Players Championship

9 February – 5 November 2026

The Players Championships are the floor tournaments of the PDC Pro Tour: in 2026 there are 34 events without an audience, in which the 128 Tour Card holders play for £150,000 in prize money each. The results decide the starting places at the Players Championship Finals.

The Players Championships are the ranking tournaments of the PDC Pro Tour, staged by the Professional Darts Corporation since 2004. They are so-called floor events: tournaments without spectators, played on numerous boards side by side, with a complete tournament run through on a single day. In 2026 the series comprises 34 events in Hildesheim (Halle 39), Wigan (Robin Park Leisure Centre), Leicester (Leicester Arena), Milton Keynes (Arena MK) and, for the first time, Den Bosch (Maaspoort); the opener is on 9 February in Hildesheim, and the final two events of the series follow on 4 and 5 November in Leicester. Only the 128 Tour Card holders are eligible to enter. If places become free because professionals skip individual dates, players move up via the Challenge Tour Order of Merit. Tour Cards are awarded through the top 64 of the PDC Order of Merit after the World Championship, through the Challenge and Development Tour and through Qualifying School. At every event the top 32 of the Players Championship Order of Merit, a ranking that rolls on an annual basis, are seeded. Each Players Championship is worth £150,000 in 2026. The winner receives £15,000, the runner-up £10,000, and prize money goes all the way down to £1,250 for an exit in the last-64 round. This money counts towards the PDC Order of Merit, the PDC Pro Tour Rankings and the separate Players Championship Rankings, through which the best 64 players qualify for the Players Championship Finals at the end of the season. The series has grown strongly over the years: the five tournaments of the debut year 2004 had become 20 events with their own ranking by 2007, and in 2010 the previous high of 37 tournaments was reached. After the reduction that came with the introduction of the European Tour in 2012, the number rose again; since 2025 there have been 34 Players Championships on the calendar. The events are not on TV, but four boards are streamed live on PDC.TV.

At a glance

  • Number of tournaments 2026: 34 Players Championships
  • First held: 2004 (predecessor: Bobby Bourn Memorial Players Championship 2003)
  • Organiser: Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)
  • Prize money per event: £150,000, of which £15,000 for the winner
  • Participants: 128 Tour Card holders per tournament
  • Venues 2026: Hildesheim, Wigan, Leicester, Milton Keynes, Den Bosch
  • Rankings: Prize money counts towards the PDC Order of Merit, PDC Pro Tour Rankings and Players Championship Rankings
  • Significance: The Players Championship Rankings determine the 64-player field of the Players Championship Finals

Related rankings

FAQ

What is the PDC Players Championship in darts?

The Players Championships are ranking tournaments on the PDC Pro Tour and have been held since 2004. They are floor events without spectators, with each tournament played out in full on a single day.

How many Players Championship tournaments are there in 2026 and where are they played?

In 2026 there are 34 Players Championships on the calendar, from the opener on 9 February in Hildesheim to the finale on 5 November in Leicester. The venues are the Halle 39 in Hildesheim, the Robin Park Leisure Centre in Wigan, the Leicester Arena, the Arena MK in Milton Keynes and, for the first time, the Maaspoort in Den Bosch.

How much prize money is there at the Players Championship 2026?

Each Players Championship event has £150,000 in prize money in 2026 – £25,000 more than last year. The winner gets £15,000, the runner-up £10,000 and the semi-finalists £6,500 each; prize money is paid all the way down to £1,250 for going out in the last 64.

What format are the PDC Floor tournaments played in?

The format is a straight knockout with 128 players: Best of 11 Legs up to and including the quarter-finals, 7 winning Legs in the semi-finals and 8 in the final. The top 32 of the Players Championship Order of Merit, a rolling one-year ranking, are seeded.

Who is eligible to play at the Players Championship darts?

Only the PDC's 128 Tour Card holders are eligible to enter. The Tour Cards go to the top 64 of the PDC Order of Merit after the World Championship, to two players each from the Challenge Tour and the Development Tour, and to the winners of Qualifying School; any places that come free are filled via the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

Where are the PDC Players Championships shown on TV or stream?

The tournaments are not shown on TV in either the UK or Germany. Four boards can be watched live on the PDC streaming service PDC.TV, one of them with German commentary; all matches can also be followed on the DartConnect livescore.

What do the Players Championship results count towards?

The prize money won counts towards the PDC Order of Merit and the PDC Pro Tour Rankings and additionally makes up the Players Championship Rankings. Via this separate ranking, the top 64 players qualify for the Players Championship Finals, which take place from 27 to 29 November 2026 in Minehead.

Who leads the Players Championship Order of Merit 2026?

After Players Championship 32, Wessel Nijman leads the Players Championship Order of Merit with £154,500, ahead of Chris Dobey (£118,750) and Kevin Doets (£113,250). The Dutchman has won six Players Championships in 2026 so far – more than any other player this season.

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