Originally Posted by
Eric the Half a Bee
A few years ago the PDC offered tour cards to the four Lakeside semifinalists. Now they don't, so potentially the BDO World Champion would need to qualify through Q-School. As far as I understand, any player wanting to move to the BDO from the PDC would be warmly welcomed with no obstacles whatsoever.
I read an article on Glen Durrant recently where he was asking Barry Hearn to give him a tour card, which Hearn subsequently refused. Durrant (and maybe other BDO players) has it in his contract that if he was to switch allegiance, he'd have to forfeit any prize money he won this year.
I disagree with StraightOuttaCanton's remark that it's better to be a big fish at the BDO. Durrant wants to move, he knows he can earn more money at the PDC being an average player. The player currently ranked 40th at the PDC has earned over £100k in 2 years. That's more than all the current BDO players, bar the last two World Champions (Durrant and Waites) have earned in prize money over the last 2 years. Take James Wilson - was ranked BDO no. 1 when he decided to have a go at Q-school. His biggest prize at the BDO was £30k for winning the World Trophy. He's yet to make a ranking semi final at the PDC yet he's earned almost £150k over the last 2 years.
Unless you can win the Lakeside, you can't make that sort of living. Yes, there's prestige in being a BDO world Champion (I feel that prestige is on the wane) but ultimately it's about money. That's not knocking the BDO or being necessarily in favour of the PDC, it's stating fact. The prize money offered by the PDC means dart players can become full time professionals, which they can't really be at the BDO. This suits some fine, like Scott Waites, who considers darts a hobby. It's an interesting position for a dart player to be in - some thrive at the opportunity, some don't. Take Rob Cross - an amazing story. He's earned over £600k this year. He could never have got close to that at the BDO. Next year entry fees in the PDC are being scrapped, so players can take home even more. Players will mainly go where the money is.