“The standard answer is: ‘Women will have to choose’” - Deta Hedman urges PDC to do more to avoid clashes with WDF events

Deta Hedman has urged the PDC to make a greater effort to avoid clashes between its Women’s Series and major WDF events, revealing that when she has raised the issue previously, the “standard answer” has been that women will simply have to choose where they play.

The reigning WDF world champion raised the issue ahead of the announcement of the next PDC calendar, with a particularly significant clash already approaching this season.

The final four events of the 2026 Women’s Series are scheduled for Wigan in October on the same weekend as three ranked events at the England Classic programme in Selsey.

That decision directly concerns Hedman herself. At 66, she is fifth on the current Women’s Series Order of Merit, having won Event 11 in May and qualified for the Women’s World Matchplay, while continuing to compete extensively across the WDF circuit.

Hedman made clear that her concern is not with the financial commitment the PDC has made to women’s darts. “With PDC about to announce their calendar I really hope for ladies darts they consider the respective calendars, 100% they pay out fantastic money in ladies series and the 2nd highest pay out in ladies darts in the PDC Ladies Matchplay of 15k,” she wrote on Facebook.

The scale of the Women’s Series has changed considerably since its introduction in 2020. Its first season consisted of four £5,000 tournaments, while the 2026 circuit comprises 24 events carrying £15,000 apiece, with £2,500 for each winner.

Hedman nevertheless believes repeated clashes with other established tournaments are limiting the ability of women to take advantage of the different circuits now available.

“But we always get clashes with events in the UK & Ireland, UK and Ireland account for 80+% of ladies series entries in UK, and even when we go to Germany it's 40% of the entries,” she continued. “Recent years we have had clashes with IOM, Welsh, Scottish, English and British open events. It would be fantastic for the growth of the ladies game if these could be kept to a minimum.”

Hedman pointed towards Gemma Hayter and Fallon Sherrock as two leading PDC players who have also continued appearing in major WDF competition. “Recent events have seen Gemma Hayter compete when she can in UK WDF ranked events and World Masters in Vegas, this weekends Welsh Open saw Fallon Sherrock compete in Wales and the spectators there were so happy to see her,” she wrote.

Hayter is currently fourth on the 2026 Women’s Series Order of Merit, one place ahead of Hedman, while Sherrock sits third.

The clash identified by Hedman for October comes at an especially important point in the PDC season. “A classic example is 9-11th October we have England Classic weekend at Selsey with 3 ranked events and PDC ladies series in Wigan.”

Events 21-24 in Wigan will complete the 2026 Women’s Series, with the final Order of Merit positions and qualification places still to be decided.

Hedman herself has remained firmly in that picture despite missing four Women’s Series tournaments earlier in the season. Her May title was her first on the circuit since 2020, while she also reached a semi-final and two quarter-finals across her other strongest runs this year.

Hedman ultimately framed the issue around the opportunities available to the generations following her rather than her own schedule. “At 66 won't affect me for too much longer but would be great for the youngsters to have potentially PDC, WADC and WDF tours to play on without clashing, I've asked about this before but standard answer is the Women will have to choose.”

Few active players have experienced more of the development of women’s darts than Hedman. Her first major final came at the Women’s World Masters in 1990, she became the first woman to beat a man in a televised major darts event at the 2005 UK Open and, in December 2025, finally became world champion at the age of 66.

More than three decades after first reaching the top of the women’s rankings, she remains an active contender across both of the principal circuits now at the centre of her concern. The final four Women’s Series events are due to take place in Wigan on 10-11 October, alongside the England Classic weekend in Selsey.