Saturday 25th November 2006

TONY ECCLES AND KARIN KRAPPEN RETAIN THEIR SWEDISH  OPEN SINGLES TITLES

	Tony Eccles  Eng Remco van Eijden  Nl Tony O'Shea  Eng David Pettersson  Swe Steve West  Eng Henrik Östlund  Swe Darryl Fitton  Eng John Walton  Eng Sami Sanssi  Fin Rainer Maaninka  Swe Johnny Nijs  Nl Tony Edström  Swe Ulf Ceder  Fin Oskar Lukasiak  Swe Shaun Greatbatch  Eng Alan Norris  Swe	1 2 3 3 5 5 5 5 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9	Karin Krappen  Nl Tricia Wright  Eng Maud jansson  Swe Carina Ekberg  Swe Paulina Söderström  Swe Rachna David  Nor Louise Hepburn  Scot Thea Kaajik  Nl Aliisa Koskivirta  Fin Annelie White  Fin Lisa Hansson  Swe Tina Eggersen  Den Lena Eriksson  Swe Saija Koskivirta  Fin Linda Odén  Swe Annette Hakonsen  Den

VLADIMIR ANDERSEN AND LINDA ODÉN WIN  YOUTH EVENTS
1     Vladimir Andersen  Den 2     Ross Smith  Eng 3     Pascal van Mourik  Nl 3     Oskar Lukasiak  Swe 5     Oscar Nilsson  Swe 5     Steffan Anistadh  Nor 5     Charlie Guldvinge  Swe 5     Uffe Wållgren  Swe	1     Linda Odén  Swe 2     Lisa Hansson  Swe 3     Emelie Lindell  Swe 3     Nina kauhava  Swe 5     Thea Kaajik  Nl 5     Linda Holm  Swe 5     Aliisa Koskivirta  Fin 5     Ellinor fagerholm  Swe

 

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MALTA OPEN 2006: WINS FOR MICHAEL ROSENAUER AND WENDY REINSTADTLER

	Men's Singles	Women's Singles
	Michael Rosenauer Ger Godfrey Abela Mal Tony Eccles Eng Vince Busuttil Mal Joe Palmer Eng Andy Keene Eng John Michael Gre Emmanuel Ciantar Mal Godwin Cesareo Mal Michael Lloyd Eng Pieter Otten Nl Colin Rice Ger Roy Brown Eng Alan Yates Eng David Davies Eng Charles Ghiller Mal	1   Wendy Reinstadtler Eng 2   Jackie Hampshire Eng 3   Amanda Humphreys Eng 3   Monika Kellner Ger 5   Gill Browne Eng 5   Mary Chapman Eng 5   Margaret Sutton Eng 5   Judy Nuthall Mal 9   Petra Rice Ger 9   Sam Royffe Eng 9   Donna Hoyle Eng 9   Jan Murphy Eng 9   Angie Hinch Eng 9   Joyce Fenech Borg Mal 9   Debbie Meadowcroft Eng 9   Ally Harrison Eng
Godfrey (left) and Michael (right)		Wendy (left) and Jackie Hampshire (right)

	Men's Pairs   1 Tony Eccles / Pieter Otten 2 Stafano Zanone / John Michael 3 Ugur Barani / Ozdas Akkan 3 Roy Brown / Alan Yates   Women's Pairs   1 Amanda Humphreys/Wendy Reinstadtler 2 Ann-Britt Widman/Beatrix Kröckel 3 Jackie Hampshire/Donna Hoyle 3 Sam Royffe/Angie Hinch
Stefano, John, Tony and Pieter		Wendy, Amanda, Ann-Britt, Beatrix

"BOBBY DAZZLER"  MY STORY BY BOBBY GEORGE

Published to coincide with the 2007 BDO World Professional Darts Championships from 6^th-14^th January in Frimley Green.

After a tough childhood, helping his imposing dad in the garden, looking after his pigeons, Bobby George left school early barely able to read or write.  A life in the building trade – digging the Victoria Line on the London underground and laying concrete floors – or minding Essex pub doors in the post-Krays era seemed to beckon.   That is until, after a day’s fishing off southern Ireland in the summer of 1976, a game of pub darts got off the ground.  By the end of the night Bobby had taken on and beaten the whole pub.  He was a natural.  He has never really looked back: three years later he won the News of the World Championship.   Bobby George burst onto the darts scene just as the popularity of darts went through the roof and began its golden era.  Slimmer than most, good-looking and toned, Bobby, with his glittery shirts and flashy jewellery, brought showbiz to darts.  Here he relives the gripping moments of the News of the World and Embassy finals.  He looks back over the ups and downs of life with characters such as Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson, John ‘Stoneface’ Lowe and Keith Deller, and also the agony of the 1994 Embassy final, which he played in a steel corset after breaking his back.

From rags to bling, from the world of Essex pubs in the 1970s to behind the scenes with the BBC at Frimley Green, from films and videos to Celebrity Fit Club, BOBBY DAZZLER: My Story is the vividly entertaining tale of one of the country’s best loved and most charismatic showmen.   Bobby George was born in Manor Park, east London, in December 1945.  He was thirty before he threw his first dart.  Months later he won the first serious competition he entered: the 1976 Essex Masters.  He won the News of the World tournament in 1979 and famously competed for the 1980 Embassy World Championship title with Eric Bristow.  After winning the News of the World title for a second time in 1986 he retired to become the game’s first ever full-time exhibition player.  He is now a respected darts pundit for the BBC, as well as guv’nor for his self-built, eighteen bedroom mansion, George Hall, in Essex where he lives with his wife, Marie.

Friday 24th November 2006

DUTCH WONDERBOY IS BETTING FAVOURITE FOR 2007 LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSIONAL TITLE

17 year-old Dutch ‘wonderboy’ Michael van Gerwen has been installed by Coral Bookmakers as the 9-4 favourite to win the 2007 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships.

It means that the sensational youngster continues to re-write the darts record books.  At 17 he is already the youngest player ever to compete in the World Pro, the youngest ever top Seed (he’s No.3 in the world) and the youngest ever World Champion having already won this year’s BBC televised Winmau World Masters.

Now, he is the youngest ever bookies favourite to go on and win the most prestigious title in World Darts.

No.1 Seed Englishman Martin Adams is second favourite at 4-1 with the in-form Scottish No.1 Gary Anderson at 8-1 for the 2007 title.

Jelle Klaasen Michael’s close friend and the defending Lakeside World Pro Champion has been given odds of 10-1 to retain the premier title in World Darts (just a year ago he was a 100-1 outsider!).

CORAL will once again be the official on-site bookmakers at Lakeside, and the full betting odds for winning the 2007 title are:

EW: Half odds 1-2

For the first time, Coral will also be offering win only bets on the nationality of the 2007 Lakeside World Pro Champion:

                    ENGLAND                    EVENS

                    NETHERLANDS         EVENS

                    SCOTLAND                 11-2

                    WALES                         16-1

                    ANY OTHER                16-1

The Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships will be staged by the British Darts Organisation at Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green and televised by BBC TV from Saturday, January 6^th to Sunday, January 14^th, 2007.

Thursday 23rd November 2006

DUTCH PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS IN 2007

Wednesday 22nd November 2006

LAS VEGAS OPEN  26 - 28 JANUARY 2007

The 2007 Las Vegas Open will be played in a new location next year. The "Tuscany Suites and Casino" will be hosting this prestigious event which takes place 26 - 28 January. The tournament flyer is now available from the WDF Tournament Calendar, or by clicking.... here

Monday 20th November 2006

BOARD CHANGES FOR BDO

Mike Stephenson was elected a Director of the British Darts Organisation at the recent Full Council Meeting of the BDO. He is a new member of the BDO Board and is joined by Len Mutch who has been re-instated to the Board.

The new appointments follow the retirement of Chairman Sam Hawkins and the standing down of Pete Murray for personal reasons.

The full BDO Board of Directors (in alphabetical order) for 2006/2007 is:

DAVE ALDERMAN, OLLY CROFT, ROD HARVEY, LEN MUTCH, VIC SEXTON and MIKE STEPHENSON.

Sam Hawkins was confirmed as the BDO’s Honorary President and Marie Hawkins was made an Honorary Life Member of the BDO. Also made Honorary BDO Life Members were Pete and Marlene Murray.

These special awards were made in recognition of a lifetime of service and devotion to the BDO by Sam and Marie and Pete and Marlene.

“The BDO has the finest darts officials in the world”, says Olly Croft, “and we are proud and delighted to honour Sam and Marie Hawkins and Pete and Marlene Murray in this way.  They thoroughly deserve these accolades in recognition of their invaluable services to the BDO and the sport of darts.”

A NEW WEBSITE FROM "DOWN UNDER"

Carol Forwood, Australia's current Nr.1 Woman player has opened her new website which can be found at          http://www.carolforwood.dfadarts.org/. We wish Carol every success with her new site, and at the same time wish her "good luck" in the forthcoming World Championships which start at the Lakeside on the 6th of January. Carol will meet Francisca Hoenselaar of the Netherlands in her first match.

Thursday 16th November 2006

FINNISH OPEN 2007

FINNISH OPEN 2007   HOTEL ROSENDAHL TAMPERE   09 - 11 MARCH 2007   GET ALL THE DETAILS AND ENTRY FORM   HERE

Tuesday 14th November 2006

ENGLAND  v  NETHERLANDS: DARTS AND FOOTBALL ON THE SAME NIGHT

When England play Holland in a friendly football international on Wednesday, November 15th , the two nations will also compete in darts at half-time in a match between Darryl Fitton and Co Stompe believed to be a unique sports double, the darts match between Darryl and Co will take place in the middle of the Amsterdam Arena – home of Ajax football club. England’s Darryl Fitton is nicknamed ‘Dazzler’ and famed for his walk-on music

to ‘One Step Beyond’ by Madness, while Co Stompe, a former Amsterdam tram-driver is known as  the ‘Matchstick’ and enjoys huge popularity in his homeland.

The two WDF players are big favourites on the international darts circuit and will be seen in the premier Championship in world darts – the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship – from January 6^th to 14^th on BBC TV and Dutch station SBS-6.

Sunday 12th November 2006

NORTHERN IRELAND OPEN 2006

JULIE GORE AND MARK WEBSTER MAKE IT A WELSH DOUBLE IN NORTHERN IRELAND

	Men		Women
	Mark Webster Darryl Fitton Gary Robson Gary Anderson Robert Thornton John Elder Steve West Kevin Simm	1 2 3 3 5 5 5 5	Julie Gore Francisca Hoenselaar Jan Robbins Karin ten Kate Tara Dean Linda Angus Dee Bateman Louise Hepburn
	Julie Gore and Mark Webster

Mark Webster continued his impressive run of form when he won yesterdays Northern Ireland Open Singles. A high class field of 388 men turned up for the event where England's Darryl Fitton took the runner up spot. Scotland's Gary Anderson and England's Gary Robson shared third place. Julie Gore made it a double for Wales when she defeated World Nr 2 Francisca Hoenselaar of the Netherlands in the Women's Final. The Dutch and Welsh also shared the third spot with Jan Robbins and Karin ten Kate.

Youth           1  Scott Campbell  Scotland           2  Ian Hoeve  Netherlands           3  Mark Morrow  N. Ireland           3  Pascal van Mourik  Netherlands           5  Daniel van Mourik  Netherlands           5  Sean Bradley  N. Ireland           5  Niall McVerry  N. Ireland           5  Ben Thornbury  N. Ireland      Youth Winner Scott Campbell

Tuesday 7th November 2006

LAKESIDE WORLD PRO 2007 PREVIEW

TWO YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPIONS FOR LAKESIDE 2007

Dutch superstars Jelle Klaasen and Michael van Gerwen head an outstanding field for the 2007 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships at Lakeside Country Club from January 6^th to 14^th.

Both are the youngest ever reigning World Champions in the history of darts.

Photo: Yvonne Andrews, Double-Top Darts Shop

Jelle Klaasen  the reigning Lakeside World Pro Champion at 21 and Michael van Gerwen, the reigning Winmau World Masters Champion at just 17.

Nicknamed ‘Mighty Mike’ in recognition of his phenomenal ability, Michael won the inaugural World Darts Event in Maastricht just a week after his World Masters triumph, and will make his Lakeside debut in 2007 as the youngest player to compete in the World Pro since its inception in 1978.

There are many other ‘firsts’ in a World Championship which will celebrate thirty years on BBC Television in 2007. 

Outstanding Dutch player Carla Molema will become the youngest ever women’s player to compete at Lakeside next January. She was 17 when she came through the tough International Play-Offs to get to Lakeside, and then went on to win the Women’s Singles title at the inaugural World Darts Event in Maastricht. 

When she plays at Lakeside she will be just 18.

“These young players represent the exciting future of our sport”, says Olly Croft, “and I am proud to say that we produce them year after year.  You just have to look back at thirty years of the World Pro to see all the names we have created through these great Championships.

“Michael and Carla are outstanding teenagers, and Jelle is a great World Champion. Now they all come together for the 2007 World Pro, and are joined by other exciting young talents like 23 year-old Mark Webster of  Wales, who reached Lakeside by picking up valuable ranking points when he won the WDF Europe Cup Singles with an outstanding 146 checkout with his last throw.

“He is one of the most outstanding youngsters to come out of Wales for many years and we are delighted that his talents will be seen on the biggest stage of them all.

“The same can be said of Anastasia Dobromyslova, the talented 22 year-old who becomes the first Russian player to grace the ‘home of world darts’ in 2007.”   

Players from thirty countries started out on the road to Lakeside 2007, and from that opening field there will be players from eight countries in the First Round line-up: Nineteen from England, ten Dutch, three Scots, two Welshmen, two Swedes, two Australians, one Russian and one Dane.

Unusually, there are three left-handers in the field – the two Welshmen Martin Phillips and Mark Webster, and Scotland’s Paul Hanvidge.  The last (and only) left-handed World Champion was Les Wallace of Scotland in 1997.

Jelle Klaasen returns to defend his title unseeded (just as he was in 2006) and has an all-Dutch First Round clash with his countryman Co Stompe.  Michael van Gerwen, as the new Winmau World Masters Champion makes his Lakeside debut as No.3 Seed and takes on another experienced player in England’s Gary Robson.

 Among the picks of the First Round is No.1 Seed Martin Adams, runner-up in the 2006 World Masters, taking on England team-mate Tony O’Shea; there’s another all England clash between Mervyn King (Seeded No.5) and qualifier Paul Gibbs; Scotland’s in-form Gary Anderson (Seeded No.2) plays the charismatic Dutchman Albertino Essers; No.4 Seed Tony Eccles (Eng) plays debutant Mark Webster of Wales, and in a repeat of last year, the hugely popular giant of darts, Andy Fordham will once again meet the ponytailed ‘Wizard of Oz’ and Australian No.1 Simon Whitlock.

In the Women’s World Pro, England’s ‘Golden Girl’ TRINA GULLIVER returns as No.1 Seed hoping to make it an incredible seven successive wins at Lakeside – where she has never been beaten. Her first opponent is the youngest player in the Championship, the highly talented 18 year-old Carla Molema.

Newly crowned Winmau Women’s World Master Francis Hoenselaar (the No.2 Seed) will play Lakeside debutant Carol Forwood, who is the first Aussie lady to play at Lakeside.

There are eleven players making their Lakeside debut in 2007. Remarkably, Michael van Gerwen does so as No.3 Seed, and he is joined by his countryman Mario Robbe, Goran Klemme (Swe), Paul Gibbs (Eng), Mark Webster (Wal), Gary Fenn (Eng) and Phil Nixon (Eng).

In the Women’s World Pro there are first time appearances for Anastasia Dobromyslova (Russia), Carla Molema (Neth), Apylee Jones (Eng) and Carol Forwood (Aus).

Times and schedule are subject to change.

The 2007 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships are staged and promoted by the British Darts Organisation and the main title sponsor for the fourth successive year is Bob Potter’s famous Lakeside Country Club.

As well as being seen on BBC-1, BBC-2, BBCi and BBC Worldwide, the 2007 Championships will also be broadcast by SBS-6 in Holland and to a European and global audience by Eurosport. Collectively this provides the biggest TV audience for darts anywhere in the world.

WORLD CUP 2007: DATES AND PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

LEENDESK MASTERS:  RENAMED AND RESCHEDULED

The Leendesk Masters which was scheduled for 8 - 10 December has been renamed the Dutch Grand Masters and will now be played 16 - 18 March.

Sunday  5th October 2006

LATVIA OPEN SINGLES 2006

The Latvia Open, which was played in Riga yesterday was WDF Ranked for the first time. Marika Juhola from Finland was strongly fancied to win the Women's Singles, and she did so by beating Triin Timmermann from Estonia by five legs to two. Another Finn, Jarkko Komula was widely expected to take the Men's Singles but he faltered in the Semi-Final stage and was beaten by local player Juris Aleksans by a score of five legs to four. This result provided an all Latvian Final with Aigars Strelis winning by six legs to three.

Aigars Strelis and Marika Juhola

MEN

Jt. 9th:     Egils Vitols Lat,  Gintaras Nagevicius Lit,  Mati Leis Est,  Tarmo Putsepp Est,  Tiit Haidak Est,  Gintaris Armalis Lit,  Arnis Vents Lat,  Ronalds Mezals Lat.

WOMEN