The first ever International Grand Prix Of The Lowlands will comprise six tournaments – three in The Netherlands and three in Belgium - all benefiting from BDO and WDF Invitation points and a combined prize fund of 120,000 Euros.

The six tournaments in 2009 are:

OPEN HOLLAND: April 24th, 25th and 26th April
www.openholland.nl

ANTWERP OPEN: May 22nd, 23rd and 24th May
www.open-antwerpen.be

DIDAM INTERNATIONAL OPEN: Aug 21st, 22nd & 23rd 23rd
www.didaminternationalopen.nl

THIALF OPEN: October 23rd, 24th and 25th
www.thialfopen.nl

OPEN FLANDRES: November 13th, 14th and 15th
www.bdbdarts.be

PRIMUS MASTERS: November 27th, 28th and 29th

All events will start on Friday evenings with a team tournament comprising teams of 4 players (at least one of whom must be a woman). Saturday will be for the Pairs events (women, men and mixed) and on each Sunday the Boys and Girls Singles and the Men’s and Women’s Singles will bring each event to a conclusion.

All tournaments have a WDF Category 2 status and will offer the same prize fund of 18,700 Euro. The BDO has created a separate category (C) for the International Grand Prix of the Lowlands.

For an overview of those categories refer to the websites of the WDF (www.dartswdf.com) and BDO (www.bdodarts.com). The ranking of the six tournaments of the International Grand Prix of the Lowlands has its own points allocation table, which can be found on its own website, www.grandprixofthelowlands.nl.

In addition, the first four men and first woman in the Grand Prix Of The Lowlands Ranking table will qualify to participate in the Zuiderduin Masters (www.zuiderduinmasters.nl). However, if any of those players are already qualified through their positions in the Zuiderduin Masters ranking table, the promoters will choose additional players. These additional players will be chosen from the Zuiderduin Masters ranking tables.

Each winner (including youth) in each of the six tournaments will also earn the right to participate at the Winmau World Masters, and the winners of the Men’s and Women’s Singles will also have the right to participate in the International Play-Offs for the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships.

The overall ranking tables for the International Grand Prix of the Lowlands will also benefit from a yearly prize fund of 10.000 Euro each ranking season. This ranking period will be from November 1st to October 31st each year.

The full Prize money of 10.000 Euros will only be available when all 6 tournaments are played. This will be in the 2010 season. For this season (1st. April - 31st October 2009) only 4 events will be played in the Lowlands Grand Prix. Therefore the prize fund will be based on 4 events and will be approx 6.500 Euros.

In a complete season (2010) the prize fund of the tournaments, together with the bonuses for the ranking tables positions will provide 120,000 Euros of available prize money to players.

This new series of tournaments is a collaboration between The Netherlands Darts Bond. the Belgian Darts Bond and the organisers of the only world class tournament in The Netherlands, the Zuiderduin Masters.

Only players eligible to play at the Winmau World Masters and Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships, are allowed to enter the singles events of the International Grand Prix of the Lowlands.

The tournaments will be played under the auspices of the National Organisation of the country in which the event takes place (BDB for Belgium and NDB for the Netherlands), and WDF rules and additional rules of the International Grand Prix of the Lowlands, will apply. The latter will be published on its website and on the websites of the different organisations.

More information about the International Grand Prix of the Lowlands ranking can be found on its website: www.grandprixofthelowlands.nl

The Las Vegas Open Singles titles went to WES NEWTON ( England) and Ontario, Canada’s ROBIN CURRY. Wes took the final Men’s match in 4 straight legs over U.S. World Cup player, BRIAN BLAKE. Robin claimed the Women’s title with a 4-3 victory over American, CALI WEST.

Kevin Münch won probably the biggest tournament of his young career yesterday in Bremen, taking the mens singles title beating Jan Dekkers from the Netherlands 3 - 1 in sets. At 2 - 0 up Kevin must have felt his chance had gone when he missed 5 match darts to claim the title and then followed that up by losing the first leg of the 4th set on his own darts. But he held his nerve to immediately break back and then clinch the title with a 156 finish.

In the ladies competition, last years winner Irina Armstrong retained her title by beating Karin Krappen from the Netherlands 2 - 1 in sets. In a match that began slowly it was Irina who began to find the form that got her to the final. Finishing the match with a 116 outshot.

Mens: Kevin left, Jan right		Ladies: Irina left, Karin right.

Today there have been some updates and additions to the website.

1. New information concerning the Anti Doping policy. The links can be found in the menu above.

2. Visa information added to the above menu for people who may require a visa for entry into the UK.

3. Updates to the 2009 calendar.

Entries for Open Holland in April are now being taken ( see the 2009 calendar for the link ). This tournament is not only new to the WDF this year it is also included in the Zuiderduin Ranking table and forms part of the Grand Prix of the Lowlands.

This weekend there are two WDF ranked tournaments taking place. One is the Las Vegas Open in USA and the second is the German Gold Cup in Bremen in Germany.

We will post updates as we receive them.

The results of the years first tournament from Canada are now available.

The Quebec Open was played last weekend and the mens singles was won by Richard Marcotte with Martin Tremblay taking the runners up spot. The ladies was won by Roxanne van Tassel who beat Kim Whaley-Hilts in the final.

The last 8 results are below: ( all players from Canada )

The draw for this years Dutch Open is now online. You can view it by clicking here

Yesterday the Lakeside World Professional Championship reached its climax as Ted Hankey beat Tony O`Shea in the last set to win the 2009 world title to add to his previous win in 2000.

Ted had raced into an early lead and it looked like being a one horse race, but Tony fought back well and with Ted missing darts in the 12th set to win Tony broke him and took the set and so forcing the match into a decider. Ted took the first leg in the 13th set against the darts and didn`t look back.

A very memorable final it was and credit goes to both players for making it so.

2009 Lakeside World Professional Champion: Ted Hankey

photo:Steve Dazsko

CLICK PHOTO FOR THE GALLERY

Overall Statistics for Women are .... here and the Men are .... here

Anyone watching the mens semi fnals on BBC TV today witnessed two thrilling matches.

The first between Stockports finest, Darryl Fitton and best friend Tony O`Shea. Darryl who was the best man at Tonys wedding had to settle for second best as Tony won through 6 - 4 holding off a great fight back from Darryl.

As the full moon rose over Lakeside it was The Count who came out on top over Wolfie.

Ted Hankey continued his resurgence beating 2007 champion Martin Adams by the same score line. Teds high scoring kept Martin on the back foot throughout the match throwing 14 maximums and 40 100+ scores.

CLICK PHOTO FOR THE GALLERY

Latest updated draw Mens

Latest updated draw Women

Having lost on five previous occasions in the final Francis Hoenselaar has now gone one step further. She beat Trina Gulliver 2 - 1 to add the World title to the Winmau title she won in December.

In the last of the two quarter finals in the mens championship Ted Hankey overcame John Walton and Martin Adams won a very close match with Gary Robson.

CLICK PHOTO FOR THE GALLERY

Latest updated draw Mens

Latest updated draw Women

Englands Tony O`Shea caused a major upset in a thrilling match with the number 1 seed, Scotlands Gary Anderson. Gary scoring well struggled throughout the match on his doubles and Tony was too experienced to waste the chances offered.

In the second of the mens quarter finals Englands Darryl Fitton won another thrilling and very tight match against compatriot Scott Waites. The match starting relatively slowly sprang into life after the 4th set break with Scott moving into a 4 sets to 2 lead before Darryl fought back to win 5 - 4.

In the ladies semi finals Trina Gulliver, seven times champion and eight times finalist reached her 9th consecutive final with an emphatic win over the Netherlands Karin Krappen. Only a lot of missed darts in the first and seventh legs for double reduced what was going to be a vintage performance from Trina.

The second ladies semi final was an all Dutch affair with the current Winmau World Master, Francis Hoenselaar, strolling to an easy 2 - 0 win over Rilana Erades. After a nervous start by both ladies Francis settled down the quicker of the two and overcame her opponent with ease.

CLICK PHOTO FOR THE GALLERY

Latest updated draw Mens

Latest updated draw Women

John Walton showed a vintage performance to dominate his match against the reigning Lakeside Champion, Mark Webster, winning 4 - 0. Probably the least surprised by his performance was John himself. The rest of Wednesdays results are below.

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Latest updated draw Mens

Latest updated draw Women

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The 4th day of the Lakeside World Professional Championships saw the first of the 2nd round matches.

The game of the day today was the match between Australias Simon Whitlock and Englands Darryl Fitton, 16 maximums were thrown and both putting in 11 darts legs. Darryl winning through in 6 sets.

CLICK PHOTO FOR THE GALLERY

Latest updated draw Mens

Latest updated draw Women

Tuesday's Second Round matches will now start at 17.30 GMT and not 18.00 GMT as previously announced.

BBC Worldwide has confirmed a three-year deal with Eurosport Asia for the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships.

It means that Lakeside World Darts will be available to new audiences, not only across Europe, but also Asia from 2009 until 2011.

The current 2009 World Championships will enjoy twenty hours of coverage on Eurosport’s European and Pan-Asian channels.

Richard Hornsby-Smith, sales manager for sport at BBC Worldwide said:

“I am delighted that we have reached an agreement with Eurosport. Over the last three years they have been broadcasting the World Professional Darts Championships across Europe, but this is the first time that it will be shown across most parts of Asia too.

“This deal demonstrates the universal appeal of darts as a sport which will now be viewed in more than 100 countries.”

The third day of the Lakeside World Professional Championships got under way today with a match between Englands Martin Atkins and Joey ten Berge from the Netherlands. Martin clinching his win 3 - 2 in a closely fought game.

The game of the day though must surely have been the match between the 2007 champion, Englands Martin Adams and compatriot Dave Chisnall. Dave making his Lakeside debut pushed Martin all the way and showed few nerves as he rattled in no less than 8 maximums in his narrow defeat, the match going to a tie break in the last set with Martin coming out 5 - 3 on top.

Latest updated draw Mens

Latest updated draw Women

The second day results are below:

Latest updated draw Mens

Latest updated draw Women

The 32nd BDO World Professional Darts Championships (1978-2009) got under way today with the first 8 players of the mens first round. From the 8 surprisingly there was only one Englishman, Tony O`Shea. The remaining 7 were made up of 2 Australians, one Swede, one Norwegian, 2 Scots and one Welsh.