Porter looks back on Price Premier League setback: "Unfortunately he was a victim of the current time"

For PDC Chief Executive, Matt Porter, the challenges through the Coronavirus pandemic continue despite a potential end being in sight with the roadmap issued by the governmenet.

One of those was the recent PDC Super Series in Niedernhausen, Germany which due to travel restrictions going to the continent meant that players no longer had an elite sport exemption.

He discussed some of those challenges in a recent interview with Online Darts while also reiterating their commitment to all Tour Card holders not just those based in the UK.

"It's always a risk at the moment to ask people to get on an aeroplane or travel overseas and that applies both ways whether it's people coming into the UK or going overseas. But as I've said on numerous occasions we have a commitment not just to British players but to global players for this sport and there are a sufficient number of non UK Tour Card holders that justify us holding events outside the UK," said Porter to Online Darts.

"It's a relief everytime we get the test results through and there's no positives obviously that's a key thing. It was a relief that nobody got stuck in airports, not that we expected that to happen but of course at the current time, these things always can happen. So we feel we did the right thing staging events in Germany."

Before that was another challenging time with the positive test for World Champion and World Number One, Gerwyn Price who as a result couldn't play in this year's showpiece Premier League Darts.

"It wasn't great, if you're going to pick anybody your World Champion and World Number One wouldn't be the player you'd want to lose from the event and that's no disrespect to the others. It's just the way it is but the rules are the rules. Unfortunately he was a victim of the current time."

News dropped of the PDC's intention for a capacity crowd at the World Matchplay and Porter admitted it will have to go back to normal or the event won't take place.

"It's going to have to be because you just can't socially distance in the Winter Gardens. It's the only venue left we have standing tickets. It's got to be back to normal by then, I know football organisations are planning for their leagues restarting next year with full crowds so that's around the same time as Wimbledon tennis and cricket over the summer. So we'll see what's happening elsewhere but really still got everything crossed about Blackpool being back to normal."

News also dropped of the World Seniors which has captivated a buzz on social media as some of the darting greats return to the stage and it is an event Porter will keep a vested interest in.

"I will be fascinated to see how it goes. We've talked about the Grand Slam places before, they need replacing with a long term strategy. So we will wait and see, not going to sit here and make a promise, not going to sit here and rule anything out."