SOUTH AFRICA will have a representative at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship for the first time this year, with the winner of the Emperors Palace South African Masters earning a place at Purfleet.

The South African Masters is a new tournament to be staged at the Emperors Palace Hotel & Casino Resort in Johannesburg on Saturday 30 September.

Open to all South African citizens, the tournament will be played in two-stage, with players having three hours to throw a leg of 501 in the fewest number of darts, before the top 16 (plus ties) play off.

The last eight onwards will be play on stage for the biggest prize fund in South African darts history, with the winner earning a place at the Circus Tavern in December and a minimum £3,500 prize fund.

The runner-up will win 15,000 Rand, with the losing semi-finalists taking home R7,500 and the losing quarter-finalists earning R5,000.

Phil Taylor, the 13-time World Champion, will also travel to South Africa and will host an exhibition against the last eight on the Saturday evening.

"This is an exciting development for darts in South Africa," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"We have already had great interest from players in South Africa wishing to try their luck at winning a place in the biggest tournmanent in the sport.

"The expansion of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship to 64 players last year means that more countries than ever have the opportunity to be represented at the Circus Tavern."

Hearn added: "Through the coverage of Supersport, darts fans in South Africa have had the chance to see Phil Taylor's successes in recent years but they can now see him for the first time in the flesh.

"It will be a memorable weekend."

Entry to the Emperors Palace South African Masters costs R150, which also includes two tickets to the exhibition with Phil Taylor.

PLEASE NOTE that players can now enter until the tournament begins.

The entry form is available by clicking here