WINMAU WORLD MASTERS

WINMAU WORLD MASTERS DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

LEISURE WORLD, BRIDLINGTON – NOVEMBER 16-18, 2007
2007 WORLD MASTERS IS THE BIGGEST AND BEST EVER!

Prize money for this year’s WINMAU WORLD MASTERS has been increased, and there will be more live coverage than ever before on both BBC-1 and BBC-2.
The World Masters will once again attract the world’s top darts champions from over 140 national and international events.
"The increase in prize money reflects our ongoing commitment to the World Masters, as does the increased live coverage from BBC TV", says Ian Flack, Sales & Marketing Director of Winmau.
"Approximately 300 players from over thirty countries will descend on Bridlington for this year’s World Masters and, after 32 consecutive years we are proud that as the oldest established major in world darts, it remains truly open and competitive and carries a huge slice of darts history.
"Indeed, Winmau is delighted that the World Masters title carries so much history and kudos to darts player worldwide, and will be played on the best board in the World - the Winmau Blade III"
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.
With refurbishment of The Spa still not completed, the 2007 World Masters will once again be played at Leisure World, Bridlington. The 2007 dates are November 16 to 18, with BBC Television coverage of the final stages of the Men’s World Masters on BBC-1 on Saturday, November 17 and BBC-2 on Sunday, November 18.
Details of the 2007 prize fund and the full schedule for the 2007 Winmau World Masters will be announced in due course.

Bullseye Game Show Marathon 2 Ratings

The ratings for Bullseye on Saturday evening peaked at 5.3 Million and it’s the highest rating for any of the shows in Game Show Marathon Series 2 to date.
The others have been averaging just over 4 Million.
When you consider Bullseye up against Doctor Who on BBC1 (their ratings just over 7 Million) and not to forget that it was FA Cup Final day it makes the 5.3 Million even better – It goes to prove that public still love Bullseye.
I thought the Producer, Glen Middleham and the entire team on Bullseye did a terrific job.
The show looked polished, had pace, fun and most of all very entertaining for the viewer.
I would like to hear your comments on the show and the ratings.
With best wishes.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Wood
mailto:bullseyetv@blueyonder.co.uk,
You can't beat a bit of 'Bully'
Playing Darts is the new Rock’n’Roll 180

2008 England Open Darts

Copyright Hans Willink

The England Darts Organisation has announced details of the 2008 England Open Darts Tournament which will be taking place from the 11th to the 13th April 2008. As players from across Europe prepare for the eagerly anticipated 2007 Open next month, plans to host the 2008 Open in the South of England have already been confirmed.

Organisers have selected the Bunn Leisure holiday park as the venue for the 2008 Open. The Chichester-based park is the largest single site park in Europe and with a capacity to accommodate over 14,000 visitors, it is considered to be an ideal location for the major event which draws players and enthusiasts from across Europe.

As well as exhibition matches with Martin Adams and Trina Gulliver,
The tournament Finals will feature Bobby George as MC and Richard Ashdown as referee.

Colin Saunders,Commercial & Contracts Director for the EDO commented; “We are extremely excited about the plans for the 2008 Open. The England Open has always been a major date in the International Darts calendar and we expect the 2008 tournament to be no exception. We expect a host of top names to attend and the top class venue exceeds all expectations, being situated in an ideal location with flexible accommodation and a vast range of facilities. We are proud to be associated with Bunn Leisure and are particularly appreciative of their generous sponsorship of the event”.

This is the first major event to be held since the re-structuring of the England Darts Organisation and total prize money for the event exceeds £15,000 in cash, plus Trophies over the weekend with the winners of the Men’s and Women’s singles taking home £2,000 each. The Singles events are WDF, BDO and Grand Prix Ranked. .
A Youth event, which is free to enter, will also be included in the weekend.

Over 600 players and visitors are expected to attend the tournament at Bunn Leisure over the 3-day period.

Those interested in attending the event should contact Bunn Leisure on 01243 606 080 or visit http://www.bunnleisure.co.uk/.

ENDS
May 2007

For further information about Bunn Leisure and the tournament contact:
Echo Ilott or Mike Caven
Nude PR Bunn Leisure
Tel: +44 (0) 1202 738983 Tel: +44 (0) 1243 604121
Mobile: +44 (0) 7931 718 121 Email: mikecaven@bunnleisure.co.uk
Email: echo@nude-pr.com

For further information about the England Darts Organisation and the tournament contact:

Colin Saunders
England Darts Organisation Ltd.
Tel: +44 (0) 07767 360308
Email: colinsaunders@englanddarts.co.uk

Winmau World Masters & Lakeside World Championship

Copyright Hans Willink
The British Darts Organisation is delighted to announce the BBC scheduled dates for the two most prestigious televised Championships in World Darts: the WINMAU WORLD MASTERS (played annually since 1974) and the WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS (played annually since 1978).
The 2007 WINMAU WORLD MASTERS will be played at Leisure World, Bridlington on November 16th, 17th and 18th, with the Saturday (17th) and Sunday (18th) Men’s Masters matches being televised exclusively by BBC TV Sport.
The 2008 LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS will be played at ‘the home of World Darts’, Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey, and televised by BBC TV Sport, BBC Worldwide, BBCi, SBS-6 Holland and Eurosport, for nine consecutive days from Saturday, January 5th to Sunday, January 13th, 2008.
The International Play-Offs for the 2008 World Professional will be played at Leisure World, Bridlington on Thursday, November 15th.
“These two BBC televised World Championships provide the most coveted titles in World Darts”, says Olly Croft of the BDO. “Since their inception, both have established themselves as the very best in terms of global participation, competitiveness and kudos.
“The World Masters is unique in providing four World titles: Men’s, Women’s, Boys and Girls, and the World Professional has produced a Men’s World title since 1978, and a Women’s World title since 2001.
“Both of these great World Championships are made more unique because each provides women players with their own stand alone World Titles.
“There isn’t a darts player anywhere in the world who doesn’t dream of being crowned Winmau World Master or Lakeside World Pro Champion. They are titles which truly encapsulate all the history of World Darts, and the status that goes with them.
“Both are open to the 250,000 playing members of the World Darts Federation (now officially recognised as the worldwide governing body for darts) whose 64 member nations are representative of all six continents around the globe.
“World Titles do not get any bigger or more prestigious than the World Masters and World Professional – they have been looking after the future of the sport of darts since the 1970s, and will continue to do so by giving players – men, women and youth – the opportunities to develop from grass roots level, right through to National, International, World and Professional levels.”
MAJOR BDO DATES

2007 WINMAU WORLD MASTERS
Leisure World, Bridlington
NOVEMBER 16, 17 & 18, 2007

2008 LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSONAL
INTERNATIONAL PLAY OFFS:
Leisure World, Bridlington
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2007

2008 LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey:
JANUARY 5 to 13, 2008

Issued by THE BRITISH DARTS ORGANISATION: 15/5/07

FIVE BDO PLAYERS THROUGH TO IDL QUARTER-FINALS

Five BDO players are through to the Last 8 of the Topic IDL on Friday:
GARY ANDERSON, MARK WEBSTER, GARY ROBSON, DARRYL FITTON and TONY O’SHEA.

England’s DARRYL FITTON became the first player to go through to the Quarter-Finals after victories over Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. He was narrowly defeated by Raymond Barneveld in what was perceived as the hardest of the Second Round groups. He topped Group J , and as runner-up Barneveld also goes through to tomorrow’s knockout Quarter-Finals.

Phil Taylor was eliminated following defeats by Darryl Fitton and Michael van Gerwen (who is also out).

England’s TONY O’SHEA topped Group K after his marvellous birthday 9-dart 501 of yesterday, and is joined by Adrian Lewis, whose 7-4 victory over Australia’s Simon Whitlock meant that he had an overall Group lead of 3 legs on the Aussie.

The unbeaten run of Scotland’s GARY ANDERSON continued with his
7-3 victory over Mark Dudbridge to dominate Group I. England’s GARY ROBSON pulled off a dramatic last game 7-5 victory against Martin Adams to claim the runner-up spot in the group.

In Group L, MARK WEBSTER of Wales also kept his unbeaten IDL debut intact with a 7-4 win over England’s Tony Ecccles. James Wade took the runner-up spot after beating Scott Waites 7-4.

Official Darts Results:

INTERNATIONAL DARTS LEAGUE
SECOND ROUND ROBIN ROUND: THURSDAY, MAY 10
(Best of 13 Legs)

RAYMOND BARNEVELD (NED) 7-6 DARRYL FITTON (ENG)
TONY O’SHEA (ENG) 7-5 WAYNE MARDLE (ENG)
SIMON WHITLOCK (AUS) 4-7 ADRIAN LEWIS (ENG)
SCOTT WAITES (ENG) 4-7 JAMES WADE (ENG)
MARK WEBSTER (WAL) 7-4 TONY ECCLES (ENG)
GARY ANDERSON (SCOT) 7-3 MARK DUDBRIDGE (ENG)
MARTIN ADAMS (ENG) 5-7 GARY ROBSON (ENG)
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN (NED) 7-6 PHIL TAYLOR (ENG)

QUARTER-FINALS: FRIDAY, MAY 11TH (Best of 11 Sets (3 Legs per Set)

DARRYL FITTON (ENG) v ADRIAN LEWIS (ENG)
TONY O’SHEA (ENG) v RAYMOND BARNEVELD (NED)
GARY ANDERSON (SCOT) v JAMES WADE (ENG)
MARK WEBSTER (WAL) v GARY ROBSON (ENG)

Issued by ROBERT HOLMES: 10/5/07