PDC extends partnership with Junior Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation will continue its support and partnership with the Junior Darts Corporation, aligning the future of the game with a pathway to the very top of the sport of darts.
The JDC has been the chosen Junior Darts Partner for the PDC for over a decade and in that time, both organisations have seen the landscape of the sport change dramatically at all levels.
In the Junior game, the JDC has provided a structured route to any aspiring young player to make the biggest stages of them all. Every JDC event has an open system that allows any child from anywhere the chance to make the big time, from developing their talent within JDC Academies to competing in a year-round calendar of events.
Several JDC event finals have also been held on-stage at PDC Premier events in recent years, which will continue under the new agreement which aligns the JDC with the PDC’s other global affiliates, while the JDC Education Team will also continue to deliver sessions of the PDC’s Bullseye Maths numeracy scheme alongside their own programmes.
The JDC operates a 64-player Advanced Tour alongside the Foundation Tour, Girls Series and JPL, while other knockout events held during the year include the JDC Volts, Super 16, European Open and World Cup.
Recent months have seen Mitchell Lawrie win the Junior World Darts Championship final on-stage at Alexandra Palace, while Kaya Baysal was the winner of the Winmau Junior World Masters when that event culminated at Arena MK in Milton Keynes last month.
“We are delighted that the PDC are continuing to support the JDC in so many areas,” said JDC CEO Darren Barson. “The relationship we have, although a partnership, is very much a working relationship away from the staged events as well.
“We really do value the support and expertise the PDC brings to the table. What people don’t see is the day-to-day work between us both in many areas including community projects, media, regulation and inclusion of our players in their events.
“I am also delighted that we can extend further support to our own affiliate nations through this partnership as we grow.”
An ever-growing roster of former JDC talents have now progressed onto the PDC circuit, headlined by world number one Luke Littler but also the likes of former JDC Junior World Champions Keane Barry, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez and Jurjen van der Velde.
JDC stars will qualify to compete in the Winmau World Youth Championship and the Winmau World Masters Preliminary Rounds through the agreement with the PDC, whilst also encouraging progression onto the Winmau Development Tour for players once they turn 16.
“This new agreement brings our partnership with the JDC into line with our global affiliate tours as we continue to invest in developing the pathways for players at all ages around the world,” said PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter.
“The JDC are at the forefront of this through their ever-growing Academy network, providing a structured and safe playing environment to introduce young players to our sport whilst also offering opportunities to begin playing competitively in their events.
“The JDC have done an enormous amount of work over the past decade and are enjoying a boom in growth of their global Academies and participation in JDC events. These are exciting times for everyone involved in the sport!”
For further information, to find your local JDC Academy or to learn more about JDC events, please visit www.juniordarts.com.
