TOP DUTCH trio Jelle Klaasen, Michael van Gerwen and Vincent van der Voort have joined the PDC and will make their debuts in the Stan James Players Championship double-header in Gibraltar.
Following a week of speculation during which they participated at the Lakeside World Championship, the three have now followed in the footsteps of the godfather of Dutch darts, Raymond van Barneveld, who signed on for the PDC last February.
Klaasen, 22, and van Gerwen, 17, are the two brightest young stars of darts in the Netherlands, whilst van der Voort has been an ever present at the top end of the rankings over the last five years.
Klaasen became the youngest ever World Champion 12 months ago when he defeated van Barneveld in a dramatic final.
And Van Gerwen, who turns 18 in April, is the current World Masters champion following success in the tournament last October.
Putting an end to the rumours which have been circulating in the press, Klaasen said: "I have chosen to play for the PDC because they are a more professional organisation with more money and more tournaments.
"I am looking forward to playing in Gibraltar and in the other tournaments throughout the year and I want to prove myself against the best players in the world."
Van Gerwen added: "I saw what a good move it was for Raymond van Barneveld last year and I want to try and emulate his achievements.
"The PDC gives me the best opportunity to become the best player in the world and I know my game will only get better for this."
31-year-old van der Voort agreed with his younger compatriots: "This is the best move for my career - the top players in Holland and the world play in the PDC events and I am looking forward to competing against them on a regular basis.
With £40,000 in prize money up for grabs this weekend, the trio will have an instant chance to make their mark on the new-look PDC Order of Merit as they compete against over 100 other competitors on 'The Rock'.
On Saturday, van Gerwen could face recent PDC World Championship semi-finalist Andy Hamilton, whilst van der Voort is drawn on the same board as the PDC's Young Player of the Year James Wade and Klaasen looks set for a clash with world number four Peter Manley.
The following day sees an appetising potential second round clash between van Gerwen and van Barneveld, with Klaasen potentially facing Andy Jenkins, the other recent Purfleet semi-finalist and van der Voort drawn on the same board as two-time World Champion John Part.