The prize fund was the lowest for a BDO World Championship since 1989 (Photo by Simon Cooper/PA Images)

The prize fund for the 2020 BDO World Championship has finally been confirmed, with the men’s total slashed by almost 60 per cent and the ladies total decreased by ten per cent.

The 40 men and 16 women to have competed in last week’s tournament at Indigo at The O2 were left in the dark over how much prize money they would receive amid the uncertainty surrounding the BDO.

BDO Chairman Des Jacklin penned a letter to all competitors just days before the start of the tournament outlining that the prize fund would be significantly reduced, which he attributed to ‘toxicity’ on social media causing the promoters to be unable to attract a title sponsor.

Jacklin had promised earlier in the year that Women’s World Champion would pocket a record £20,000 top prize, an increase of £7,500 from 2019, but instead the winner will receive £10,000.

The ladies event has seen its prize fund reduced by nine per cent, a reduction less than first feared when a GoFundMe page was created in a bid to add to the total.

However, the men’s prize fund has suffered a devastating blow, with Wayne Warren receiving just £23,000 for his success, a 77 per cent reduction on what Glen Durrant took home for retaining the title 12 months ago.

Runner-up Jim Williams will pocket a mere £10,000 in comparison to last year’s £35,000, while losing semi-finalists receive just £5,000, ten thousand short of 2019’s offering.

In total, the men’s prize fund is down 58 per cent on last year with a total of £127,000, while the Ladies prize fund totals £26,500.

Jacklin sent a letter to all County members in the early hours of Wednesday morning on behalf of the BDO board, stating: “the last few weeks have been extremely difficult” and that “tough decisions had to be made.”

The board believed the World Championship to be a “success” despite just 15 per cent of tickets having been sold prior to the event – the first to be staged away from Lakeside in 33 years.

The letter goes on to state that the BDO has parted company with its commercial advisors Sportotal in a move its hopes will free up a considerable amount of expenditure in 2020 to allow for investment.

Though a title sponsor could not be secured for the World Championship, Jacklin insists he is in talks with “several companies” for the coming year which could lead to extra televised events.

A number of current and ex BDO players have aired their frustration on social media, including world finalist Jim Williams:

Former BDO world finalist Dave Whitcombe tweeted:

Reading the letter sent to the counties the future of the BDO is wonderful, bright, and full of optimism.

Sponsors and tv chewing at the bit, more money available, and all of it total bullshit.@OfficialPDC @BDOdarts @wdfdarts #darts — Dave Whitcombe (@DaveWhitcombe_) January 15, 2020

A plethora of current BDO players are set to try their hand at Qualifying School this week in an attempt to secure a coveted PDC Tour Card, including Jim Williams, Scott Waites, Andy Hamilton, David Evans, Michael Unterbuchner and Richard Veenstra, as well as Fallon Sherrock and Women’s World Champion Mikuru Suzuki.

BDO World Championship 2020 Prize Fund

Men’s Prize Fund

Winner: £23,000

Runner Up: £10,000

Semi-Final losers: £5,000

Quarter-Final losers: £4,000

Last 16 losers: £3,000

First Round losers: £2,000

Preliminary Round losers: £1,500

Women’s Prize Fund

Winner: £10,000

Runner up: £4,500

Semi-Final losers: £2,000

Quarter-Final losers: £1,000

Last 16 losers: £500