The PDC darts tour will resume on the 8th of July with five one-day Players Championship events held behind closed doors in Milton Keynes.
All 128 Tour card holders, should they be permitted to travel to the UK, will be eligible to compete in the "Summer Series" where world ranking points will be on the line.
The PDC hosted a "Home Tour" with players competing against each other from their own homes during lockdown and chairman Barry Hearn feels next month's tournaments are the next step in resuming the season:
“Throughout the challenging times of recent weeks we have continuously explored different ways of getting players back on the oche and live darts back on fans’ screens.
“I was proud of our players and staff who broadcast 43 nights of live remote darts through the innovative PDC Home Tour, which thrust darts into the limelight in a unique way at a time when almost all other sports were unable to provide any form of competitive action.
“Prior to the Home Tour, I outlined the three-stage plan for the return of darts, starting with events played remotely, followed by events played behind closed doors, before events can be played in front of crowds.
“I am delighted that we are now able to move on to the second stage of that plan, and hopefully we will be able to safely welcome crowds back to our events in the not-too-distant future.
“The PDC Summer Series will provide a welcome return of live darts for both players and fans alike, and I’m sure the event will whet the appetite for the prestigious Betfred World Matchplay.
“We appreciate the patience of our players in recent weeks as we worked to secure these events, and further details will be confirmed to them in due course.”
