PAUL NICHOLSON became the 26th player to earn his place in the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts, with three major PDC events remaining for players to win a spot in Wolverhampton this November.
Nicholson will represent Australia and New Zealand after being the leading player from those countries in the week of William Cross Pro-Am events in Shoalhaven.
He is the latest player to confirm his place in the ITV-televised Grand Slam of Darts, which takes place from 15-23 November, and joins Australia's Simon Whitlock, the BDO World Championship runner-up, in travelling from Down Under to compete for the £100,000 first prize.
Places in the tournament remain on offer for the finalists of the Sky Poker World Grand Prix and inaugural European Championship, as well as the winner of internet-screened Championship League Darts, to be held in September and October.
The winner of the North American Order of Merit, following the Windy City Open Players Championship on 14 September, will also qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts as the 27th invitation, along with the winner of the ITV Wildcard Qualifier, who will be the 28th competitor.
The ITV Wildcard Qualifier will be held on Friday 17 October in Irvine, and is open to any darts player, with entry priced at £25 and available by calling 08712 501 180.
A play-off for third and fourth place will be held at that event, and the runner-up, third and fourth player will be on stand-by alongside Womens World Champion Anastasia Dobromyslova should any places remain in the field.
Order of invitations for remaining places in PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts:
Sky Poker World Grand Prix finalists
European Championship finalists
Championship League Darts winner
Womens World Champion
ITV Wildcard Qualifier Second Place
ITV Wildcard Qualifier Third Place
ITV Wildcard Qualifier Fourth Place
Tickets for the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts are still available - prices start at just £10.
Click here for more information
2008 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts - Current Confirmed Competitors
Updated 15 October 2008
2007 Grand Slam of Darts
Winner: Phil Taylor
Runner-Up: Andy Hamilton
Semi-Finalists: Kevin McDine, Gary Anderson
PDC Tournaments
2007 World Championship
Winner: Raymond van Barneveld
Runner-Up: (Phil Taylor)
Semi-Finalists: Andy Jenkins, (Andy Hamilton)
2008 World Championship
Winner: John Part
Runner-Up: Kirk Shepherd
Semi-Finalists: Kevin Painter, Wayne Mardle
2007 World Matchplay
Winner: James Wade
Runner-Up: Terry Jenkins
2008 World Matchplay
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: (James Wade)
2007 World Grand Prix
Winner: (James Wade)
Runner-Up: (Terry Jenkins)
2008 World Grand Prix
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: (Raymond van Barneveld)
2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic
Winner: (Raymond van Barneveld)
Runner-Up: (Terry Jenkins)
2008 Las Vegas Desert Classic
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: (James Wade)
2007 UK Open
Winner: (Raymond van Barneveld)
Runner-Up: Vincent van der Voort
2008 UK Open
Winner: (James Wade)
Runner-Up: Gary Mawson
2007 US Open
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: (Raymond van Barneveld)
2008 US Open
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: Colin Lloyd
2007 Premier League Darts
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: (Terry Jenkins)
2008 Premier League Darts
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: (James Wade)
2007 German Darts Championship
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: Denis Ovens
2008 Championship League Darts
Winner:
2008 European Championship
Winner:
Runner-Up:
BDO Tournaments
2007 World Championship
Winner: Martin Adams (Declined Invitation)
Runner-Up: Phill Nixon
Semi-Finalists: Niels de Ruiter, Mervyn King
2008 World Championship
Winner: Mark Webster
Runner-Up: Simon Whitlock
Semi-Finalists: (Martin Adams), Brian Woods
2006 World Masters
Winner: Michael van Gerwen
Runner-Up: (Martin Adams)
2007 World Masters
Winner: Robert Thornton
Runner-Up: Darryl Fitton
2007 International Darts League
Winner: (Gary Anderson)
Runner-Up: (Mark Webster)
2007 World Darts Trophy
Winner: (Gary Anderson)
Runner-Up: (Phil Taylor)
Further Qualifiers
Winner of William Cross Pro-Am Order of Merit - Paul Nicholson
Number one in 2008 PDC North American Order of Merit - Darin Young
ITV Wildcard Qualifier
Womens World Champion - Anastasia Dobromyslova
Plus (if needed)
ITV Wildcard Qualifier Second Place
ITV Wildcard Qualifier Third Place
ITV Wildcard Qualifier Fourth Place
Tickets for the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts are still available - prices start at just £10.
Click here for more information