Start

Each tournament is played according to a clearly structured group format. Depending on the size of the venue, two formats are available: the small format with four boards accommodates up to 24 participants, whilst the large format with eight boards accommodates up to 48 participants. In both variants, players are divided into groups of no more than six per board and play the group stage in a best-of-three-legs format. The top two players from each group qualify for the knockout stage, which is played in a best-of-five-legs format from the round of 16 and quarter-finals onwards. Special rule: if a leg is not checked out within 60 darts, the leg is decided by a bullseye throw.

Tournaments take place at least once a week at each venue, usually on weekdays, starting between 6 pm and 8 pm. All dates are published on the RegConnect platform. Registration opens one week before each tournament and is available exclusively online via RegConnect. Getting started is easy: a PDCE starter membership costs 10 euros per season, whilst entry to individual tournaments costs 6 euros. Minimum age: 12 years. A minimum age of 16 applies for qualification for final tournaments.

PDCE Start is divided into eight regions across the DACH region, including Luxembourg and Liechtenstein. Each region has its own leaderboard and its own final tournament. The points you earn in tournaments count exclusively towards the region in which you are resident, regardless of the venue at which the tournament takes place.

Germany is divided into four regions: Western Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Luxembourg), Northern Germany (Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), Eastern Germany (Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Berlin) and Southern Germany (Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg).

Austria is divided into two regions: Western Austria comprises Vorarlberg, Tyrol, Salzburg, Carinthia and Upper Austria. Eastern Austria comprises Styria, Lower Austria, Vienna and Burgenland.

Switzerland is also divided into two regions: Western Switzerland (Geneva, Vaud, Valais, Bern, Fribourg, Neuchâtel, Jura, Solothurn, Basel-Landschaft and Basel-Stadt) and Eastern Switzerland (Aargau, Lucerne, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Uri, Ticino, Graubünden, Glarus, Schwyz, Zug, Zurich, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, St Gallen, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, Appenzell Innerhoden and Liechtenstein).

Residence in the DACH region or in Luxembourg and Liechtenstein is mandatory. Players who are eligible to compete under PDC rules but live outside these regions will be allocated on a case-by-case basis.

Points are awarded at every tournament and count towards the regional rankings. Only the best ten results of the season count. It is therefore worth playing regularly and replacing weaker results with better ones.

Taking part in a tournament earns 2 points. Anyone who qualifies for the knockout stage will have a total of 20 points. Each further win in the knockout stage is worth 20 additional points. Winning the tournament adds a further 30 points to the rankings. In addition to the regular tournament points, extra points are awarded for special achievements, such as short legs, high scores or high finishes. Every dart counts!

Simply by qualifying for the Regional Finals, every player is guaranteed prize money. A total of €40,000 in prize money will be awarded. Whoever wins their regional final tournament will be crowned Regional Champion and will thereby secure two direct rewards: a place in the newly created PDC Major tournament and a place in the final tournament to decide the Super League places. The runner-up in the regional final tournament won’t go away empty-handed either: they will receive places in the PDC Europe Next Gen.

Before the PDC Europe Super League gets underway, the regional champions will face off in head-to-head matches. The final remaining places in the Super League will be decided in four one-on-one matches, which could pave the way for the clubs to progress directly to Ally Pally.

PDC Europe Start tournaments are restricted by nationality. The participating countries are Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. To be eligible to take part in PDC Europe Start, one of the following criteria must be met:

• Residence in one of the participating countries for at least 5 years
• Born in one of the participating countries
• Citizenship of one of the five participating countries
• Minimum age: 12 years*

*To qualify for a final tournament, you must be at least 16 years old

To take part in START, and in particular to register via DartConnect, you must be resident in one of the five countries listed above. If you meet at least one of the eligibility criteria but are not resident in the relevant country, please contact the PDC Europe team at [email protected]

The usual rules of play and conduct apply to all PDC Europe Start tournaments. The DRA’s rules and regulations generally serve as a model in this regard. However, the dress code does not apply to regional tournaments. Closed-toe footwear must nevertheless be worn. The full DRA dress code applies to the PDC Europe Start final tournaments.

Clubs and players are required to comply with the rules and to report any potential breaches to PDC Europe. PDC Europe will then decide on any potential sanctions.

The organisers run the tournaments on behalf of PDC Europe. They have the final say in all disputes arising on site.

PDC Europe may, at its discretion, impose sanctions on players following breaches of the rules. For example:

• Temporary suspension (week / series)
• Season-long suspension
• Exclusion from PDC Europe events

PDC Europe may, at its discretion, impose sanctions on venues following breaches of the rules. For example:

• Fine (for tournaments not held, a flat rate of €150)
• Withdrawal of licence

Should any incidents occur during tournaments, we ask players and venues to submit a report by email to [email protected]. Our staff will investigate the incident and advise on sanctions or consequences.

The PDC Europe Start tournaments are self-marking competitions. The rules for scoring are as follows:

Group stage: During the group stage, the markers are appointed by DartConnect. The organiser may adapt this rule to suit the tournament.

Marking in the knockout rounds: In the first knockout round, the players who finished bottom of each group on the respective boards are the markers. All subsequent matches are scored by the losers of the previous matches (loser marks).

Should a player fail to score, this must be reported to PDC Europe. That player will then be sanctioned by PDC Europe.

• The top 32 players in each ranking qualify for the Regional Finals
• The winners of the Regional Finals qualify for the Super League Play-offs and the PDC’s new Major tournament
• Players who are eliminated in the Super League Play-offs are awarded entry to four Next Gen weekends (of their choice, redeemable within 12 months)
• The runner-up in the Regional Finals will receive entry to two Next Gen weekends (of their choice, redeemable within 12 months)
• The semi-finalists of the Regional Finals will receive entry to one Next Gen weekend (of their choice, redeemable within 12 months)

Should a player qualify for the Regional Finals but fail to turn up, their place will be replaced by a bye.

Should a Regional Champion not take part in the Super League Playoffs, they will be replaced by the next highest-ranked, non-qualified player from the Next Gen main rankings.

Depending on the circumstances, venues have the option of hosting PDC Europe Start tournaments over four or eight boards. The following tournament format is used:

Two to eight groups are played, each on a single board, with each group consisting of up to six players. In the case of groups of three, a home-and-away round is played. The group stage is played in a best-of-3-legs, 501 SIDO format. The top two players from each group qualify for the knockout round. The knockout round is played as best-of-5-legs.

If a leg is not completed after 60 darts have been thrown per player, a throw at the bullseye will decide who wins the leg.

The Bull Up at PDC Europe Start is played as follows: the 50, 25 and outside areas are scored in that order. In the event of a tie, the throw is repeated, unless both darts land outside the 25. In that case, the dart closest to the bull wins.

The following tournament format will be used for the Regional Finals:

There will be 8 groups, each with one board, comprising up to 4 players per group. If a venue has only 4 boards, two groups will share each board. The group stage will be played in a best-of-7-legs, 501 SIDO format. The top two players from each group will qualify for the knockout round. The knockout round will be played as best of 7 legs. The final will be played as best of 9 legs. In the case of groups of three, a home-and-away round will be played.

The ‘Bull Up’ rule and the ‘Max 60 Darts’ rule also apply in the finals. Furthermore, the PDC dress code applies at the Regional Finals (dark shoes, black trousers and a collared shirt).

Group sizes depending on the number of participants: At PDC Europe Start, the following groups will be played in the group stage, depending on the number of participants:

• 3–5 players: 1 group
• 6–11 players: 2 groups
• 12–24 players: 4 groups
• 25–48 players: 8 groups

Tie-break rules: In the event of a tie in the group stage, the system will determine the players’ final rankings according to the following criteria:

• Matches Won (MW) / Match Points (MPts)
• Leg difference (L+/-)
• Legs Won (LW)
• Head-to-head record
• Better 3-dart average