The German Darts Corporation (GDC)
In 2006 two Meet-The-Power Event were staged and for the first time Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld travelled to big Exhibitions to Germany. This has been the beginning of the German Darts Corporation. The aim of the GDC was to promote the professional Dartsport in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
That's why the GDC started in 20076 an own event series with an own ranking system and national tournaments in which all players from the area of the GDC could take part. At the end of the year the winner of the ranking system received a Wildcard for the PDC World Darts Championship.
Beside the national ranking events the GDC presented three PDC Pro Tour Events and organized the highlight of the year with the German darts Championship at the end of the season as a major tournament. The event in Gerry Weber Event & Convention Centre in Halle/Westfalen became immediately the most exclusive Dart tournament in Germany. For the first time there was major tournament in Germany with more than 100,000 Euros of prize money and 1500 spectators in an exclusive venue and was broadcasted by the D:SF.
In 2008 the cooperation with the PDC was further developed. Beside the national tournament series and the three Pro Tour Events staged in Germany, the GDC organized in cooperation with the PDC for the first time Pro Tour Events in the Netherlands. These tournaments in Germany and the Netherlands counted towards the new PDC European Order of Merit.
The European Order of Merit became the chance for players from continental Europe to receive wildcards for the PDC European Championship and the PDC World Darts Championship.
Beside the exclusive German Darts Championship in Halle/Westfalen the first PDC European Championship were staged in Frankfurt/Main and have been another highlight organized from the GDC. This event was also the first major PDC tournament which took place in Germany and was broadcasted live by the English television.
The PDC Europe
In 2009 the GDC received the exclusive rights for all PDC events staged in continental Europe (exception Gibraltar) and to show the new adjustment the name of the GDC changed to "PDC Europe".
This change is the next step in the development of the professional Dartsport in Germany and continental Europe. Instead of the national tournament series in 2009 there will be more chances for the players in continental Europe in the PDC European Order of Merit with several Events in Germany, the Netherlands and Austria.
The Tournament Series
Beside the two Events Gibraltar in January 2009 all PDC Events who count towards the PDC European Order of Merit will be organized from the PDC Europe. For the first time there will be Events in Austria.
All players from continental Europe can now collect prize money on the Pro Tour Events of the PDC Europe with will count for the PDC Order of Merit, the PDC Players Championship Order of Merit and especially for the PDC European Order of Merit. Players from Great Britain, Ireland or from other continents can not collect prize money for the PDC European Order of Merit.
There will be 8 Wildcards for the PDC European Order of Merit for the next PDC European Darts Championship as well as 4 Wildcards for the PDC World Darts Championship at the end of the year. 4 players will receive a Wildcard for the qualification tournament of the PDC Las Vegas Desert Classics and the number 1 of the PDC European order of Merit will take part in the next Grand Slam of Darts.
| European Order of Merit Tournaments 2009 | |||
| 28.02.2009 | Players Championship | Gladbeck, Germany | |
| 01.03.2009 | Players Championship | Gladbeck, Germany | |
| 04.04.2009 | Players Championship | Nuland, NL | |
| 05.04.2009 | Players Championship | Nuland, NL | |
| 20.06.2009 | Players Championship | Germany | |
| 21.06.2009 | Players Championship | Germany | |
| 05.09.2009 | Players Championship | Salzburg, Austria | |
| 06.09.2009 | Players Championship | Salzburg, Austria | |
| 24.10.2009 | Players Championship | Nuland, NL | |
| 25.10.2009 | Players Championship | Nuland, NL | |
| 28./29.11.2009 | German Darts Championship | Halle/Westf., Germany |
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