“You’re going to have to give up your job” - PDC pro raises alarm over darts’ financial reality

Adam Paxton has questioned the financial reality facing players towards the lower end of the PDC rankings, arguing that Tour Card holders are increasingly expected to operate as full-time professionals without being guaranteed the income to do so.

The 26-year-old is currently 98th on the PDC Order of Merit with £30,750 in ranking prize money, having earned his first two-year Tour Card at Q School in 2025.

Now in the second season of that card, Paxton believes something needs to change for players trying to establish themselves below the sport's biggest earners.

"I think there's got to be something," Paxton told Oche180 when the possibility of allowing lower-ranked players to compete in events such as the MODUS Super Series was raised. "Whether it be allowing us to play in other tournaments and it not be so monopolised, or it goes back to that whole thing: should we be paid? I think we should be."

Paxton has earned £19,000 in ranking money during 2026, but much of that has come through a string of early-round wins on the Players Championship circuit rather than one major run.

He has reached the last 64 at 11 Players Championship events this season, alongside two appearances in the last 32. With travel and accommodation costs attached to each ProTour block, Paxton believes the money available at the earlier stages can make a significant difference.

"Does a first-round winner need the extra £250?" he questioned. "It's nice when you do, but when you don't, say you've got two ProTours, that extra £500 at least covers, or mostly covers, costs for the week. Something isn't quite... Obviously, it's very top-heavy for one reason. It's great for PR. It's great to say, 'Oh, the winner's won X, Y, Z.' It's not great for the people who don't qualify, or who are further down the rankings and getting the odd win here and there."

Paxton's best Players Championship result since gaining his Tour Card remains a last-16 appearance at Players Championship 34 in 2025, while his two deepest runs this season have both ended in the last 32.

During the interview, Paxton was also asked about the comparison with professional snooker, where minimum earnings have previously been made available to Tour Card holders.

"It does, really," he said when asked whether he was surprised darts had not followed a similar route. "Especially, as you say, the snooker's covered. Darts... I watched the Matchroom documentary on Netflix, and they say darts is the biggest moneymaker. So why can't it?"

Paxton then pointed towards another change to life on the PDC circuit which he believes has increased the pressure on lower-ranked professionals.

Players Championship events were once predominantly staged at weekends, but the circuit has increasingly moved into midweek dates. For anyone attempting to retain conventional employment alongside professional darts, that presents an obvious difficulty.

"And, as I say, it went from the weekend to then midweek to force you to become a professional darts player, as opposed to working alongside playing darts," Paxton explained. "But then it takes away your... They're like, 'Well, we're not paying you, though.' So we're not paying you to be a professional darts player and for it to be your job, but you're going to have to give up your job, or at least part of it, to be a darts player. So it doesn't quite work, I don't think."

One alternative raised with Paxton was greater freedom for players outside the world's top 64 to compete away from the PDC circuit and supplement their earnings elsewhere.

The MODUS Super Series was specifically mentioned during the discussion. Paxton knows that circuit himself, having won a weekly MODUS Super Series title in 2024 before earning his PDC Tour Card the following January.

Raymond van Barneveld has also previously received special dispensation from the PDC to compete at the World Seniors Darts Championship while holding a Tour Card.

For Paxton, either opening more of those opportunities to lower-ranked players or introducing greater financial support within the existing system would help address the issue. "I think there's got to be something," he said. "Whether it be allowing us to play in other tournaments and it not be so monopolised, or it goes back to that whole thing: should we be paid? I think we should be."

Paxton has increased his ranking earnings from £11,750 during his first season on Tour to £19,000 so far in 2026, but remains outside the top 64 as the final months of his initial two-year Tour Card approach.