Thursday 28th September 2006

WINMAU WORLD MASTERS DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS: LEISURE WORLD  BRIDLINGTON OCT 13 to 15

£30,000 PRIZE FUND MAKES 2006 MASTERS BRIDLINGTON’S BIGGEST AND BEST EVER!

Prize money for this year’s BBC televised WINMAU WORLD MASTERS has been increased to £30,000 following the recent agreement between the Winmau Dartboard Company and the British Darts Organisation which guarantees the World Masters until 2010 – with a commitment to further increases year on year for the duration of the agreement.

The World Masters is the concluding leg of the British Darts Organisation’s Grand Slam Title of televised majors and has once again attracted the world’s top darts champions from over 140 national and international events.

“We are delighted with our new agreement with the BDO, and the increase in prize money reflects not only our commitment to the World Masters, but also provides just reward for the players”, says Ian Flack, Sales & Marketing Director of Winmau.

“Bridlington has now become the ‘home’ of the Winmau World Masters and the ongoing good news is indicative of the long lasting success of these Championships and the pivotal role that Bridlington has played in that success since we first came here in 2002.

 “Indeed, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at East Riding of Yorkshire Council for their invaluable help and support. We have always been made to feel very welcome, and the warmth and friendliness of the Council is mirrored by the local people, hoteliers and businesses.

“Leisure World is our temporary home while we eagerly await the refurbishment of The Spa, and having seen the new venue I know that the 2006 World Masters is going to be another great success. We certainly look forward to welcoming lots of darts fans from in and around Bridlington to a great long weekend of world-class darts – plus millions of BBC TV viewers.”

The only major in world darts with four separate finals - Men, Women, Boys and Girls – the Winmau World Masters attracts thousands of darts players, officials and supporters from right around the globe to Bridlington.

In addition to players from the home countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, there are players from as far away as Australia, India, Kenya (where Winmau dartboards are made), Russia, Brunei and the USA - as well as the usual large contingents from The Netherlands  and other European countries.

BBC Sport will be screening the Men’s Finals (from the last 16) over the weekend of October 14^th & 15^th on their flagship sports programmes ’Grandstand’ (BBC-1) and ‘Sunday Grandstand’ (BBC-2).

Last year the average audience for the weekend was 1.3 million, with the finals rising to over 2 million on BBC-2’s ‘Sunday Grandstand’. .

THREE-DAY SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13th

10AM              DOORS OPEN

11AM              TOE-THE-OCHE: Players from over thirty countries play on a multi-board system to qualify for the stage matches to be played on Saturday and Sunday.

• Non-participation spectators welcome all areas of venue for £8 each.

SATURDAY,OCTOBER 14th

8.30AM                        DOORS OPEN

9AM                             GIRLS FINAL (BEST OF 5 LEGS) + PRESENTATION

9.30AM                        BOYS FINAL (BEST OF 5 LEGS) + PRESENTATION

10AM-1.30PM            MEN’S LAST 16  (BEST OF 5 SETS)

2PM:                            INTERVAL

2.20-4PM                    MEN’S QUARTER-FINALS (BEST OF 5 SETS)

4.40PM                        PRESENTATION TO LOSING QUARTER-FINALISTS +  

                                     CONCLUSION.

• Non-participation spectators welcome: £15 per ticket in main arena and £10 per ticket on big screen in adjoining room.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15TH

10.30AM                    DOORS OPEN

11.30AM                    WOMEN’S SEMI-FINALS (BEST OF 7 LEGS)

12.30PM                    WOMEN’S FINAL (BEST OF 7 LEGS) +PRESENTATION

1.30PM                      MEN’S SEMI-FINALS (BEST OF 11 SETS)

4PM                            INTERVAL

4.10PM                      MEN’S FINAL (BEST OF 13 SETS) Plus tie-breaker.

5.15PM                      PRESENTATION

545PM                       CONCLUSION

(All times are for guidance only and the BDO reserve the right to change the schedule).

• Non-participation spectators welcome:  £20 in main arena and £10 per ticket on big screen in adjoining room.

2006 PRIZE MONEY:

MEN’S MASTERS CHAMPION:               £15,000 +TROPHY

RUNNER-UP                                             £  3,000

JOINT 3^RD                                                  £     900 x 2

JOINT 5^TH                                                  £     500 x 4

JOINT 9^TH                                                  £     250 x 8   

WOMEN’S MASTERS CHAMPION         £3,000 + TROPHY

RUNNER-UP                                             £1,000

JOINT 3^RD                                                  £   500 x 2

JOINT 5^TH                                                  £   300 x 4

TOTAL:                                                         £30,000

MALAYSIAN OPEN 2006

The results for the 2006 Malaysian Open Singles have been received today.

Tuesday 26th September 2006

WINMAU WORLD MASTERS 2006

The draw for the 2006 Winmau World Masters is now available. Just click the link on the right side of this page to view the complete draw.

Sunday 24th September 2006

WDF EUROPE CUP 2006: STATISTICS

Statistics are now available for the Europe Cup. Please note that the pages below are designed for printing. Click the links below for the information.

Saturday 23 September 2006

WDF EUROPE CUP 2006: ENGLAND WOMEN AND NETHERLANDS MEN ARE THE CHAMPIONS

England's Women and the Dutch Men both retained their titles at the 2006 WDF Europe which ended today. Women's World Nr. 1 Trina Gulliver won the Womens Singles title then teamed up with Clare Bywaters to lift the pairs event giving tEngland a clean sweep. Rising Welsh star Mark Webster won the Men's Singles event with a narrow 4-3 win over Niels de Ruiter from the Netherlands. The Men's Pairs went to Paul Hanvidge and Paul McGimpsey from Scotland when the beat Finland's Marko Kantele and Jarkko Kommula comfortably by 4 legs to nil. Scotland never got into the Men's Team final against the Nehterlands and were well beaten by 9  legs to 2.

All the statistics are now being double checked, and will be available shortly.

Get all the results and details from the links above.

Friday 22nd September 2006

EUROPE CUP 2006

The Europe Cup 2006 moves into its second day with the Men's and Women's Singles and the Women's Pairs ion the agenda. The results will be updated frequently during the course of the day. For all the details click the links above.

"BLACK FLIGHTS" WIN THE ASIA / PACIFIC CUP FOR FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TIME

The “Black Flights” New Zealand’s national dart team; have once again won the World Darts Federations “Asia Pacific Cup” for the fourth consecutive time. The event which was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 18^th to 21^st September attracted teams from 10 Counties, Brunei, Hong Kong, India, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines and Singapore.

The Asia Pacific Cup encompasses five events being; 6 person Teams event, Men’s Pairs, Men’s Singles, Ladies Pairs and Ladies Singles. The Black Flights strongest competition came from the Philippines who beat them in the Semi Finals of the team’s event 3-1. Japan also proved to be difficult with the pairing of Aoki & Yachi taking out our number 1 pairing of Robert Grant & Bernie Smith 3 – 1 in the semi finals of the Men’s pairs.

In the men’s Singles all four men qualified but unfortunately were all drawn into the same side of the Knock out draw. Graeme Mc Elroy fell to L.G. IIagan of the Philippines at the last 16, Robert Grant lost to Team mate Warren Parry in the Quarter final. Parry then had to play his other team mate Bernie Smith in the Semi finals winning 3 -1 and progressing to the final against Amin Ghani (Malaysia). It was a very close fought final and despite throwing an 11 dart leg Parry narrowly lost 4 legs to 3.

Jannette Jonathan and Megan Smith dominated the Ladies competition winning the Pairs event over Callie Teoh & Alice Koh (Singapore) and then Smith taking out the Singles Title 4 zip over Iran’s Sahar Zohouri.

The overall combined results saw the Black Flights once again become the “Asia Pacific Cup Champions” with 242 points, followed by the Philippines (196), Japan (178), and host country Malaysia (168) New Zealand have won the cup all 4 times since it’s inception in 2000 and congratulations must go to the team members Robert Grant (Auckland), Graeme McElroy (Auckland), Warren Parry (Invercargill), Bernie Smith (Christchurch), Jannette Jonathan (Taumarunui), Megan Smith (Morrinsville) and manager Stewart Davies (Palmerston North) for their dedicated and rewarding efforts.

The team now start on the second part of their campaign with the commencement of the Malaysian Open team’s event and World Ranking Malaysian Open Singles 22^nd to 25^th Sept.

Report courtesy of the New Zealand darts Council.

Thursday 21st September 2006

EUROPE CUP 2006

Play has now started at the 2006 Europe Cup being held at Ennis in the Republic of Ireland. Today's events are the Men's 4 person team and the Women's Pairs. Get all the latest updates from the link on the right side of this page.

ASIA / PACIFIC CUP 2006. NEW ZEALAND ARE THE CHAMPIONS

All the results  from Kuala Lumpur are now available.....here

Wednesday 20th September 2006

Funeral Details:

TOM POPE

The funeral service for TOM POPE, owner of Retriever Sports, who sadly passed away on September 18^th, will take place on:

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26^TH at 2PM

SLOUGH CEMETERY & CREMATORIUM

Stoke Road, Slough, Berks SL2 5AX

Directions for those wishing to attend:

From the M4:  Take junction 6 and head for Slough Town centre on the A4.
At the large roundabout in the town centre take the B416 heading towards Stoke Poges and Gerrards Cross. Slough Cemetery & Crematorium is situated 1.5 miles on the left-hand side.

From the M40: Take junction 2 and head for Slough on the A355.
Turn left at the Yew Tree Public House, and follow road to the end.
Turn right on to the B416 and at mini roundabout turn right.
Slough Cemetery & Crematorium is 1 mile on the right-hand side just after the turning for the golf course.

Flowers to:

NEWMANS, 180, Stoke Road, SLOUGH, Berks SL2 5AS.  Tel: 01753-524286

Tuesday 19th September 2006

THE ROAD TO LAKESIDE 2007

EUROPE CUP SINGLES & FRENCH OPEN SINGLES ARE LAST CHANCE FOR POINTS:

The Europe Cup Singles and French Open provide the very last opportunities for players to earn valuable ranking points in the Invitational Tables for the 2007 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships.

The Europe Cup is played in the Republic of Ireland from September 20^th to 23^rd, and the French Open is played over the weekend of September 30^th & October 1^st.

The Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships will be played at Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey from January 6^th to 14^th, 2007 and televised by BBC TV Sport, SBS-6 in  Holland and Eurosport.

TOM POPE

It is our sad duty to report that TOM POPE, owner of Retriever Sports and a great and respected friend of the British Darts Organisation, passed away today (Monday, September 18^th) after a long illness.

Olly Croft, who had known Tom for over thirty years, said today: “Tom wasn’t just one of the nicest men I have ever met in darts – he was without doubt THE NICEST.

“He was a true gentleman who loved the sport and enjoyed his involvement with it for so many years.  I consider it a real privilege to have known him, and he will be greatly missed by us all”.

THE BRITISH DARTS ORGANISATION sends its sincere condolences to Tom’s family at this truly sad time.  The sport of darts is all the poorer without him.

Funeral details will be advised as soon as they are known.

ANOTHER CHANCE TO SEE BDO BRITISH OPEN ON EUROSPORT 2

The BDO British Open, staged at Leisure World, Bridlington and originally shown on British Eurosport on Sunday (17^th), will be repeated on EUROSPORT 2  this Thursday, September 21^st from 7PM to 9PM GMT (8PM to 10PM CET).

EUROSPORT 2 will provide another chance to see this major event and is available in the UK on Sky Channel 411, NTL 811 and Telewest 525.

Sunday 17th September 2006

BRITISH OPEN SINGLES 2006:   WINS FOR MICK REED AND ANASTASIA DOBROMYSLOVA

MEN

WOMEN

Saturday 16th September 2006

TOP AUSSIES CLAIM PACIFIC MASTERS TITLES

	In what turned into a long day, well over two hundred of Australia’s top darts players and a few internationals showed some great skill on the dartboards at the Croatian Club in Adelaide today. The two finalists for the Men were players who represented Australia at the last World Cups in Perth in 2005 and other international events around the world while in the ladies final another Australian Team Rep claimed another Pacific Masters title. Simon Whitlock, Australia’s current number one ranked player and No.1 seed for this event (on the right) won his second Pacific Masters title when he defeated fellow Australian Team Representative Anthony Fleet
in an amazing final. Whitlock who last won the title in 2004 started strongly winning the first legs in 16-darts. Fleet hitting a 180 with his fourth shot to leave 24 and claimed the leg in 13 darts. From this point on Whitlock exploded reeling off the next five legs in 14,12,13,12 and 13 darts to take the final 6 – 1. He was so confident in his play and he hit every double to finish each leg with his first dart. He scored a 180 to start each of the last three legs leaving Fleet just to admire the great skill of Whitlock. In winning Whitlock averaged an incredible 37.33 per dart.   Final averages: Simon Whitlock 37.33 – Anthony Fleet 30.18
	Title number three for Western Australian Dot McLeod and she had to do it the hard way in the final. Previously winning this title back in 1998 and 2000, McLeod found herself down 3 – 1 in legs and just one leg of darts away from defeat. Tasmania Christine Woolley had the Australian Champion in big trouble in the fifth leg just missing double 10 for the title. That miss was enough to see McLeod fight back into the final. She coolly finished that leg with double 5 to bring the match back to 3 - 2 and won the next leg comfortably to force a tie breaking deciding leg of darts. McLeod won the bull throw and
started the leg. A vital 180 gave her the break she needed in this leg and with one dart at double 20 she was victorious again. Woolley was gallant in defeat but that one dart at double 10 she missed earlier in the match was eventually to be so costly.

Final averages: Dot McLeod 20.64 - Christine Woolley19.19

BUSY WEEK FOR DARTS AROUND THE WORLD

World darts moves into a week of hectic activity with major events in three continents. First up is the Pacific Masters which will be played in Adelaide, Australia today. This is followed tomorrow by the British Open from Bridlington, England. We expect the results to be available some time on Sunday evening GMT. Those of you who are able to receive British Eurosport can see recorded highlights of the final stages starting at 19.00 GMT on Sunday evening.

On Tuesday 19th the action moves to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where eleven nations will be contesting the WDF Asia/Pacific Cup. we have been promised daily updates from this event. This will be followed by the Malaysian Open, with the WDF ranked Singles event being played on 24th September.

The WDF Europe Cup starts in Ennis, Republic of Ireland on Thursday 21st September with the Men's Team and Women's Pairs. They are followed on Friday with the Men's Singles and Pairs, and the Women's singles. The stage finals for all events will be played on Saturday. Unfortunately, because of scheduling difficulties Eurosport will not be covering the event at previously announced.

Wednesday 13th September 2006

RANKING AND INVITATION TABLES

All the major Ranking and Invitational Tables are now fully updated after the Bavaria World Darts Trophy. You can find all the Tables, and details of where all players have obtained their points by clicking on "Tables" in the left hand menu.

Sunday 10th September 2006

BAVARIA WORLD DARTS TROPHY

Phil Taylor won this evenings final of the Bavaria World Darts Trophy when he beat Martin Adams 7-2.

All the details.....here

PRESS RELEASE

Michael van Gerwen to play for WDF/BDO

Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen has made it clear in a press conference at the Bavaria World Darts Trophy that he wants to stay with the WDF/BDO.  This is in direct contradiction of rumours and suggestions that Mighty Mike would step over to the PDC.

17 year-old Michael and his manager Frank van Creij have been surprised by these claims and want to let the darts world know that there is no truth in a possible move to the PDC.

For more information contact Frank van Creij, tel +31 (0)73-5225766.

Frank van Creij

Masterdarts

De Bergen 1

5241 CL Rosmalen

Tel:    0031(0) 73 – 5225766

Fax:   0031(0) 73 – 5226377

info@masterdarters.com

Saturday 9th September 2006

BAVARIA WORLD DARTS TROPHY

Martin Adams and Phil Taylor will contest the final of the 2006 World Darts Trophy. Adams beat the Dutch sensation Michael van Gerwen by 6 sets to 4 while Taylor had a 6 - 0 win over Ronnie Baxter.

In the Youth Final Ron Meulenkamp beat Sven van Dun by 6 legs to 1.

Latest updates.....here

Friday 8th September 2006

BAVARIA WORLD DARTS TROPHY

Englishmen Martin Adams and Ronnie Baxter claimed the remaining semi-final p