Taylor Lanning/PDC

'It's made it even tougher' - Steve Beaton has no regrets over PDC retirement after controversial recent changes

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | Last updated Jun 9, 2025 12:36 PM ET

Darts legend Steve Beaton brought the curtain down on his professional career at the end of last year, calling time after more than three decades at the top level. The 61-year-old Englishman holds the record for the most World Darts Championship appearances, having featured an incredible 33 times on the sport’s biggest stage.

Though officially retired, ‘The Bronzed Adonis’ hasn’t hung up his darts entirely. He still competes regularly in the MODUS Super Series and on the seniors circuit, keeping his competitive edge sharp.

Beaton made the decision to voluntarily relinquish his PDC Tour Card in late 2024, stepping away from the main tour on his own terms. “You've got to move on. I'm 61 now," Beaton tells Online Darts. "I can't keep playing darts all the time."

"I do watch them and I feel for them you know, they're on the clock all the time," continues the former Lakeside champion. "It's great when you're younger. But once you get older it's harder."

Earlier this year, the PDC introduced a shake-up to the qualification rules for the European Tour – changes that haven’t gone down well with everyone, Beaton included.

As of this season, the top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit are automatically seeded into the second round of European Tour events – a slot that used to be reserved for the top 16 from the Pro Tour Order of Merit. That Pro Tour top 16 now enter in the first round, where they face qualifiers competing for the remaining spots.

Beaton is openly critical of the changes. “Them 32, the 16 and 16 are just going to move away from everyone else," blasts Beaton. "It's made it even tougher and a lot of the tournaments now are abroad, so there's more travelling and things like that. It is tougher."

This article first appeared on Dartsnews.com and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: