PALATIAL SEAFRONT LOCATION IS PERFECT SETTING FOR 25^TH MANX DARTS FESTIVAL

A palatial venue with pillars and cascading waterfalls overlooking the sea in Douglas on the tax exile island of the Isle of Man is the perfect setting for one of darts longest running tournaments next month.

The £20,000 three-day Isle of Man International Festival of Darts runs at the multi million pound Villa Marina leisure complex between March 12-14 with Darryl Fitton and Julie Gore defending their respective men’s and women’s singles titles. 

But they will face spirited resistance in this the 25^th birthday staging of the island championship, which once again enjoys the support of the Isle of Man Department of Tourism.

There is £5000 on offer for the winner of the men’s title, while the women’s championship is worth £3000.

In addition there are mixed doubles, men’ s and women’s double titles up for grabs, plus the three day tournament features the island playoffs for the Winmau World Masters youth singles.

And on the opening day of play, competitors have the opportunity to warm up for the Saturday’s singles by taking place in the special birthday Okells Jubilee Trophy winner-takes-all competition. There is £600 up for grabs in the men’s event and £400 in the women’s competition. Players will play the speedy best of three 501 format.

The following day Fitton will toe the oche with a plethora of players who competed in January’s Lakeside BDO world championships at Frimley Green, including World champion Martin Adams and the man he toppled, Dave Chisnall, the 2008 winner of the Manx title.

Adams is still to add the Manx title to his bulging CV but as current reigning Winmau World Master and world title holder, he will start the Manx tournament as one of the hot favourites.

Eight times World Champion Trina Gulliver – a double winner in the island championship – leads the race for the women’s title, which has been won for the past three years by Wales’ Julie Gore.

But former world number one Deta Hedman, who took the Manx title four times between 1990-1996 – and has made a successful return to international stage, reaching the semi finals in January’s World Championship – will be a big threat.

Last year 176 women toed the oche and organisers hope that the 200 barrier may be broken this year for the birthday staging of the tournament.

Tournament director Les France of LF Promotions said: “The Isle of Man championship is one of the sport’s most successful events, which has endured two industrial recessions plus the 1993 split in the sport.