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The hubbub about various PDC classification issues seems to keep popping its head up over recent weeks and months.
The old sore of the ranking system and its fairness – or unfairness – turbo boosted by the upcoming £1 million pound winners prize, joined by the idea of made up titles or combinations of them such as the ‘Triple Crown’. In order to complete a treble of these issues Paul Nicholson decided to make a noise about the classification of PDC events and what counts as a major.
This is not a new discussion. James Wade claiming the Championship League as one some years ago was met with derision (unfairly)., while many think the Premier League is a major and one of the biggest ones but others think that it’s invitational nature and non ranking status rules that out.
Trying to be self-effacing, Paul even rules out his own biggest win and says that under his criteria, the Players Championship Finals would not be a major. Many have suggested that a set of classification are necessary but the PDC are aware of the financial and sponsorship possibilities and the need to retain some flexibility as they continue to grow the game.
It seems likely to us that we shall see models of ranking being made by independent agents within a year or two as they try to integrate all the forms of our game under one system. It will be interesting to see how similar such ideas are to the BDO/WDF classification or a totally original set.
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Originally published in DartsWorld Extra 22
