Top darts players to visit Shetland again for tournament

Clickimin is to stage another feast of darts when the top players from the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) descend on the Lerwick venue in September.

The eight-player tournament promises to be even bigger and better than last year with six players from the current Premier League line-up travelling to the isles to complete in the Shetland Masters.

Fifteen-time world champion Phil “The Power” Taylor will be hoping to defend the trophy he won so convincingly last year, but he will have to beat off stiff competition from a very strong field.

Travelling north for the first time is current world champion Adrian Lewis and Aussie Simon Whitlock. Scottish favourite Gary Anderson, James Wade and Terry Jenkins complete the Premier League representation while the colourful Wayne Mardle and the “Silverback” Tony O’Shea, representing the BDO (British Darts Organisation), complete the eight-man extravaganza.

Last year’s tournament winner Taylor said: “I am really looking forward to coming back to Shetland in September, as last year’s event was fantastic. The highest compliment I could pay to it is that I genuinely thought I was playing in a major television event when I saw the stage and the set-up. The way everyone treated us was first class, and I hope this year I can do two nine-darters to say thank you for inviting me back.”

Clickimin manager Robert Geddes said: “It’s difficult to name the headline act this year as there are so many top players travelling north. Of course it is fantastic to be able to bring such a big name as Phil Taylor back up again, but I’m delighted to see Gary Anderson return to Shetland with the possibility of a 2011 world championship final repeat against Adrian Lewis right here in Lerwick.”

First-time visitor Whitlock said: “I am very excited about coming up. I think it will probably be the furthest north I have ever played darts! The line-up of players for the tournament is as good as anything you will see outside of a Premier League night.

“I hope to see as many people as possible there as I have been told by some of the players who were in last year’s event that it was a fantastic tournament with noisy crowds. I can’t wait.”

Steve Mottershead, promoter and agent of Taylor, said: “All the guys and I are really looking forward to coming back to Shetland this year, especially after the success of last year’s event.

“All of last year’s players commented on the fantastic hospitality shown to them by everyone, and the excellent conditions in which the tournament were played. They were also blown away by the numbers of supporters, and this year’s event promises to be even bigger.

“Everyone at the Shetland Recreational Trust and its supporters should be commended for the passion, commitment and enthusiasm they have shown, in bringing some of the most popular sportsmen in the world to the isles again.”

Details of ticket packages and prices will be available in the next couple of weeks.