GERMAN DARTS MASTERS 2017 INTRODUCED TO PDC WORLD SERIES OF DARTS CIRCUIT
A SEVENTH international World Series of Darts event has been added to the PDC circuit with the introduction of the German Darts Masters in Dusseldorf on October 20-21.
The two-day event will be held at the Castello Arena in Dusseldorf, as 16 players compete in the year's final international World Series of Darts tournament.
As with the PDC's other international World Series of Darts events, eight top PDC players will be joined by eight local stars in the first round of the tournament.
The top two ranked German players from the PDC Order of Merit at Monday August 7 will qualify by right, alongside six German qualifiers.
The German Darts Masters' first round on Friday October 20 will see the PDC stars take on the German hopefuls, before play concludes on Saturday October 21 with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Germany's Max Hopp, the 20-year-old former World Youth Champion, is already set to make his World Series of Darts debut after being invited to compete in the PDC U.S. Masters next month.
Hopp also partnered emerging youngster Martin Schindler to the quarter-finals at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt last month in another boost for the sport in Germany, which also hosts nine European Tour events this year.
"Darts in Germany is making massive strides, both with the impact of Max Hopp in recent years and the incredible growth of the European Tour, and it will be another big step forward for them to host a World Series of Darts event," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
"This tournament will be the perfect way to end the year's global tour of events as we build up to November's World Series of Darts Finals in Scotland, and is a great addition to the calendar."
The 2017 World Series of Darts began in May with the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, which was won by Gary Anderson as the Scot defeated Michael van Gerwen in the final.
Further events are being held in Shanghai and Las Vegas during July before the focus moves to the Oceanic events in Auckland, Melbourne and Perth during August.
2017 German Darts Masters
Friday October 20
First Round x8
Saturday October 21
Quarter-Finals
Semi-Finals
Final
Ticket information will be confirmed in due course.
Following the introduction of the German Darts Masters, the PDC ProTour weekend which had been previously planned for October 20-22 in Barnsley will now move forward to be held on the following dates:
Monday October 9 (7pm) - World Series of Darts Finals Qualifier
Tuesday October 10 (12pm) - Players Championship 21
Wednesday October 11 (12pm) - Players Championship 22