PDC Prize Fund Heralds Best Ever Season for Darts
The Professional Darts Corporation’s prize funds are set to reach new heights in the next twelve months providing more fantastic opportunities for the world’s professional players.
In the 2004 season alone PDC ranked events will pay out nearly £1.25 million to its professional ranks, allowing more and more of the game’s elite to work towards playing the sport on a full time basis.
Prize money at the Corporation’s flagship event, the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship will increase by £50,000 for the 2004 competition, to take the total to £300,000 for the greatest darts show on earth – that’s a 25% increase in just three years.
First prize for the 2004 Championship will jump to £60,000 making it the highest paid event in world darts by some considerable margin.
Perhaps the most significant development in terms of funds in 2004 is the news that all PDC televised events this year will carry in a minimum prize pot of £100,000.
That means an extra £30,000 available at the World Grand Prix, a further £26,000 for the Las Vegas Desert Classic III and an additional £20,000 at the Stan James World Matchplay, with the Budweiser UK Open Final again carrying a total of £124,000 – all in all an astonishing £125,000 of additional prize money will be put into Premier events in the 2004 season.
These figures include all PDC run events as well as all sanctioned events around the world and is guaranteed prize money – 9-dart funds and additional payments for the highest check out and other special awards bring the total on offer at PDC ranked events to nearer one and a half million!
Professional darts has never been so healthy in terms of the financial rewards that are available to all darts players and with exciting developments such as the Players’ Championship, the opportunities will continue to make the Premiership of Darts the only place for the serious professional player.
'Increased prize money and a greater choice of tournaments is a priority for everyone at the PDC,' commented PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
'That all PDC televised events now carry a minimum of £100,000 proves that our pledge to see every event organised by the Corporation fall into line with the standards set by the professional players is coming to fruition.
'Every professional player deserves to be playing for serious rewards and £1.25 million in prize money sends a signal to everyone involved that darts is a serious sport for elite professionals.'
2004 PDC Prize Fund Breakdown – Sky Sports Televised Events only
2004 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Winner: £60,000
Runner-Up: £30,000
3-4th: £15,000
5-8th: £9,000
9-16th: £6,500
17-32nd: £3,500
33-40th: £2,750
41-48th: £1,750
Budweiser UK Open Darts Championship
Winner: £30,000
Runner-Up: £15,000
3-4th: £7,500
5-8th: £4,000
9-16th: £2,000
17-32nd: £1,000
33-64th: £500
Las Vegas Desert Classic III
Winner: £15,000
Runner-Up: £7,500
3-4th: £5,000
5-8th: £3,500
9-16th: £2,000
17-32nd: £1,350
(additional funds will be paid out through the qualifying rounds and Ladies competition)
Stan James World Matchplay Darts Championship
Winner: £20,000
Runner-Up: £10,000
3-4th: £6,000
5-8th: £4,000
9-16th: £2,250
17-32nd: £1,500
World Grand Prix Darts Championship
Winner: £20,000
Runner-Up: £10,000
3-4th: £6,000
5-8th: £4,000
9-16th: £2,250
17-32nd: £1,500
For further information contact:
Gayle Farmer
PDC Media and Communications Manager
Tel: (+44) (0) 24 7669 3335
Fax: (+44) (0) 24 7669 3336
E: gayle.farmer@prodarts.com
In the 2004 season alone PDC ranked events will pay out nearly £1.25 million to its professional ranks, allowing more and more of the game’s elite to work towards playing the sport on a full time basis.
Prize money at the Corporation’s flagship event, the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship will increase by £50,000 for the 2004 competition, to take the total to £300,000 for the greatest darts show on earth – that’s a 25% increase in just three years.
First prize for the 2004 Championship will jump to £60,000 making it the highest paid event in world darts by some considerable margin.
Perhaps the most significant development in terms of funds in 2004 is the news that all PDC televised events this year will carry in a minimum prize pot of £100,000.
That means an extra £30,000 available at the World Grand Prix, a further £26,000 for the Las Vegas Desert Classic III and an additional £20,000 at the Stan James World Matchplay, with the Budweiser UK Open Final again carrying a total of £124,000 – all in all an astonishing £125,000 of additional prize money will be put into Premier events in the 2004 season.
These figures include all PDC run events as well as all sanctioned events around the world and is guaranteed prize money – 9-dart funds and additional payments for the highest check out and other special awards bring the total on offer at PDC ranked events to nearer one and a half million!
Professional darts has never been so healthy in terms of the financial rewards that are available to all darts players and with exciting developments such as the Players’ Championship, the opportunities will continue to make the Premiership of Darts the only place for the serious professional player.
'Increased prize money and a greater choice of tournaments is a priority for everyone at the PDC,' commented PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
'That all PDC televised events now carry a minimum of £100,000 proves that our pledge to see every event organised by the Corporation fall into line with the standards set by the professional players is coming to fruition.
'Every professional player deserves to be playing for serious rewards and £1.25 million in prize money sends a signal to everyone involved that darts is a serious sport for elite professionals.'
2004 PDC Prize Fund Breakdown – Sky Sports Televised Events only
2004 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Winner: £60,000
Runner-Up: £30,000
3-4th: £15,000
5-8th: £9,000
9-16th: £6,500
17-32nd: £3,500
33-40th: £2,750
41-48th: £1,750
Budweiser UK Open Darts Championship
Winner: £30,000
Runner-Up: £15,000
3-4th: £7,500
5-8th: £4,000
9-16th: £2,000
17-32nd: £1,000
33-64th: £500
Las Vegas Desert Classic III
Winner: £15,000
Runner-Up: £7,500
3-4th: £5,000
5-8th: £3,500
9-16th: £2,000
17-32nd: £1,350
(additional funds will be paid out through the qualifying rounds and Ladies competition)
Stan James World Matchplay Darts Championship
Winner: £20,000
Runner-Up: £10,000
3-4th: £6,000
5-8th: £4,000
9-16th: £2,250
17-32nd: £1,500
World Grand Prix Darts Championship
Winner: £20,000
Runner-Up: £10,000
3-4th: £6,000
5-8th: £4,000
9-16th: £2,250
17-32nd: £1,500
For further information contact:
Gayle Farmer
PDC Media and Communications Manager
Tel: (+44) (0) 24 7669 3335
Fax: (+44) (0) 24 7669 3336
E: gayle.farmer@prodarts.com