In 2003, to commemorate PDC Official Bobby Bourn, the PDC organised a tournament in Blackpool before the World Matchplay. There is good prize money on offer, and it’s organised very well and therefore a great success. In those years most PDC ranking tournaments were still very scattered across the calendar and under different organizers. This tournament proved to be the stepping-stone to a new structure where the PDC itself held control of the organization and the prize money. Phil Taylor beat John Part to win the first Bobby Bourn Memorial.

In the second year especially the Professional Darts Players Association of the PDC (PDPA) invested to build this circuit. That year five PDPA Players Championships appeared on the calendar. These tournaments proved a great success and soon the PDC expanded this circuit. In 2010 there were no fewer than 37 Players Championships.

With the introduction of the Euro Tour in 2012 Players Championships disappeared on the European continent until 2018 there are 20-22 annually held, all in Britain and Ireland. From 2019 the UK Open qualifiers disappear from the calendar, they are replaced with extra Players Championships. The number for 2019 is 30 in total. The floor tournaments also return to mainland Europe, most are played in Germany.

Almost 500 Players Championships have been held. The most successful players in the Players Championship history are Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, James Wade, Dave Chisnall and Gerwyn Price.