TheOche.com

Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig/PDC

DARTS fans in Wolverhampton are being warned to ‘catch Phil Taylor while you can!’

That’s the message from PDC Chairman Barry Hearn ahead of November’s PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts, to be held at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall from November 14-22.

Taylor, shown above after winning the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts title, will headline the show in the 32-player event, which features champions of major darts tournaments over the past two years and is screened on ITV.

However, Hearn has warned fans to enjoy standard-setting Taylor, 48, before he hangs up his darts.

The 14-time World Champion recently picked up a tenth World Matchplay title and has dominated the circuit for the past year – with only the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts title eluding him in that time.

“Phil is an absolute phenomenon and he has raised the bar even higher this year with his standard of play,” said Hearn.

“He set a new record average in a televised game with 116 against John Part in the Premier League, averaged 110 in the World Championship final and 105 across five matches in the World Matchplay.

“The Grand Slam of Darts might just be the best chance players have of beating him, though, and it will be a fascinating tournament for all fans to see.

“It’s the best of the best and a tournament full of champions and major finalists, so the world’s top players qualify.

“Players in the BDO like Ted Hankey claim they are good enough to beat Phil and this event is their chance to prove it.”

Taylor has defeated Terry Jenkins and Andy Hamilton in the final of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts in the past two years, with that pair amongst the qualifiers for this year’s tournament.

Hankey, the current Lakeside Champion, will make his first Grand Slam of Darts appearance, and will be joined by current Womens World Champion Francis Hoenselaar in the event.

Respective 2008 World Champions John Part, Mark Webster and Anastasia Dobromsylova will also compete in Wolverhampton, alongside while Scottish star Gary Anderson, a semi-finalist in both Grand Slam of Darts events, and Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts champion James Wade.

The tournament will also offer a place from the unique ITV Wildcard Qualifier, which allows any darts player to enter a knockout to be held on Friday November 6 in Irvine.

Professional players can still qualify for the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts via the PDC’s Championship League Darts, Skybet World Grand Prix and European Championship, which offer a place for both finalists, as well as September’s BDO World Masters, which will see the winner invited to compete in Wolverhampton.

Tickets for November’s PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts go on general sale on Monday August 3 from the Wolves Civic Box Office on 0870 320 7000 or from www.wolvescivic.co.uk.

Tickets will be limited to six per person per session for the weekend sessions on Saturdays and Sundays, with prices starting from just £10.

2009 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts Schedule
Saturday November 14
7.30pm-12am
8x First Round Group Games
Floor Tickets – £15
Balcony Tickets – £10

Sunday November 15
12pm-5pm
8x First Round Group Games
Floor Tickets – £15
Balcony Tickets – £10

6pm-11pm
8x First Round Group Games
Floor Tickets – £15
Balcony Tickets – £10

Monday November 16
6pm-11pm
8x First Round Group Games
Floor Tickets – £15
Balcony Tickets – £10

Tuesday November 17
6pm-11pm
8x First Round Group Games
Floor Tickets – £15
Balcony Tickets – £10

Wednesday November 18
6pm-11pm
8x First Round Group Games
Floor Tickets – £15
Balcony Tickets – £10

Thursday November 19
6pm-11pm
4x Second Round Games
Floor Tickets – £20
Balcony Tickets – £15

Friday November 20
6pm-11pm
4x Second Round Games
Floor Tickets – £20
Balcony Tickets – £15

Saturday November 21
1pm-5pm
2x Quarter-Finals
Floor Tickets – £25
Balcony Tickets – £20

7pm-11pm
2x Quarter-Finals
Floor Tickets – £25
Balcony Tickets – £20

Sunday November 22
1pm-5pm
Semi-Finals
Floor Tickets – £30
Balcony Tickets – £25

7pm-10pm
Final
Floor Tickets – £35
Balcony Tickets – £30

Current Qualified Players for 2009 PartyPoker.net Grand Slam of Darts
Gary Anderson
Anastasia Dobromyslova
Darryl Fitton
Andy Hamilton
Ted Hankey
Francis Hoenselaar
Terry Jenkins
Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis
Colin Lloyd
Kevin McDine
Wayne Mardle
Gary Mawson
Tony O’Shea
Colin Osborne
Denis Ovens
Kevin Painter
John Part
Kirk Shepherd
Co Stompe
Phil Taylor
Robert Thornton
Raymond van Barneveld
James Wade
Scott Waites
Mark Webster
Simon Whitlock
Brian Woods