PDC To Introduce New Events

THE PDC are to introduce two new, televised tournaments within the next year as part of the continuing expansion of the professional circuit.

A new European Open will take place in Holland in October, establishing a PDC-organised tournament for the first time in the Netherlands.

The PDC will also introduce a Players Championship Finals, to be held in January 2009.

This event will see the top 32 players from the Players Championship Order of Merit - comprising all Players Championship tournaments staged in 2008 - playing off in a knockout competition.

PDC Chairman Barry Hearn announced the two events at the PDC Annual Awards Dinner, as well as revealing his plan to push prize money to £10 million in the coming years.

Prize money will pass £4 million in 2008, and with the circuit expanding into Asia, with the Asian Masters scheduled for the summer, and Australia.

"Our support for the global growth of professional darts will continue in the United States, South Africa, Australia and Germany, as well as in Asia and Canada this year," said Hearn.

"Prize money is rapidly approaching £4 million and our long-term target is to offer TEN million pounds per year on the professional circuit.

"Let me leave you in no doubt, there is only one place for players with the ambition and talent to play professional darts - within the PDC."