Wayne Warren

[Loramski]

Warren ended up with £23,000, that's less than Fallon Sherrock got for reaching the third round of the PDC event. It's the lowest winner's prize money at the BDO event since Jocky Wilson in 1989.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/darts/51126679

The only reason I ever saw Glen Durrant give for staying with the BDO so long was that he was picking up £100.000 each year for winning their world title and he couldn't guarantee earning that if he went to the PDC. He changed his mind last year, sneaked through Q School then earned £226,500 prize money at the PDC, and a Premier League place, while the BDO prize money went down 77%. A guy called Matthew Dennant had match darts to knock Durrant out of Q School last year, I guess they both reflect on the significance of those misses now.

[length]

The only reason I ever saw Glen Durrant give for staying with the BDO so long was that he was picking up £100.000 each year for winning their world title and he couldn't guarantee earning that if he went to the PDC.

I don't know how true this is, but I remember reading that the BDO World Champion would have to forfeit their prize money if they made the switch within a certain amount of time (1 -2 years)

The BDO were trying to tie them down.

Eric will know..

[Eric the Half a Bee]

I don't know how true this is, but I remember reading that the BDO World Champion would have to forfeit their prize money if they made the switch within a certain amount of time (1 -2 years)

The BDO were trying to tie them down.

Eric will know..

This was as recent as 2 years ago. It was the reason Durrant wouldn't switch. Last year, the BDO decided to get rid of that rule. They realised that the darting divide would only harm its own players chance of progression, signalling also that it had lost the battle.

As soon as they dropped the rule, Durrant had a go at Q-school.

[Loramski]

This was as recent as 2 years ago. It was the reason Durrant wouldn't switch. Last year, the BDO decided to get rid of that rule. They realised that the darting divide would only harm its own players chance of progression, signalling also that it had lost the battle.

As soon as they dropped the rule, Durrant had a go at Q-school.

Was it that simple with Durrant though? I'm aware of the prize money issue that you and Length are talking about, the variant I remember is the semi-finalists from the BDO event being offered automatic tour cards by the PDC but the BDO would reclaim their prize money if they accepted.

I'm not sure if this was in place when Stephen Bunting won the BDO title in 2014 but Bunting was adamant that he wouldn't be leaving the BDO, only to change his mind very soon after. I assumed Barry Hearn (and his cheque book) had made Bunting an offer he couldn't refuse, including a tour card.

I thought Durrant would make a similar deal and join the PDC with an automatic tour card but it never happened. I've found an interview here from 2017 where he's saying he wants to join the PDC but there's no direct mention of returning prize money, his BDO contract just seemed to stop him from going to Q-School if he reached the BDO semis. He's begging Barry Hearn for a tour card, the interviewer seems confused as to why he hasn't been given one. I'm confused as to why he never was.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39Ook_ZNAYQ (from about 2.40)