JOHN PART believes that the future of professional darts in north America is bright, ahead of two major events at the Mohegan Sun Casino this weekend.
Canadian star Part, the current PDC World Champion, will be the favourite to take glory in the inaugural North American Darts Championship, which will run alongside the PartyPoker.net PDC US Open this weekend.
The PDC's presence in north America has also been lifted by the presence of five Players Championship tournaments and the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
And Part believes that the increase in entries from players in the USA and Canada for the PDC US Open and huge interest in the North American Darts Championship is a boost for the sport.
"If the PDC persist with creating these new tournaments, with higher money than the existing events, then it will succeed," said Part.
"The beauty is that the PDC are not trying to replace any tournaments, they are supporting existing events and creating a few new ones.
"If darts will ever take off, the PDC is giving it every chance in north America to really go big."
Part has been joined on his regular travels across the Atlantic by stars such as Ray Carver, John Kuczynski, Gary Mawson, Dan Olson, Isen Veljic and Scott Kirchner in the past couple of years.
"It's great that we're giving people a chance because there's a lot of good players," added Part.
"Gary Mawson was on the PDC circuit playing televised tournaments before even I was. In 2001-2002 he concentrated more on his personal life but now he's coming back and I like to see that, he's doing well.
"Dan Olson, along with Gary, was playing back in the 1980s and he's doing well too and making an effort. We pairs in some of the events where they have them and it's fun.
"It's good to see all the guys making such an effort to get to the top."
Live coverage of the PartyPoker.net PDC US Open will be screened on Nuts TV on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May, from 7pm-12pm (BST), 2pm-7pm (local time). Nuts TV is available on Sky Guide 207 and Freeview 42.
Click here to read Rod Harrington's PartyPoker.net PDC US Open Preview