London, England — The Professional Darts Corporation has implemented a significant change to its European Tour seeding and qualification structure, shifting the system to reward consistent Pro Tour performers over established stars.
The New Seeding System
Under the previous rules, seeded players for each European Tour event were determined by the Main Order of Merit—the PDC’s primary world ranking system. This format effectively protected top-ranked players from facing strong opponents in the opening rounds.
The new system instead awards seeding positions to the top 16 players from the Pro Tour Order of Merit, which tracks earnings from Players Championship and European Tour events over a rolling 12-month period.
Why the Change Was Needed
The old format created an imbalance that disadvantaged players who compete regularly in floor events week after week. These consistent performers often faced difficult draws and early tournament exits, while top-ranked stars received protection regardless of their recent form or participation levels.
The PDC’s decision reflects a desire to reward players who demonstrate ongoing commitment and strong performances on the Pro Tour circuit, rather than simply relying on historical ranking positions.
Impact on Players
This reform represents excellent news for Pro Tour regulars who excel in floor events. It signals that the PDC wants to place greater emphasis on rewarding professionals who may not yet be as established as the sport’s biggest names but are proving their quality on a weekly basis.
For top players in the Main Order of Merit, the change means they may need to increase their participation in floor events to maintain favorable seeding positions at European tournaments.
The PDC hopes this will create more variety in seeding across different European events, leading to more exciting matchups, diverse winners, and better entertainment for fans.
How Luke Littler and Luke Humphries Are Affected
While players like world number one Luke Littler and world number two Luke Humphries will still be highly ranked, their seeding at individual European events will now depend on their Pro Tour performance rather than their Main Order of Merit position.
If either Littler or Humphries chooses not to enter a particular event or cannot participate for any reason, the number one seed will go to the highest-ranked player who is competing, based on world ranking.
The New European Tour Format
European Tour events will now feature 32 players with the following structure:
Seeds 1-16: Top 16 from Pro Tour Order of Merit, numbered according to world ranking
Places 17-26: Tour Card Holders, numbered by world ranking
Places 27-30: Four Host Nation qualifiers
Place 31: PDCNB (PDC Netherlands/Belgium) qualifier
Place 32: Eastern Europe qualifier
This format will be standard across all European Tour events for the 2026 season.
Looking Ahead
The European Tour season has not yet begun, with the opening tournament—the Poland Darts Masters—scheduled for February 20. This marks the first time Poland will host a European Tour event, as the PDC expands its continental presence to 15 tournaments across the year.
The rule change takes effect immediately, meaning all European Tour events throughout 2026 will operate under this new structure, fundamentally altering the competitive landscape and potentially creating opportunities for emerging talent to make their mark on the circuit.
