31/10/2023

This is the Tour Card race with two more Players Championship tournaments to come

On November 1 and 2, the last two Players Championship tournaments of the season will be played. For several players these will be exciting days, as they may just be their last days on the PDC Pro Tour (for now).

Players who have a PDC Tour Card are given two years to secure a position in the top-64 of the world rankings. If a player falls out of the top-64 after that period, that player must return to Q-School to try to earn back his Tour Card.

Here's how to watch Players Championship 29 and 30 this week via live stream

Devon Petersen, Jeff Smith and Darius Labanauskas are all currently outside the top 64 in the world rankings and seem almost already certain of losing their Tour Card. These players are currently ranked outside the top-100 on the Pro Tour Order of Merit and thus appear likely to miss the Players Championship Finals and the World Darts Championship.

Steve Lennon is currently ranked 61 in the world rankings, but looks set to drop out of the top 64 towards the end of the year. However, the Irishman is currently virtually qualified for the Players Championship Finals and the World Championship and should secure his place for these tournaments at the upcoming Players Championships. However, merely achieving qualification for the World Championship and the Players Championship Finals will not be enough to extend his Tour Card for a seventh year.

Conclusion of race for 2024 World Darts Championship nears: These are the standings with 2 Pro Tours to go

For Florian Hempel, the upcoming Players Championships will be crucial tournaments. The German is currently just outside qualification for both the World Championship and the Players Championship Finals, but could qualify for both tournaments with a few wins in the coming days. Securing placement for these tournaments then appears to be enough for Hempel to retain his Tour Card.

For Tour Card holders who did not make it to the World Darts Championship via the world rankings or the Pro Tour, there is another PDPA qualifying tournament at the end of the year, where four starting spots for the Alexandra Palace are available.