24 events on both tours which will be split geographically to minimise travel between countries.

The UK Challenge Tour will begin from August 6-8 and September 3-5 in Milton Keynes with the European Challenge Tour starting earlier on July 2-4 but then running a weekend in tandem in September.

The UK Development Tour will take place from August 20-22 in Milton Keynes while Barnsley will see a return of darting action at the Metrodome from October 29-31.

While the European Development Tour will once again base itself in Niedernhausen like the whole of the Challenge Tour with weekends between August 20-22 and November 5-7.

Both regions will have an Order of Merit with the winner of each tour claiming a PDC Tour Card and a place in the 2021/22 PDC World Darts Championship.

Details are set to be released in due course on the 2021 PDC World Youth Championship which is of course affected due to these changes.

This will also mean that those at the top of the respective Challenge Tour Order of Merits will take spots for the reserve list of ProTour events.

"We remain committed to providing opportunities for players throughout the PDC system and we are pleased to be able to confirm plans for the 2021 Unicorn Challenge and Development Tours," said PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter.

"Given the ongoing restrictions, particularly in relation to travel, we have taken a practical and realistic step to split the Challenge Tour and Development Tour into events in the UK and Europe for 2021, whilst committing to at least 12 events in each region."

2021 PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour
July 2-4 - European Challenge Tour Events 1-6, Niedernhausen, Germany
August 6-8 - UK Challenge Tour Events 1-6, Milton Keynes, England
September 3-5 - European Challenge Tour Events 7-12, Niedernhausen, Germany
September 3-5 - UK Challenge Tour Events 7-12, Milton Keynes, England

2021 PDC Unicorn Development Tour
August 20-22 - European Development Tour Events 1-6, Niedernhausen, Germany
August 20-22 - UK Development Tour Events 1-6, Milton Keynes, England
October 29-31 - UK Development Tour Events 7-12, Barnsley, England
November 5-7 - European Development Tour Events 7-12, Niedernhausen, Germany