Priestley & Waites Join Grand Slam Field

DENNIS PRIESTLEY and Scott Waites will compete in the 2007 Grand Slam of Darts, after being rewarded for their success in their respective rankings.

The duo have been invited to participate in the £300,000 tournament at Wolverhampton in November as the highest non-qualified players from their organisation.

Priestley, a double World Champion, stood eighth in the PDC Order of Merit at 1 August after maintaining his place among the world's elite for the past two years.

Waites, meanwhile, has moved himself up to fourth in the WDF World Rankings this year with some outstanding displays, notably winning the Dutch Open in February and the Welsh Masters.

The Yorkshire duo will line up alongside the likes of Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, Gary Anderson and James Wade at the Wolverhampton Civic from 17-25 November, with the winner taking home £80,000.

Bradford-based Waites, 30, jumped above Darryl Fitton in the WDF rankings after the recent British Classic event in Kettering.

"Scott has made a big impact on the WDF circuit this year and we're delighted that he is challenging himself to compete in the Grand Slam of Darts," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"I'm sure he will rise to the challenge and it will be great experience for him as he gets used to the big stages.

"Dennis, of course, has vast experience in front of the TV cameras and will be another world-class player competing for the £80,000 first prize."

The duo's inclusion takes the number of confirmed players in the event to 25, with the winners of the Australian Open and Emperors Palace PDC South African Open also guaranteed a place.

The leading American in the PDC North American Order of Merit after the Windy City Open will also win a place in the Grand Slam of Darts - click here for further information.

Waites' decision means that three of the top four players in the WDF World Rankings will be participating at Wolverhampton, with current Lakeside Champion Martin Adams declining his invitation.

"I'm very disappointed that Martin has turned down the opportunity to compete against the best players in the world in a network televised event which offers a prize fund greater than he has ever competed for before," added Hearn.

"This apparent lack of ambition has staggered me and as a sports fan it distresses me that some sportsmen turn down such opportunities.

"It's amazing and I'm actually very sad, not for the event but for Martin Adams."

TICKETS for the Grand Slam of Darts are still on sale, with prices ranging from £10 to £35.
Click here for full details, or call 0870 320 7000.