THE new Irish Matchplay Darts Championship will take place on Sunday 31 August - with the winner earning a place in the 2009 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.

THE Professional Darts Corporation will look at the future expansion of its circuit at a specially convened meeting next month.

PHIL TAYLOR claimed a fourth successive Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts title with a 16-8 win over James Wade in Cardiff.

PHIL TAYLOR is bidding to claim a fourth successive Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts title when this year's play-offs take place on Monday night.

ROBERT THORNTON, the current BDO number one, has moved onto the Professional Darts Corporation circuit and joined the PDPA.

FOLLOWING consultation with the PDPA, the two Players Championship events the PDC intend to stage in Leiden, Holland will now be postponed until later in 2008.

DAVID FATUM'S run to the semi-finals of the PartyPoker.net PDC US Open has seen him break into the top 100 on the PDC Order of Merit.

DARIN YOUNG claimed the inaugural North American Darts Championship title with an 8-7 win over Brad Wethington.

BILL DAVIS, Chris White and Brad Wethington will contest the semi-finals of the North American Darts Championship on Saturday.

PICTURES from day one of the PartyPoker.net PDC US Open at the Mohegan Sun Casino, Connecticut. Pictures courtesy FM Harris/Bulls-Eye News.