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No kidding! If you flipped through the last issue of Bull’s-Eye News, then you may have noticed the glossy advertisement in gold print for the upcoming $120,000 Las Vegas Desert Classic II, July 1-6, 2003. You can find the same advertizement, along with a registration form, in this issue. This tournament is imperative to the growth of darts in the states and will be televised
live
here in the US on Fox Sports World. Twenty-eight hours of professional darts, for the first time, broadcast live here in the US. Such an event should be supported by all darters, one way or another.
First some background on the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and the Las Vegas Desert
Classic and then some answers to the most common questions and comments regarding the tournament.
The PDC, initially known as the World Darts Council or WDC, was formed in Britain approximately ten years with the goal of taking the sport to new heights. Its’ mission is to televise darts world wide. In only a few short short years, the PDC developed, funded, and held high profile championship competitions including the World Matchplay, the World Grand Prix and the World Championship, which were all televised on Sky TV, an independent television station in the UK.
Since then, Sky TV has added many inovations to the art of televising darts, including
overhead shots, multiple camera angles and live coverage. The televised productions of Sky TV have been broadcast world wide, but never live in the
US. Fox Sports World has also picked up Sky TV’s productions and aired the taped programs several weeks or even months after the event, including last
year’s PDC Las Vegas Desert Classic. Now, they will pick up the Las Vegas Desert Class II Sky TV feed and air it live.
A total of 28 hours of live championships darts will air on Fox Sports World here in the US, July 3-6, 2003.
Times (Pacific Time Zone):
Thursday, July 3, 2003
1pm-5pm: TV First Round x 6 matches
7pm-11pm: TV First Round x 6 matches
Friday, July 4, 2003
1pm-5pm: TV First Round x 6 matches
7pm-11pm: TV First Round x 6 matches
Saturday, July 5, 2003
12noon-5pm: TV Quarter Finals
7pm-11pm: TV Semi Finals
Sunday, July 6, 2003
12noon-4pm: TV Finals
Tommy Cox has been quoted saying that the first Las Vegas Desert Classic in July, 2002
was “a resounding success” with over 200 darters from North America and Europe competing for over $100,000 in prize money.
Phil Taylor claimed the first ever Men’s Singles title beating Ronnie Baxter in the Final, while Deta Hedman won the Women’s Singles title with her victory over USA’s, Carolyn Mars.
The Las Vegas Desert Classic II is scheduled for July 1-6, 2003 at the MGM Grand Casino and
Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The total purse is $120,000 with $22,000 and $4,000 awarded to the number one male and female darter respectively. The tournament is quadruple elimination, giving each darter four chances to make it to the staged matches. All staged matches will be televised
live
on Sky TV in the UK and Europe, and may be viewed in the US on Fox Sports World. Fox Sports World is carried on a satelite network. Check with your local cable company to see if you can receive Fox Sports World or Sky TV.
After the televised finals on Sunday, July 6th, there is an additional cricket event for
each for both men and women. The entry fee, wich is inclusive for both the 501 and cricket singles events, is $150 for men and $50 for women.
Now I’ll give you my two cents as to why this tournament, to quote darter Paul Seigel, “is
good for the whole great big world of darts, especially in the states.”
The Brits are coming and they’re bringing their money to infuse in our economy and in the US dart community. Think about it because this really is a good thing. I know what I’m going to say next might be a foreign concept, but maybe, just maybe, this might convince a US sponsor or two to step up to the plate. Wow! Now there’s an idea.
As for the format, this is a world ranked tournament with a format that was successfully
used at the $50,000 Lucky Strike Challenge of Champions from 1984 through 1989.
The PDC has re-introduced this format to US darters with the hopes that more North American players will end up on stage. Not only are the Brits hosting this tournament in the states, but the cream of the crop are coming to play! Let’s face it, the average darter may never have the chance like they will here to see World Champion John Part or ten-time World Champion Phil Taylor in action, up close and personal. This is our chance to see the best of the best, right here in our own backyard. I’m excited!
For those who can’t make it to Las Vegas, plan to watch all the matches live on television.
Avid darters welcome the opportunity to view live darts on television and my guess is that anyone who actually owns a set of darts, no matter whether they are soft-tip or steel-tip, may be interested in watching these matches. Viewership mean ratings, and ratings brings sponsorships, and sponsorships mean more money will be invested in the sport of darts. Good viewer ratings will help convince television program directors and corporate sponsors that televised darts is indeed a viable vehicle to promote products and services. Success means profit, and profit translates into more televised darts in North America.
Yes, the PDC $120,000 Las Vegas Desert Classic is a steel-tip tournament, but any money
invested in darts, period, no matter what the game, steel-tip or electronic darts, is good. Money invested in the sport encourages sponsors.
Sponsorship means more money and more tournaments for the players.
More tournaments encourages the development of new talent and competitors. The goal is to make the sport of darts grow in a positive manner, worldwide.
Here’s the bottom line as I see it. If darters don’t work together to help to make the
$120,000 Las Vegas Desert Classic II a success this July, both on site and through viewing on television, then we have missed a great opportunity and the
tournament may not be back in 2004 with a $100,000+ purse.
How can you help? Do you best to get to the tournament and compete or watch the
competition at the MGM Grand. Promote the tournament.
Tell your friends and league members about the tournament and make them aware that darts will be televised, live, July 3-6 on Fox Sports World. If you’re not in Las Vegas this July, then watch the final matches on television. If you are a subscriber to Bull’s-Eye News, you will receive a copy of the Las Vegas Dart classic II program in the July/August issue before the event starts. Get your friends to subscribe before June 1st, and they will have a program of their own as well. Host a 4th of July party that includes a big screen TV with live coverage of the $120,000 Las Vegas Desert Classic II. Call your cable company and ask for Fox Sports World and more televised darts. They need to hear from darters, firsthand, in masse, just how much we want to regularly watch darts on television.
Will world champion John Part win the men’s title this year?
Will the USA’s Carolyn Mars bring home her first PDC singles title? One thing is for certain, the place to be this coming July is at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV, for the $120,000 Las Vegas Desert Classic II. Can’t be in Vegas, watch the finals on television and throw one helluva dart party. Invite your dart friends over. Tell two darters, and ask them to tell two darters, and ask them to tell two darters...well, you get the idea. And as always, shoot well and I’ll see you at the line.
For more information about the Professional Darts Corporation, please visit
www.planetdarts.co.uk, the online home of the PDC.
For more information about this year’s LVDC II event, hosted here on the BEN Website, Click Here
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