PDC and BDO call a truce for Grand Slam

The annual event returns to the Civic Hall for a ninth time from November 7-15 with the two companies working together,

Criteria has always included the BDO with their world champion, runner-up, World Masters and World Trophy winner invited automatically.

But, this time, the BDO will even stage two qualifiers, one in Hull on Tuesday October 8 and another in Europe at a venue to be decided on Sunday October 18, for the PDC.

The finalists in each tournament will each get a pass for the Grand Slam so, in turn, each group from A to H will have a BDO presence.

Three-time BDO world title winner and 2015 runner-up Martin Adams, a staunch BDO loyalist, has never accepted the PDC's offer to take part.

But he tweeted today that he will making his debut, saying: "Here it is from the Wolf's Mouth. I will be accepting the invitation to play."

Lakeside champion Scott Mitchell, Masters boss Martin Phillips and Trophy winner Geert De Vos take up the other three automatic slots.

This morning's announcement could represent a landmark day in the sport between the two factions, who have been at loggerheads ever since 'the split' in 1992.

The top players, at that time, broke away to form the World Darts Council, now the PDC, and have operated as such ever since. The Grand Slam is the only event where BDO players are actively invited.

This year's event will also be ranking for the 24 PDC players taking part, for the first time, with prize money won to count on their main Order of Merit.

Darters from within the PDC system will be able to qualify automatically by winning, or reaching the final of, major tournaments up to then.

Reigning and six-time Grand Slam champion Phil Taylor defends his title, while World Youth title winner Keegan Brown is also present by matter of right.

Players Championship finalists in world champion Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis, along with Masters and UK Open winner Michael van Gerwen, are all involved.

Dave Chisnall, Peter Wright, Raymond van Barneveld and Rowby-John Rodriguez stand by to compete from the list of major finalists.

Alongside the 16 automatic PDC qualifiers, eight players will come from a qualifier which will be held on October 23 at Coventry's Ricoh Arena.

Ticket information for the competition, which will again be sponsored by Singha Beer, has yet to be confirmed.

One-Year Invitations to be issued to a maximum of 16 players from the events below in the order of automatic qualifiers listed (players who have already qualified listed in brackets):

2015 PDC World Champion - Gary Anderson

2014 Grand Slam of Darts Champion - Phil Taylor

2015 Premier League Champion - (Gary Anderson)

2015 World Matchplay Champion

2015 World Grand Prix Champion

2014 Players Champion - (Gary Anderson)

2015 UK Open Champion - Michael van Gerwen

2015 European Champion

2015 Masters Champion - (Michael van Gerwen)

2014 World Youth Champion - Keegan Brown

2015 World Series of Darts Ranking List Leader

2015 World Cup Champions - Adrian Lewis (& Phil Taylor)

2015 PDC World Championship Runner-Up - (Phil Taylor)

2014 Grand Slam of Darts Runner-Up - Dave Chisnall

2015 Premier League Runner-Up - (Michael van Gerwen)

2015 World Matchplay Runner-Up

2015 World Grand Prix Runner-Up

2014 Players Championship Finals Runner-Up (Adrian Lewis)

2015 UK Open Runner-Up - Peter Wright

2015 European Championship Runner-Up

2015 Masters Runner-Up - Raymond van Barneveld

2014 World Youth Championship Runner-Up - Rowby-John Rodriguez

2015 World Series of Darts Ranking List Runner-Up

2015 World Cup Runners-Up (Gary Anderson & Peter Wright)

Should the list above produce 16 players in the order of events listed, no further players shall qualify automatically.

Should the list above produce fewer than 16 players, then additional places up to a total of 16 players shall be filled from the reserve list in the following order:

2015 PDC European Tour event winners (in ProTour Order of Merit position order at cut-off date)

2015 Players Championship event winners (in ProTour Order of Merit position at cut-off date)

If the automatic qualifiers list and reserve list as stated above produces less than 16 players, then additional places shall be awarded to the PDC Qualifier.

The remaining 16 places shall be filled with eight players from a PDC Qualifier and eight players from the BDO system.

The four BDO invitees are:

2015 Lakeside World Champion - Scott Mitchell

2015 Lakeside World Championship Runner-Up - Martin Adams

2014 World Masters Champion - Martin Phillips

2015 World Trophy Champion - Geert De Vos

In addition, the BDO will stage two qualifying tournaments, one in the UK (Tuesday October 6 in Hull) and one in Europe (Sunday October 18, venue TBC), which will each produce two players.

Should any of the four BDO invitees decline their invitation, additional places will shall be awarded to the BDO UK qualifying tournament.

The four BDO Invitees shall be drawn, along with the four BDO qualifiers, randomly for the main event, with one player drawn per group.