THE PDC's 2018 Order of Merit rules have been confirmed ahead of this week's Qualifying Schools in Wigan and Hildesheim.
The expansion of Qualifying School will see a record field of players competing across the two venues, with a total of 33 PDC Tour Cards on offer for players.
In addition, PDPA Associate Members from a combined Qualifying School Order of Merit will be able to participate in the six Coral UK Open Qualifiers this year, up to a limit of 256 players.
A change from previous years will see PDPA Associate Member entries for Players Championship events and European Tour UK Qualifiers based on the latest PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour Order of Merit, as at the closing date.
Click here to see the full 2018 PDC Order of Merit Rules
Players are asked to note the following updates:
European Tour Events
The format for the latter stages of European Tour events will be extended to the best of 13 legs for the semi-finals and the best of 15 legs for the final.
All European Tour event evening sessions will commence at 7.15pm unless otherwise advertised.
European Tour Qualifiers
Entry to European Tour UK qualifying Events is open to any UK Full Member and any UK player ranked in the top 32 of UK and non-European players (including ties) of the Challenge Tour Order of Merit as of the Event entry deadline.
Entry to European Tour non-UK qualifiers is open to any player from the relevant nations on payment of the relevant entry fee (if applicable). However, once a player has participated as a Day Member in two West & South Europe or Host Nation qualifying Events in any one calendar year, that player may not participate in further qualifying Events that year unless he played at least one day at the 2018 European Q School. Nordic & Baltic or East European qualifier entrants are not subject to this rule for 2018.
Players Championship Events
The fields for Players Championship events will be topped up to 128 players using the latest PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour Order of Merit to provide Associate Members.
Coral UK Open Qualifiers
The six Coral UK Open Qualifiers will be limited to a total field of 256 players. The field will see PDC Tour Card Holders joined by PDPA Associate Members up to the limit of 256 players based on the combined Qualifying School Order of Merit.
Entries for ProTour events will open following the conclusion of the 2018 PDC Qualifying Schools.