Latest Darts News

DARTS FANS have been racing in record numbers to secure tickets for the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

The world's richest darts tournament will be held from December 18-January 3 at Alexandra Palace in London, with 70 players competing for the first £1 million prize fund.

The World Championship's popularity has continued to grow in the two years since the move to Ally Pally, and ticket sales have soared since being released in June.

Over £500,000 in ticket sales have been received so far, which is three months ahead of reaching the same figure for the 2009 tournament.

Sales of hospitality tickets for Alexandra Palace have also proven hugely popular, with packages ranging in price from £100-£200 for the tournament.

"For tickets to be selling so well for the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship at this stage is a huge boost, especially when you consider we are going through a recession," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"The decision to move the sport's flagship event to Alexandra Palace was a bold one but is proving once again to be the correct decision with such great demand from fans.

"For ticket sales to be three months ahead of the equivalent figure last year shows that the popularity of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship continues to grow.

"It's a special place to play darts and a special venue to watch the world's best players in."

Ticket prices start from just £15, and tickets can be purchased from SeeTickets on 0871 220 0260 or via www.seetickets.com/darts.

Hospitality packages are available via 08712 501 180.

For full details visit the Tickets section of www.pdc.tv.

European Girls Single Final (Best of 7 legs)

 
Congratulations to Red Dragon Darts Zoe Jones from England who beat against Finland’s Aliisa Koskivirta to win the European Girls Single Title, and then went on to win the Girls Doubles Finals where Zoe and Lauren Hitchens beat Wales Kimberley Lewis and Gemma Bowen.

In the singles Zoe won the title with a 24+ average and played superbly throughout the best of 7 legs final. When Zoe’s last dart hit the double she went down to her knees in a great show of emotion that showed just how much she wanted this title, to add to her ever impressive collection.

Zoe won the trophy for the most Valuable Player recording an average of 22.84 over the whole tournament, which was 3 points higher than any other girl in the 20 year history of the European Youth Girls Event.

DUTCH trio Jelle Klaasen, Vincent van der Voort and Co Stompe were amongst the first six qualifiers for the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic on Sunday.

Almost 200 players travelled to the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas in a bid to win the 12 qualifying places in the main Desert Classic event, which begins on Wednesday.

Three of the first six players will join Raymond van Barneveld as Dutch representatives in the Desert Classic, with Klaasen, van der Voort and Stompe all winning through a tough field on Sunday.

Klaasen had to take on former World Champion Mark Webster in the first round, winning 5-2, and later edged out James Barton 5-4 before seeing off Smith in his deciding game, taking out 146 and 149 in the final two legs to seal the narrowest of victories.

Van der Voort was a 5-3 winner against Tony Eccles in his final match, having previously overcome Louis Blundell, Ian Jopling and Ken MacNeil.

Stompe qualified for a second successive year with a whitewash of Nick Fullwell in his decider.

He was a narrow 5-4 winner against Michael van Gerwen in his semi-final, and also produced two earlier 5-0 wins in a strong performance on the day.

Lowestoft's Peter Wright, who has climbed into the world's top 100 this year, defeated Andy Smith 5-3 to earn his Desert Classic debut.

Simon Whitlock celebrated his return to the PDC circuit by qualifying for the Desert Classic, winning his first three games without dropping a leg before defeating Mark Dudbridge and Barrie Bates to earn his spot.

The Queenslander is undefeated on the DartPlayers Australia circuit this season and maintained that form to earn a place in the main Desert Classic.

Jamie Caven's recent run of form continued as he defeated Ireland's Shane O'Connor 5-4 in his final match, hitting winning legs of 14, 11 and 13 darts to come from 4-2 down and sneak victory.

Sunday's losing players will return on Monday for the second qualifier, which will produce the final six players for the main event.

The PDC's top 16 and four North Americans have pre-qualified for the Desert Classic, with the televised stages beginning on Wednesday and screened live on Sky Sports in the UK.

DARTS: 25 WONDERFUL LAKESIDE YEARS

The 2010 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships proudly celebrate the 25^th Anniversary Year of Lakeside as the host venue.

The most famous and prestigious Championships in World Darts have been staged here at Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey – recognised as ‘the home of World Darts’ since 1986, and Lakeside has been the main title sponsor since 2004.

The BDO’s WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS have been played annually since 1978 and televised every year by BBC TV.

The Men’s World Professional Championship has been played from 1978 to the present day. The Women’s World Professional was introduced in 2001 and has been played annually ever since.

TELEVISION COVERAGE

·        BBC-1 and BBC-2 – Live and recorded transmissions daily for nine consecutive days – afternoon/evening and late evening/early morning

·        BBCi Live transmissions daily of every dart thrown for digital viewers by pressing red-button on remote-control.

·        BBC WORLDWIDE – The World Pro is sold around the globe to over 70 countries.

·        SBS-6 (Netherlands): Present at Lakeside since 1998.

·        EUROSPORT ASIA has a three-year contract with BBC Worldwide. This means that Lakeside World Darts will be available to new audiences, not only across Europe, but also Asia until 2011.

·        Collectively this produces the largest TV audience for darts anywhere in the world.

ALL MATCHES WILL BE PLAYED ON THE WINMAU BLADE III DARTBOARD

Winmau Dartboards are endorsed by The British Darts Organisation and used in all of their tournaments – including the BBC televised Winmau World Masters and BDO Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships. www.winmau.com

The World Professional Darts Championships are staged and promoted by the British Darts Organisation and sponsored by Lakeside Country Club – the home of World Darts.