Since the inception of the PPD program over a decade ago, our primary objective has consistently been to safeguard our players from cheaters and sandbaggers through every available means, all while we payout hundreds of thousands of dollars and host some of the largest events in the sport of soft-tip darts in North America.

 

Working to provide the fairest competition does not happen easily and this job is never finished. We track every single dart thrown during every event in an effort to protect the masses. Ensuring that players have accurate ratings is our utmost priority! Unlike almost every other program available, we prioritize this above all else. We strive for transparency in our efforts, providing access to each player’s detailed statistical data on our website. We initially believed our statistical rating system forced players to perform at their peak to secure a victory in a PPD Major Tournament. However, during this year's on-site TOC, it became clear that some players would go to great lengths to exploit the system, ultimately cheating their fellow competitors out of a fair win. Upon learning of an individual who had allegedly been bragging about his cheating ways, we were determined to get down to the bottom of what was happening. When reviewing the player's statistical data, it was evident that due to the sandbagging by this player, the team he was on was competing in a division below their rightful level. After a conversation with one member of the team, as well as the cheating player himself, and extensive review of the players data, this team has since been deemed disqualified and the confessed cheater will never be eligible to participate in the PPD program again. This situation has been a considerable disappointment and setback for the entire PPD staff. The disqualification required that we rectify the unfairness faced by the players in the brackets who competed against this team, even though the disqualified team had already received prize money. In each of the six brackets this team played in, the original second-place teams have been awarded first place (with eligible teams also receiving their Bonus Prize money), the original third-place teams have been awarded second place, the original fourth-place teams have been awarded third place, and the original fifth-place teams have been awarded fourth place.

 

Since then, we have been fully engaged in finding additional measures to combat sandbagging. Changes are on the horizon for our statistical rating system. Starting Friday December 6, 2024, along with changing a players Major Tournament stat to up to their last 1,000 darts thrown in Major Tournaments instead of their last 500 darts thrown in Major Tournaments, we are adding two additional categories for statistical retention – Major Tournament Curve and Daily Remote Tournament Curve stats. A Curve stat is established when a player has thrown a minimum of 500 darts in cricket during any PPD Major Tournament or Daily Remote Tournament competition. To calculate a Major Tournament Curve or Daily Remote Tournament Curve stat for a player, we take all qualifying games thrown in the last year to date and purge the stat of the lowest 10% and highest 3% of games by individual game average.

 

Below, you can see the updated details of the five categories of statistical retention.

 

A player’s Best-Known stat is their highest stat of the five sources:

• League

• A League PPD or MPR is established after playing at least 4 matches in 1 league with qualifying format. For a league to count towards statistical retention:
• All Games must be Open In/Open Out.
• Cricket Games must be Split (Double) Bull.
• X01 Games must be Full (Single) Bull.
• A player must play at least 3 games of one type within each match to count towards statistical retention for that game type.
• Singles Leagues run by PPD Partners do not qualify for statistical retention.
• A player's Best-Known League PPD and MPR are determined by the highest PPD or MPR derived from all eligible leagues participated in during the most recent TOC league-year in which the player participated in at least one eligible league.
• The PPD statistical year begins July 15 and runs through July 14 year-to-year.  For the purpose of retaining Best-Known stats from League through the annual Tournament of Champions (TOC) flighting process each year, Player Ratings are reset following each TOC, which is usually complete by November 1 each year.
• PPD retains league stats for 3 years from the date of play.
• Major Tournaments – Up to last 1,000 darts thrown
• A Major Tournament PPD or MPR stat is established when a player has thrown a minimum of 120 darts of 1 game type, then up to their last 1,000 darts in X01 and/or cricket during any PPD major tournament competition. Major Tournament statistics for each player are up to the last 1,000 darts thrown for each game type with the older darts thrown purged from their averages. PPD retains tournament stats for 3 years from the date of play.
• Major Tournaments – Curve
• A Major Tournament Curve stat is established when a player has thrown a minimum of 500 darts in cricket during any PPD Major Tournament competition. To calculate a Major Tournament Curve stat for a player, we take all qualifying games thrown in the last year to date, once a player reaches at least 500 darts thrown, and purge the stat of the lowest 10% and highest 3% of games by individual game average.
• Daily Remote Tournaments – Up to last 1,000 darts thrown
• A Daily Remote Tournament MPR stat is established when a player has thrown a minimum of 120 darts in cricket, then up to their last 1,000 darts in cricket during any PPD Daily Remote Tournament competition. Daily Remote Tournament statistics for each player are up to the last 1,000 darts thrown for each game type with the older darts thrown purged from their averages. PPD retains tournament stats for 3 years from the date of play.
• Daily Remote Tournaments – Curve
• A Daily Remote Tournament Curve stat is established when a player has thrown a minimum of 500 darts in cricket during any PPD Daily Remote Tournament competition. To calculate a Daily Remote Tournament Curve stat for a player, we take all qualifying games thrown in the last year to date and purge the stat of the lowest 10% and highest 3% of games by individual game average.

 

These are merely the initial upgrades in a series of enhancements being rolled out soon. As always, we will navigate these changes and adapt as needed.

 

A heartfelt THANK YOU to all the players and operators who consistently support us, providing valuable feedback to help us make every aspect of PPD exceptional.