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

Simon Whitlock took the Saturday and Sunday titles in Wagga Wagga to make the perfect start to the new Park trent Australian Grand Prix. He took the first title 6-0 against Shane Haddy and followed up with a 6-1 win over 2005 AGP Champion Brian Roach the next day.

The DPA have also announced that the 2007 Unicorn Oceanic Masters will cross the Tasman for the first time, to be played in Christchurch, New Zealand from 26-28 October.

The event will begin with a Test Match between New Zealand and Australia on 26 October, with the Oceanic Masters being played on Saturday and Sunday.

Park Trent Australian Grand Prix
Wagga Wagga Event One
Winner: Simon Whitlock
Runner-Up: Shane Haddy
Semi-Finalists: Dave Fitzpatrick, Jason Hobson
Last Eight: Paul Cotton, Phil Botterill, David Clegg, Matt Meadowcroft
Last 16: Brian Roach, Dave Flanagan, Mitchell Clegg, Barry Jouannet, Garrie Nelson, Steve McArthur, Phil Heath, Richard Lodge

Wagga Wagga Event Two
Winner: Simon Whitlock
Runner-Up: Brian Roach
Semi-Finalists: Glen Power, Peter Corcoran
Last Eight: Barry Jouannet, David Clegg, Shan Haddy, Paul Cotton
Last 16: Dave Fitzpatrick, Phil Botterill, Dave Flanagan, Phil Heath, Jason Hobson, Rob Denny, Tony Senior, James Cotton

The Circus Tavern will live on as a darts venue and will play host to four darting legends for a special exhibition night on Friday 31st August.

Eric Bristow, Keith Deller, Cliff Lazarenko and Bobby George will team up for the event, which will be hosted by leading referee Russ Bray.

The exhibition will see each player take on two members of the audience, before then staging a mini-tournament between themselves.

Lazarenko will play George in the first semi-final and then Deller and Bristow will meet in a repeat of the one of the most famous games of all time - the 1983 Embassy final which Deller won as a mere kid against the odds.

Following the final will be a Question and Answer session featuring all the players.

Tickets will be available from Tuesday 10 April onwards from the Circus Tavern Box Office on 01708 864001.