This year’s Premier League was suspended last March, after six nights of league activity
PDC chief executive Matt Porter has confirmed that this year’s Premier League Darts record will be released after the World Cup final, although the ‘Challengers’ format will not return for the third consecutive campaign.
The concept was introduced in 2019 after Gary Anderson pulled back through injury, and while Luke Humphries was the lone ‘opponent’ to record victory, he has on several occasions provide memorable.
However, with the biggest road show in the sport expected to be pushed back, Porter only told the Darts Show podcast that the 2021 edition will return to its original ten-player format.
When asked if the opponents’ concept was considered, Porter admitted: “It’s not something we’re looking at right now, it’s not.
“We will definitely name the players [Premier League] after the final round, but the idea now is to keep options open, because if things need to change, we do not want to be enthusiastic about something that we cannot sustain. “
Fitness will remain crucial to the world of sport throughout 2021 and the PDC demonstrated its innovation in austerity, receiving a gold award at the recent Sports Industry Awards for the innovative Home Tour.
“What we have tried to do is to keep the darts element as close to normal as possible,” said the Head of PDC.
“The events may have dropped in terms of crowds and supporters, but the real side of things has been as close to normal as we could have gotten, and that’s certainly made it easier and more accessible to people. “
The PDC achieved its main competitions in 2020, despite the turmoil caused by the Covid-19 pandemic
Just a few days ago, it was announced that the 2021 Accreditation Schools registered in January in Milton Keynes and Niedernhausen have been delayed until February, due to higher restrictions across Europe.
The quarter-opening Masters are expected to take place in January as expected, although in addition, definitive plans have not been finalized.
“We have put School Q back. We will do the Masters at the end of January and then beyond that, we are still reviewing our options,” Porter said.
“We want to be able to finish as much of the year as we can, but we are in a different position here, because in 2020 a lot of it was a matter of finishing things we had started. already.
“It is clear that we have not yet started anything for 2021 and we will have that little break in January that will give everyone time to take stock, see how the land is in terms of restrictions and what is allowed. , not just here in the UK, but in different areas as well. “
Semi-Final Play Order Saturday
| Stephen Bunting vs Gerwyn Price |
| Dave Chisnall vs. Gary Anderson |
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January 2, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
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The Premier League traditionally starts in the first week of February, although the supply challenges posed by the constraints continue, that is expected to change this year.
“The Premier League Darts for example is played under seven different jurisdictions – the four home nations and Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany. It’s all good to say ‘great, you can have a crowd’, but in all seven nations? ” he continued.
“There are going to be a lot of variations and a lot of things are still going to move, but we hope that the roll-out of the vaccine will continue long enough and that will make things easier for us.
“Certainly after the Masters we are considering what time it will be to organize special events.”
The remaining ten nights of last year’s Premier League were played over an intense 14 days in August and September, although there are no plans to do so in 2021.
6:17 Here’s a look at how the opponents achieved in the 2020 Premier League, with Luke Humphries claiming a special win
“We would not hope, because the movement it builds over time is part of its strength – the week-on-week story is good for fans and the media, but obviously if we can’t do things , we can’t do things, “Porter admitted.
The PDC has become a global phenomenon over the last decade – nine different nations were represented in the last 16 of this year’s World Championships, which is a testament to the evolution of the world. sport.
The World Series has been at the center of this growth, but last year’s events in New York, Copenhagen and the tripartite leader Down Under were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a situation which they hope to avoid this year.
“We are very aware of our international products,” Porter asked.
“We’ve had a lot of players over the last few weeks – whether it’s the World Series finals, the World Cup or here at the World Championships, which have turned up and were close to nothing. all year round wise competition.
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“They’ve turned dry and that has been difficult for them because a lot of the connected rounds have fallen apart. With the World Series it’s the same thing, but again, you talk about the different governments and the procurement challenges.
“Obviously if we have to go to Australia and quarantine for two weeks, it makes it inconvenient. If we have to go to Madison Square Gardens and social distance it will be very difficult, and as that we will take a look at.
“The advantage of the World Series is that it is completely on its own. It doesn’t necessarily affect too many other things, so we’ll see how that goes and they’ll be the conversations I submitted for January. “
Speaking after an exciting night of quarter-final activity at Alexandra Palace, Porter received praise for this year’s field and believes that hosting the event at his spiritual home has been very important for to be successful.
“Everyone has shown a strong sense of resilience in difficult situations and spirit too – people got it, they understood it was going to be different and they were happy to have the opportunity to still working.
The PDC had to postpone five World Series events last year, but hopes the global road show can resume in 2021
“You can’t overstate the importance of this competition to the players. It was imperative for us to deliver it at Alexandra Palace – the same utility room, at the same level.
“We have to try to make it more like the World Championship – some of the other events being held in Milton Keynes and Coventry, through no fault of Milton Keynes or Coventry, have lost some identity. think this event is definitely the World Cup. “
1,000 fans were welcomed back into the UK darting arenas for the first time since March on the opening night of Ally Pally, but soon any hopes of fans were dashed. ‘serving all the time was cut down when London entered Level 4 of Covid-19 restrictions.
With the official government announcement coming on the eve of the incident, it was another hammer blow to the PDC, but Porter financially wants them to make arrangements to deal with the population for some time. another long way that could be.
The double head of the Rotterdam Premier League collapsed by the roadside in 2020 due to a coronavirus outbreak
“We will change our business to make sure we can continue to go out. We still have resources and facilities for plowing and there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
“I think in our heads we’re looking at what’s going to happen this spring, Easter. Is that going to take a step back towards regularity? we another 12 months stomach?
“Unfortunately, we don’t have to find out these answers long beforehand, so we have to make sure we’re flexible, we have to make sure we’re creative, and we have to make sure that we ‘keep in touch with everyone else involved. “
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