Darts

Twenty Four Hours from Tulsa Bolton; UK Open Last Minute Preview “24 Hours from Bolton, one Day Away from the Darts” as the great song almost went… Walk on girls Daniella Allfree and Sammi Marsh will be working at the Reebok Well it’s more 24 hours until I jump on a train Bolton bound!   I hope all of you who are going along to the FA Cup of darts have a great time. If you’ve never been before, it’s a very friendly crowd, I’ve found it’s probably more relaxed than events like the Premier League.  Thursday night especially is special – I think because of the amount of players friends and family there, and indeed even players themselves on the floor watching games (those lucky enough to be playing Friday and missing the Thursday rounds).  I’ve been lucky enough to stand chatting with the likes of Paul Nicholson while watching one of the outer boards in previous years. I’ve been asked before so will repeat here for Bolton newbies;  Both Thursday and Friday nights your tickets just get in you in, the seats are NOT reserved, so you can grab a seat and sit in it (if you want to watch the main board or board 2 maybe), but most of the time I’m on my feet walking between the boards picking and choosing the games I want to watch.   Try and be courteous though – it’s polite to allow the player’s guests/family to stand in the best positions.. remember what they are going through!   That saying, because of the very ‘close up’ nature of the UK Open multi-board system, you do sometimes get some ‘niggle’ – often when an amateur player brings a load of his pub mates along, who give the bigger ‘name’ player some grief on their chuck.  Because it is so close up, any calling out can of course be heard distinctly by the players, so it can get heated at times.  But that’s the nature of darts and I’d not want it to become too stale and sterile, the rest of us play in pubs and clubs and banter is half the fun! Stephen Bunting (and Glenn Durrant) in last year’s UK Open I hear two of the newer and very popular walk-on girls are going to be at Bolton on the final Sunday … I may try and get a photo with them (get in the queue I hear you shout!).  Of course if you’re not going along, it’s all going to be live on Sky Sports (next year the rumour is it will be on ITV4, as Sky has dropped it from their list). We shall try and keep this site updated through the sessions – the understanding Mrs Krispy will have a laptop ready to keep our loyal readers up-to-date.  I’ll probably post the odd picture on twitter @dartsbeerscheer – and add them to the stories when I get back to the hotel room. I often get asked, “Who’s going to win then?“.  Well this year we obviously have two stand up favourites; The ever great Phil Taylor, and the current best player in the world, Michael van Gerwen.  Either of those could obviously be taking the trophy home this year, but there are obviously other strong contenders.  Could it be Jamie ‘Jabba’ Caven’s time to win a TV title?  After a year or so in the wilderness, his recent special back to back double on the pro tour shows he’s back stronger than ever.  That could be the spark of confidence he needs to come back to his best, and finally do it on TV as he has done on the floor.   Robert Thornton of course is still in fine form, and he’ll be returning to the Reebok as a confident reigning champion.   I still think Kim Huybrechts is going to be close to a TV major win sometime soon… BUT one of the best players in the world on current form is 50-1 to win… the BDO’s no. 1 Stephen Bunting.  Now a win for the Bullet would certainly put the cat amongst the darting pigeons!  I do have a couple of quid on him each way Dare you have a Punt? Obviously the UK Open can be an opportunity to hav

Please find below a note from the Antwerp open organiser Peter Van Meel. Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, On Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August 2013 the 26th edition of the Antwerp Open will take place. As mentioned earlier, we ar proud at going “BACK 2 ANTWERP”, at the “Belgica loods” of the Royal Yacht Club of Belgium, Thonetlaan 133, 2050 Antwerp. The Antwerp Open 2013 has a prize fund of 12.500 euro and singles are counting towards the ranking tables of the World Darts Federation, the British Darts Organisation, Zuiderduin Masters and the International Belgium Darts Tour. The winner of the singles are allowed to participate at the Winmau World Masters, and ladies and men’s winners also at the qualifying tournament of the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships. Read the full story >>

@speedysports UK Darts Issue 3 features a full round-up of a great event please RT #SpeedyUKOpen

@MMSportsConsult have moved into player management and have announced Josh McCarthy as their first signing #darts

Ladbrokes World Championship – Ticket Update FANS wishing to purchase tickets for the 2014 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship in the Priority Sales period must become a LIVEPDC.TV Annual Subscriber before midnight on Tuesday June 18. Oh and I’m trying to chase up when the Grand Slam tickets will go onsale, I’ve found something which says June 24th.. which isn’t long at all.. but I want to get that confirmed. The PDC expect that tickets for the 2014 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship will go on Priority Sales to LIVEPDC.TV Annual Subscribers on Monday June 24 at 10am. We expect that tickets will then go on General Sale on Monday July 1. DETAILS OF DATES, TICKET PRICES, HOSPITALITY PACKAGES AND HOW TO PURCHASE LADBROKES WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS WILL BE CONFIRMED HERE IN DUE COURSE. To be eligible to purchase tickets in the Priority Sales period, fans must have an active LIVEPDC.TV Annual Subscription (one payment per year) as at 11.59pm on Tuesday June 18. LIVEPDC.TV Subscriptions allow fans to watch live coverage* and highlights of PDC tournaments, with the forthcoming Gibraltar Darts Trophy European Tour event to be the next event broadcast through LIVEPDC.TV from June 28-30. Click here to visit LIVEPDC.TV. * LIVEPDC.TV live coverage for major PDC events is restricted to International Pass Holders outside of the UK, Ireland & Holland due to the broadcast contracts in these territories. Live streaming of European Tour events is available in these territories. Live and darts highlights and priority tickets – click the image!

@stephenfry can we get a RT for the latest edition of our darts magazine UK Darts - #darts #lovethecommentary

TRINA GULLIVER has been awarded the MBE in HM The Queen's 2013 Birthday Honours List announced today (June 15th). She becomes the first ever female darts player to be recognised and honoured in this way. Trina has played a major role in creating awareness and success for women's darts worldwide. The nine-time BDO Women's World Professional Darts Champion and BDO's England Captain has been awarded the prestigious honour in recognition of her ‘Services to Darts and Fund Raising. Trina Gulliver was nicknamed ‘The Golden Girl’ in 1998 after winning three gold medals at the World Cup in Durban. Since then she has notched up countless International and National darts titles, including her record-breaking nine Lakeside Women's World Professional titles and five Winmau World Masters titles.

@A180DARTS have donated a signed @BrendanDolan180 shirt for us to give away this month check out the comp in UK Darts

SYDNEY DARTS MASTERS QUALIFERS, OCEANIC MASTERS AND LADIES SERIES OF DARTS INFORMATION Dartplayers Australia is pleased to announce the following information for all players in regards to the Sydney Darts Masters Qualifiers, the Oceanic Masters and the Ladies series of Darts. All events are scheduled to be held at the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club Jason Ave, Barrack Heights NSW 2528. Please read through carefully, including starting times, registration information and requirements. The DPA Dress Code rules apply for each and every event including the Ladies series of Darts. The Sydney Darts Masters Qualifiers Day 1 will be on 25th August 2013 with Day 2 and 3 being the 26th and the 27th August 2013 and the Oceanic Masters will be on the 28th August 2013. The Ladies series of Darts is scheduled for 25th to 28th August 2013. Doors will open at 7.30am each day Dress Code for Players There will be strict dress restrictions for all players; and any player who does not conform to the requirements at any stage of any of these events will first be asked to change and then eliminated should they refuse to do so. The following is the minimum dress requirements for the Sydney Darts Masters qualifiers, Oceanic Masters and the Ladies series: - • Long trousers - no denims or shorts shall be permitted • Collared shirts • No offensive caricatures or wording on any piece of attire • Training type shoes will be accepted however they must be dark, one colour preferably black with dark or black laces and not carry any visible logos of any type, if they have logos the logos need to be blackened out. Players are recommended to wear regular dress shoes to avoid confusion • Headwear is not permitted - exceptions will be made for religious reasons • All decisions of the Tournament Director will be absolutely final in relation to dress attire SYDNEY DARTS MASTERS QUALIFIERS • Registration by 9.00am on each day and the draw will be done and announced shortly thereafter. Entry fee to each qualifier is AU$35 • Names and entry fees will be taken the evening before or online at: - http://dartplayersaustralia.com/online-entry/online-entry.htm • To avoid disappointment we STRONGLY ADVISE you register the evening before or online • Registration WILL NOT be accepted after 9.00am • Registration needs to be done in person, via agent or manager and will not be accepted over phone and/or without entry fee • Australian and New Zealand players only eligible to participate • Players MUST HOLD a current DPA Tour Card. Card registrations will be available at the registration table and also online at: - http://dartplayersaustralia.com/online-entry/online-entry.htm *NB: Tour cards are valid for a calendar year only…January to December • Each event is the best of 11 legs knockout throughout, including the finals • Players that win any qualifier are ineligible to play in any further qualifiers • Prize money for the qualifiers will be awarded as follows:- o The winner of each of the Qualifiers (3) will participate in the Sydney Darts Masters at Sydney’s Luna Park from 29th to 31st August – joining 8 PDC players and other invited players. This event will be broadcast live on FOXSPORTS – please see below for prize money allocations for the Sydney Darts Masters o Runner up – AU$600 o Semi Finalists – AU$300 o Quarter Finalists – AU$150, and o Last 16 – AU$75 • Prize money for the Sydney Darts Masters o Winner – £20,000 (AU$32,000)** o Runner up – £10,000 (AU$16,000)** o Semi Finalists – £7,500 (AU$12,200)** o Quarter Finalists – £5,000 (AU$8,100)**, and o Last 16 – £1,000 (AU$1,600)** **Currency conversion approximate rate correct at time of publishing OCEANIC MASTERS • Registration by 9.00am the morning of the event, the draw will be done and announced shortly thereafter. Entry fee is AU$35 • Names and entry fees will be taken the evening before or online at: -http://dartplayersaustralia.com/online-entry/online-entry.htm • To avoid disappointment we STRONGLY ADVISE yo

Dartslive Soft-Tip Darts Event in La Rochelle in France Dartslive set-up in France Just a quick update to mention the darts event going on in La Rochelle in France this weekend.  There’s a big soft-tip event, organised as part of a world tour event by the soft-tip giants Dartslive.   Dartslive partner the PDC – and Paul Lim, who was at the PDC World Championships earlier this year is part of the company, as well as one of the worlds greatest soft-tip players. Quite a few of the PDC are going along, including Justin Pipe, Colin Lloyd, Adrian Gray, Chris Aubrey, and Mark Webster.  There are also some well known BDO names going along, including Anastasia, her hubby and player Tony Martin, and I’ve also seen that Darryl Fitton is there. There’s been a big pre-tournament in France, but the main event takes place Sunday 16th June.   The games will be streamed live on the dartslive.tv website here. Venue:  Parc des Expositions de La Rochelle 1 rue Henri Barbusse, 17043 LA ROCHELLE CEDEX 1 More info on the Dartslive “The World” series of tournaments can be found here. If you’ve not seen or heard much of soft-tip darts, it’s not only just the darts which are different (lighter, with ‘soft’ plastic tips not steel ones).  The boards are more like a cross between an arcade machine and darts board.  The boards sense the dart hitting them (they usually stick in the holes in the board, but don’t have to stay in to register a score unlike steel-tip darts).  The machines also do all the scoring for you, so soft-tip only players can be a little weak on their counting.  The bull is often larger than on a bristle board, and depending on the rules, the whole bull (outer and inner) score 50.   So if you watch a game, the players often try to do most of their main scoring on the bull, not the t20.  Games can often consist of more than straight 501 too – mixing in cricket and other ‘odd’ games.  The machines also come with sound effects and flashing lights… so you know when you’ve hit a 180! Previous Stage 2 final: Scott Kirchner vs Paul Lim DARTSLIVE – THE WORLD 2013 Soft Darts World Championship Schedule Stage One – April 28, Hong Kong Stage Two – May 26, Hong Kong Stage Three – June 16, France Stage Four – July 14, Korea Stage Five – August 25, TBA Stage Six – September 21, USA Stage Seven – October 13, Hong Kong Stage Eight – November 3, Hong Kong Grand Final – Dec 14-15, Hong Kong 2013 RANKING As of 26th May after two stages… No. name?Nationality ST1 ST2 ST3 ST4 ST5 ST6 ST7 ST8 Point Prize Money 1 Scott Kirchner U.S.A. 18 25 - - - - - - 43 pt HKD 112,000 2 Takehiro Suzuki Japan 20 18 - - - - - - 38 pt HKD 44,000 3 Paul Lim Singapore 15 20 - - - - - - 35 pt HKD 37,000 4 Ronald Briones Philippines 25 8 - - - - - - 33 pt HKD 100,000 5 Mitsumasa Hoshino Japan 8 18 - - - - - - 26 pt HKD 12,000 6 Haruki Muramatsu Japan 10 15 - - - - - - 25 pt HKD 8,000 7 Ryan Ocampo Philippines 10 10 - - - - - - 20 pt HKD 6,000 8 M Hashimoto Japan 15 4 - - - - - - 19 pt HKD 5,000 8 Alain Abiabi Philippines 4 15 - - - - - - 19 pt HKD 5,000 8 Eduardo Santos Philippines 15 4 - - - - - - 19 pt HKD 5,000 11 Royden Lam Hong Kong 8 10 - - - - - - 18 pt HKD 3,000