Players chasing the BDO world championship crown are facing a pay cut of up to 77 per cent on the advertised prize money.
The decision to move the original version of the darts world title to London's Indigo at the O2 Arena from its spiritual home at the Lakeside in Frimley Green after 33 years has backfired horribly.
With ticket sales at only 15 per cent of capacity, budget-grade TV income and no new sponsorship, organisers have been forced to slash prize money.
So instead of chasing the originally-scheduled £100,000 jackpot, the likes of two-time champion Scott Waites and 2015 Scott Mitchell, who meet in the quarter-finals, could be playing for as little as £23,000 to lift the trophy on Sunday night.
It would be the lowest winner's pay cheque for the BDO crown in 30 years.
And the ladies' champion – originally promised a record £20,000 – is now looking at a payday of just £8,000.
Just five days before the tournament, players were warned in a leaked letter from BDO chairman Des Jacklin that the prize money pot had shrivelled because of dreadful ticket sales and negligible sponsorship because the brand was regarded as “toxic” among potential clients.
And Fallon Sherrock's historic defeats of Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic at the rival PDC tournament before Christmas – the first time male opponents had been beaten by a woman at a world championship – should have been a marketing dream.
But within 36 hours of the BDO admitting their prize fund had shrunk in the wash, Sherrock pulled out of the ladies' tournament at the Indigo.
And boy wonder Leighton Bennett's clash with Mitchell on Tuesday night was played out before a pitiful audience – when it would have been a sure-fire sell-out at the Lakeside.
Two-time BDO finalist Bobby George and three-time champion Martin Adams have both been critical of the decision to abandon the Lakeside.
King of Darts George told the BBC: “The BDO shouldn't have left the Lakeside until they built up their finances – you can't sail a ship with no wind. I feel sorry for the players.”
Peter Wright banked a monster £500,000 for winning the PDC title at Alexandra Palace last week.
Viewing figures on Sky Sports set new records for the tournament. TV coverage of the BDO championship has been shared by Quest and Eurosport.
