PHIL TAYLOR is bidding to prevent Raymond van Barneveld picking up a third successive major title at the Stan James World Matchplay next week.

THE PDC will stage two tournaments at the Emperors Palace Resort in Johannesburg this September.

MARK DUDBRIDGE will enter the Stan James World Matchplay on a high following a successful summer campaign so far.

ALAN BOLTON has won the New Zealand National Championship, to earn a place in the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

GARY MAWSON and Ray Carver lead the race for the two American spots in the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

BELGIAN Erik Clarys has given up hope of making a return to darts as a right-handed player, following an 11th operation on his badly broken elbow.

THE draw for the 2007 Bobby Bourn Players Championship, which will take place at Blackpool's Winter Gardens on Saturday 21 July.

THE draw for the World Darts Trophy PDPA Qualifier, to be held in the Olympia Room at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool on Friday 20 July.

JOHN PART believes that Raymond van Barneveld has taken the mantle of being the world's best darts player from Phil Taylor this year.

TICKETS for the ITV-televised Grand Slam of Darts are now on sale from the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.