THE PDC Unicorn Youth Tour will be expanded to 21 tournaments held across seven dedicated weekends in 2012.
The future stars of darts will be able to compete for £90,000 in prize money throughout the year, with the Youth Tour developing following its successful introduction during 2011, which saw 15 events plus the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship held.
Holland's Michael van Gerwen topped the PDC Unicorn Youth Tour in 2011, while second-placed Paul Barham and World Youth Championship finalist James Hubbard will turn professional this year after winning Tour Cards by virtue of their success in the youth events.
In 2012, the Youth Tour will feature seven weekends which will each comprise of three tournaments being played, two on a Saturday and one on a Sunday.
Each event will be worth £3,000 in prize money - a 50 percent increase on last year's £2,000 prize money - and will see the last 32 players receive prize money.
Five of the weekends will be held in the UK, with further weekends being staged in Holland and Germany as the PDC look to
The dates will be announced shortly, with the final details currently being confirmed.
PDC Unicorn Youth Tour events will be open to any player aged 14 or above, with an upper age limit of being 21 on January 1 2012. Players aged 21 at this time are eligible to compete in all 2012 events.
The PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship will follow the 21 Youth Tour events and be held later in 2012, with details to be announced later this year but a confirmed prize fund of £30,000 on offer.