Stars Travel To South African Events

THE PDC's top four players will travel to the Emperors Palace Casino in Johannesburg this month for the biggest weekend in the sport's history in South Africa.

Phil Taylor, the 13-time World Champion, current World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, recent World Matchplay winner James Wade and world number four Terry Jenkins will play, live on SuperSport, in the South African Masters on Sunday 30 September against the best four home players.

Television coverage in the UK will be through Challenge TV and full details will be announced in due course.

The South African Masters will be preceded by the country's biggest ever darts tournament on Saturday 29 September.

The PDC SA Open at Emperors Palace will allow any South African player the chance to compete for a place in the Ladbrokes.com World Championship AND the Grand Slam of Darts later this year.

Cape Town's Wynand Havenga won last year's inaugural event to earn a place in the World Championship - where he reached round three and won £8,500 - and this year's prize is increased with a place on offer in November's £300,000 Grand Slam of Darts.

In total, the PDC SA Open champion will be guaranteed at least R100,000 in prize money, with a minimum £4,000 (R58,000) at each of the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Championship, which will see them return to England in December.

The semi-finalists from the PDC SA Open will return on Sunday evening to take on the PDC's top four stars in the South African Masters, which is worth £15,000.

The knockout event will see the four South Africans drawn against Taylor, van Barneveld, Wade or Jenkins in the first round, with the winners then moving into the semi-finals and final.

"I'm really looking forward to this," said Taylor, who visited South Africa for the first time last year.

"I played against some of the South African players in 2006 and we saw the quality in the country when Wynand Havenga did so well at the World Championship.

"This is a great opportunity for South African players and will be an exciting event."

PDC Chairman Barry Hearn added: "We were greatly encouraged by last year's tournament and the added backing of SuperSport in screening the South African Masters live could be a watershed moment for darts in South Africa.

"Wynand Havenga was something of a pioneer last Christmas when he did so well at the World Championship, and I know there are many, many players who want to emulate him.

"This is the chance for any ambitious player in South Africa to not only win a place in two of the biggest events anywhere in darts, but also to test themselves against the best four players in the sport."

Entry to the PDC SA Open will cost R150 and is open to South African citizens, with players competing for three hours to throw a leg of 501 in the fewest number of darts. The top 16, plus ties, from the leaderboard then play off for the title.

Players can enter through Jon McGowan on 082-87-36-046 or click here to download an entry form.

FURTHER INFORMATION
The prize fund for the Emperors Palace PDC SA Open is as follows:
Winner: Place in Grand Slam of Darts (min £4,000) and place in World Championship (min £4,000) PLUS flights and accommodation.
Runner-Up: R15,000 (£1,000 approx)
3-4th: R7,500 (£500 approx)
5-8th: R5,000 (£350 approx)
9-16th: R3,000 £200 approx)
Format: Players compete for three hours to throw a leg of 501 in the fewest darts. The top 16, plus ties, will play off over the best of five legs. The final will be the best of seven legs.

The prize fund for the South African Masters is as follows:
Winner: £5,000
Runner-Up: £3,000
3-4th: £1,500
5-8th: £1,000
Format: First Round, best of seven legs. Semi-Finals, best of 11 legs. Final, best of 15 legs.