RULES AND REGULATIONS

Below you’ll find some supplementary/specific rules concerning the TOTO Dutch Open Darts 2024. If not mentioned below, the General Game Rules of the Dutch Darts Association (NDB) apply. These rules can be found on our website www.ndbdarts.nl by clicking on ‘Reglementen’ (only available in Dutch).

  • The Dutch Open Darts is a Platinum graded open tournament on the WDF Calendar. Based on the number of participants and the number of  TV / Streaming lanes used at the tournament, it has been agreed by the WDF that some of the regulations of the Dutch Open Darts can deviate from the standard WDF regulations. This means that the rules of the Dutch Open Darts always prevail over the WDF rules if these are contradictory.
  • Players must be at least 16 years old on the first of January 2024 to participate in the senior events (this also applies to the pairs tournament, but not for the warming-up event). For the youth and paradarts there are other rules, see further in this regulations. The warming-up event is open to youth players under the age of 16.
  • Youth players cannot compete in the Dutch Open Youth if they are still in the senior tournament on Sunday.
  • You do not have to be a member of the NDB (Dutch Darts Association) or another darts organization to participate in the Dutch Open Darts. After registration you automatically become a member of the Dutch Darts Association for the duration of the event. There are no additional charges. The Dutch Darts Association  may share your data with NOC*NSF.
  • The Dutch Open Darts is a WDF registered and ranked tournament. As a result, players must also be eligible to play in accordance with the rules of the WDF (dartswdf.com).
  • Seeding will take place in accordance of the WDF Main Table, version January 17th 2024. The players will be seeded in accordance with WDF regulations, but not always as the first match in the section. The first byes go to the seeded players, but after that the byes are equally divided across the sheets in a random place on the sheet.
  • It is forbidden to deliberately influence or manipulate the course and outcome of a game by cheating or deliberately losing. This is considered as match fixing.
  • During the tournament, photos and videos of all matches, players and visitors can be made for promotional purposes. Participants and spectators commit themselves to this by means of registration or buying an entrance ticket. From the first round to the final, players are obliged to play matches that can be recorded (live) for live stream or television. Giving up a match or deliberately losing a match is not possible and in violation of these regulations. If this is neglected, the NDB will hold these players responsible for the (financial) consequences and he or she loses the right to receive a trophy and/or prize-money.
  • The Dutch Open Darts is supervised by the NDB and decisions and interpretations of the rules are binding (according to the rules of the NDB).
  • The organization has the right to change the time-schedule.
  • The Dutch Open Darts is played in the knock-out format. Click herefor the playing format.
  • The prize money distribution for the Dutch Open Darts has been agreed with the WDF. Click herefor the prize money.
  • It’s not allowed to participate in the pairs with a mix-pair.
  • Before the match the pair decides which player will start all legs.
  • Separate tournaments are organized for paradart players more information can be found here. A player can only participate in a tournament or category if this does not affect the circumstances of the game. It’s not allowed to participate in the paradarts and in the other categories. Darters who fall within the criteria of a paradarter may also choose to participate in the other categories instead of the paradarts tournament. They always have to play on a regular dartlanes, without extra space, with oche and a high board and be mobile enough to remove the darts from the board themselves and to play in the regular room. Therefore, a wheelchair player cannot participate in the regular tournament. Based on this, the organization has the right to refuse a player or to place it in a different category at any time. The organization can also oblige players to bring guidance.
  • Before the game starts, every player is allowed to throw nine practice darts on the lane where he or she has to play.
  • All questions concerning score checks have to be asked before the player throws again.
  • Concerning stage games, players must be dressed in accordance with the general NDB dress code. This means a pair of trousers (no jeans or denim type trousers) and a collared shirt. Club expressions of any kind (football, motorcycle or otherwise) are not permitted.
  • Entered players and spectators are committed to the promotion- and sponsor policy of the NDB; This means, amongst other things, that the organisation has the right to protect the interest of her sponsors and because of this disallow sponsor badges and/or other (commercial) expressions.
  • All players who play on stage are required to wear a sticker of the main sponsor provided by the organization.
  • In the whole playing area, drinking alcohol and/or smoking is forbidden for both players. Players who ignore these rules receive a warning; the second warning means that the player will be taken out of the tournament immediately.
  • When a player doesn’t show up at the prize ceremony, he or she loses the right to receive a trophy and/or prize-money.
  • If you have registered and paid, but cannot participate, you can get the registration fee back. This is only possible up to and including 16th of January, the day that the registration closes.
  • Dope and drugs will not be tolerated. During the event, players can be checked on the use of dope or drugs. Again, when it turns out the player has used dope or drugs, he or she will be taken out of the tournament immediately.
  • You are NOT to be called out, on the players card and/ or DartConnect you’ll find the time-schedule and on which lanes you have to play. You have to report at your board ten minutes before each game. If you don’t report in time, you’ll lose the game in a regulatory way.
  • Players will throw for the bull to decide who starts the first leg. The player who is first named in the bracket and/ or DartConnect will throw for the bull first. The winner of the bull will start every odd numbered leg. The player who starts the first leg, will also start the last and deciding leg.
  • In pair matches only the player that starts each leg will throw for the bull.
  • On DartConnect TV and on the tablet next to the dartboard you can see if the winner or loser has to mark the next game; refusing means disqualification for the Dutch Open Pairs, Singles and/or Dutch Open next year.
  • On Friday and Saturday, the winners start marking the next matches on the same board. From the last quarter-final of the sheet the loser always have to mark the next match on the same board. On Thursday (warm-up tournaments) and Sunday (both men’s last 128 and all youth tournaments) always the losers have to mark the next match on the same board. During the complete Youth and Paradarts tournaments the loser of the match has to mark the next game. If the player, in the warming-up tournament or singles, fails to mark, this means exclusion from the tournament or participation in the singles tournament on Saturday, or exclusion from participation in the next edition of the Dutch Open Darts. If you fail to mark in the pairs, this means that both players are not allowed to participate in the singles tournament on Saturday or exclusion from participation in the next edition of the Dutch Open Darts.
  • Everybody is obliged to stick to the rules and follow the directions from members of the tournament committee. Players who don’t follow the rules will be disqualified.
  • Youth tournament participants must be 17 or younger on December 31, 2023. Boys and girls who are 16 or 17 years old, on the first of January 2024, are allowed to play in the mens/ladies and the youth tournament. If these players are still active in the mens/ladies tournament on Sunday, they cannot play in the youth tournament. Players who are younger then 14 years old on the day of the tournament are able to choose between the boys category or the boys under 14 category.
  • By registering participants commit themselves to the promotion and sponsorship policy of the NDB.
  • Prize money will be paid by bank transfer. It is therefore very important that you fill in the prize money form correctly during the Dutch Open Darts. You will receive this form from the Floor Officials or you can collect a format the control desk of the main desk of the Bonte Wever. You are responsible for the correct completion and submission of this form. You can hand in this form on all days at any control desk or at the reception of the Bonte Wever. Make sure you have your IBAN and BIC code with you.
  • The regulations are subject to possible changes. In cases in which these rules can’t be applied, the tournament committee will decide.