Holsten Premier Darts @ Sheffield Arena

Posted on Thursday, 22 February 2007 03:39PM by

If you go to this event please tell them you found it on South Yorkshire Entertainment .com “This tournament has captured the imagination of the British sporting public over the past two years,” said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn. “At every venue we visited in 2006 we sold out of tickets, which is a great advert for the popularity of the sport. “The success of the event has led to unprecedented competition among our players for places in the tournament, and also to great levels of interest from fans. “By moving to arena-type venues we hope to be able to satisfy the demands of people who want to come to see the greatest darts players in the world in action. “The Premier League has been sold out for two successive years at the Doncaster Dome and the move to the Hallam FM Arena will enable more fans to see the likes of Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld in the flesh. The tournament will once again be screened live in its entirety by Sky Sports in the UK, Sport1 in Holland and DSF in Germany, with footage also being screened around the world. Taylor v Raymond van Barneveld One of the highlights of the event will be the meetings between Taylor, the defending Premier League champion and 13-time World Champion, and van Barneveld. Tournament promoters, the Professional Darts Corporation, have now confirmed that Taylor and van Barneveld will meet at the Hallam FM Arena. "Phil and Raymond are developing one of sport's great rivalries," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn. "They have met five times in 2006, with two wins apiece and a draw in the first contest, and every match has gone right to the wire. "Raymond made a bold decision to join the PDC back in February, but he is a born winner and has shown his class many times. "Whenever these two superb players come head-to-head it is a special night, and I'm sure fans in Sheffield will be royally treated. "Of course, there are three other matches to take place involving six other great players, and the competition amongst players to win the final place in the tournament is massive. "Players are excited by the Holsten Premier League and the atmosphere created by crowds all around the country. It is a special tournament to be involved in for everyone in the sport." Mexborough's two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley will join Taylor and van Barneveld in the field for the £265,000 tournament, after lifting himself to third in the world this year. Current world number one Colin Lloyd, 2006 Premier League finalist Roland Scholten, former Las Vegas Desert Classic champion Peter Manley and SkyBet World Grand Prix finalist Terry Jenkins are the other confirmed players in the event. The final place has been awarded to Adrian Lewis. The fixtures for Sheffield are confirmed as:- Adrian Lewis v Roland Scholten Dennis Priestley v Colin Lloyd Terry Jenkins v Peter Manley Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor