• Sports News

World Championship Darts Event at Mandalay Bay on July 4 Weekend

The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) returns to the entertainment capital of the world as the top darts competitors from Europe and North America compete in the Eighth Annual Las Vegas Desert Classic July 1-5 inside Mandalay Bay’s Islander Ballroom. The event, which begins daily at 11 a.m., guarantees to bring the world’s best dart players to Las Vegas including four-time winner and defending champion Phil Taylor of England.

Tickets priced at $22 per day and $55 for an all-session pass (five days of competition), not including applicable service charges and fees, are now on sale and available at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith’s Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Mandalay Bay at (877) 632-7400 or Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

The $300,000 tournament, which features a $45,000 first-place prize, begins Sunday, June 28 with two days of qualifying events followed by five consecutive days of televised knockout action. The Las Vegas Desert Classic is one of the sport’s most exciting events, as the PDC’s Top 16 players and four leading North American participants, are joined by 12 additional qualifiers for the first round. Taylor and 2007 champion Raymond van Barneveld will head the 16 pre-qualified stars from the PDC Order of Merit, alongside former champions Peter Manley (2003) and John Part of Canada (2006). The qualifying events are open to all interested dart players who can register by visiting www.bullseyenews.com.

“The PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic is the summer’s highlight for both players and fans and has developed into a superb competition the past seven years,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn. “We’ve got the most exciting players in darts competing in the most exciting city in the world. It promises to be five days of electric action. Don’t miss a dart.”

The 2009 PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK and in highlight packages around the world, including Fox Sports in the United States. Additional event information and travel packages are available by visiting www.longmeregolf.com or by calling 011-203-253-0101.