The qualification structure for the PDC European Tour has been confirmed for 2020 ahead of the widest-reaching season of events since the series was introduced.
A total of 13 European Tour events are set to take place during 2020, including visits to Belgium and Hungary for the first time alongside tournaments in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic and Gibraltar.
As in recent years, each event will feature 48 players and sees the top 16 players from the ProTour Order of Merit seeded through to the second round.
PDC Tour Card Holders will now compete in one combined qualifier for a total of 24 places in the tournament, having previously been split into UK and European Qualifiers.
The top two ranked players from each Host Nation will also qualify by right, where applicable, as two of four players representing each Host Nation.
Further qualifiers will come from the PDC Nordic & Baltic and East Europe regions (one place per tournament), with two places reserved for an Associate Member Qualifier, which will be open to players who competed at the 2020 PDC Qualifying School but did not win a Tour Card.
"The European Tour is a hugely popular and important part of the PDC circuit now and the expansion into two new territories next year is accompanied by this exciting update to the qualification structure," said PDC Chief Executive Matthew Porter.
"We have reviewed the European Tour with partners including PDC Europe and the PDPA and believe that this new qualifying structure provides a great balance for fans attending across Europe as well as players competing in the events."
Tickets for the 2020 PDC European Tour are available through PDC Europe.
European Tour qualification structure
16 Seeded Players - top 16 entered players from ProTour Order of Merit at time of entry deadline. Will enter each event at second round stage, and need to win their second round match in order for prize money to count to the relevant Orders of Merit.
24 Tour Card Holder Qualifiers - from one knockout qualifier featuring all Tour Card Holders.
Up to two ranked players from the Host Nation - outside of the top 16 seeds from the ProTour Order of Merit at the time of entry deadline. Will enter each event at first round stage, and need to win their first round match in order for prize money to count to the relevant Orders of Merit. Should there be less than two ranked players from the Host Nation, additional places would be on offer at the Host Nation Qualifier.
Two Host Nation Qualifiers - from events for Associate and Day Members from the Host Nation. Day Members can participate in up to two Host Nation Qualifiers per year.
Two Associate Member Qualifiers - from events open to any Associate Member who competed at the 2020 Qualifying Schools.
One PDC Nordic & Baltic Qualifier
One East Europe Qualifier