Matt Porter defines changes to the PDC Euro Tour “I think there’s been a bit of an overreaction to it, if I’m honest.”

The PDC’s decision to change the qualification structure for its European Tour events has proven to be fairly divisive, with several players expressing their dissatisfaction. However, CEO Matt Porter believes it is simply an overreaction.

So, what are the disputed changes? Previously, only the top 16 of the Pro Tour Order of Merit received automatic invitations to Euro Tour tournaments. This year’s benefit is also extended to the top 16 in the PDC Order of Merit. In short, the number of qualification positions available to individuals outside the sport’s elite has decreased from 24 to just 10.

“We looked at it in the context of how we want to keep building the European Tour,

“The European Tour has come a long way over its decade of existence and it’s got a long, long way to go to hit the heights that we want it to achieve. It’s got more countries to go to, it’s got more prize money to offer, it’s got bigger crowds to generate.”

“Having two-thirds of the players coming from qualifying tournaments we felt was just too high,” Porter continues. “We felt we needed to underpin a quantity of pretty much guaranteed big names, the players who are at the top of the rankings for a reason because they are the best players in the world. We still keep the door open for a lot of other players to qualify, there’s still 10 players coming through the qualifier.”

“This isn’t the door being closed by any stretch of the imagination,” he insists. “I accept it’s gone from 24 spots to a smaller number but nevertheless, there’s still going to be a large crossover of players from the rankings and from the qualifier that would’ve got through anyway. I think there’s been a bit of an overreaction to it, if I’m honest.”