On 12 and 13 June, the 13th and 14th
Players Championship tournaments of the season will be played in Hildesheim. During these events, 128 players each compete for a PDC ranking title.
These tournaments are particularly interesting with a view to the World Matchplay in July. These two tournaments are two of the last three ranking tournaments that count in the qualification race for the World Matchplay.
After this, only a Euro Tour tournament will be played. For some players, these two Players Championship tournaments are their last chances to qualify for the prestigious televised tournament in Blackpool.
Who is entering these tournaments?
As is often the case with Players Championship tournaments in Germany, more PDC Tour Card holders than usual have not registered. At least 12 Tour Card holders are missing from Hildesheim. So Nathan Aspinall, Corey Cadby, Jonny Clayton, Joe Cullen, Luke Humphries, Ryan Joyce, Jacques Labre, Adrian Lewis, Ryan Searle, Graham Usher, Michael van Gerwen and Darren Webster have not registered.
Gary Anderson, Dave Chisnall, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock, James Wade, Simon Whitlock and Peter Wright are on the entry list despite that.
How can I follow these tournaments?
The Players Championship tournaments are broadcast via a live stream. Through the streaming service, four stream lanes are available per tournament.
All matches from the four stream lanes will be broadcast live via PDCTV. For this, you need to create an account and take out a subscription. A monthly subscription (£9.99) and annual subscription (£59.99) are available.
Another option is DartConnect. Through this score centre, the live scores of all matches from the first round to the final can be followed.
What is the prize money at the Players Championship tournaments?
The PDC has provided a prize fund of £3 million for the Players Championship circuit. At each Players Championship tournament, 100,000 in prize money is distributed.
Reaching the second round earns £750. Making it to the last 32 earns players £1250, followed by £2,000 for a place in the last 16.
The quarter-finalists get £3000 anyway, while the semi-finalists are already guaranteed £4000. The losing finalist receives £8,000 and the winner goes home with £12,000. The prize money won will count towards the world rankings, PDC
Pro Tour Order of Merit and the Players Championship Order of Merit.
What are the follow-up options through the Players Championship circuit?
Through the Pro Tour Order of Merit, players can qualify for the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and the Darts World Cup. The top-16 of this ranking list are also automatically qualified for the next Euro Tour tournaments.
In addition, the Players Championship circuit is the only route to the Players Championship Finals. That tournament takes place at the end of November in Minehead.
