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LIVE sport is set to return to the UK — as leading darts stars face off in a lockdown internet “extravaganza”.
The PDC Home Tour will consist of 32 consecutive evenings of live action – starting this Friday at 7.30pm.
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Four players will throw each night in a round-robin format over the best-of-nine-legs matches with the group winners progressing to the next stage.
It will be broadcast live and free on the PDCTV website and its social media channels.
PDC Chairman Barry Hearn said: “It gives me great excitement that we are able to deliver live darts to fans in these unprecedented times.
“We’ve spent the last few weeks planning and looking at what is possible.
“And I’m delighted to be able to present a concept which gives all Tour Card Holders the opportunity to take part.
“The PDC Home Tour will provide a regular supply of live sport to fans, showcasing the talent and unique characters of our players to both existing and new audiences.
“The event will also give players a chance to play competitive darts in this down period in preparation for the return to normal action, whenever that may be.”
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Players will hook up a camera or smartphone to a dartboard and stream their action online.
The event will be open to the 128 PDC Tour Card holders and give hard-up players the chance to earn money during lockdown.
Prize money and rounds will be determined once the number of entrants are finalised.
World champion Peter Wright could even play a match against a rival on the same board — as Dimitri Van den Bergh is staying at his home.
Van den Bergh, 25, is a two-time former World Youth Champion.
He is living with Wright in Suffolk during lockdown because he cannot return to Belgium.
The tournament follows on from last week’s legends clash between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld from their own homes.
World No 14 Simon Whitlock from Australia said: “I will be donating my appearance fee to the Portsmouth Hospitals Charity and NHS as it’s only fair the real key workers get as much help as possible.”
FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT GUIDELINES
PDC chairman Hearn added: “Given the choice of no event or an event without a crowd, we’d opt for one without the crowd to maintain the earning power of players.
“Don’t forget we are a global sport. We cannot have events behind closed doors if our membership are unable to travel. It wouldn’t be fair.
“That’s a big issue in terms of rankings.
“We have to follow Government guidelines. It doesn’t stop you being creative so people can feed their children.
“There are four phases of recovery we’re working on. Phase one is in-house entertainment. Two is behind-closed-doors events
“Phase three will be limited-crowd events and then phase four is utopia — back to normal.”
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Hearn, 71, spoke for the first time since being hospitalised last week after a heart attack.
He said: “It’s one of those things. I had a heart attack 18 years ago. This wasn’t as strong but I knew what to expect
“They did a brilliant job on me at the NHS on Sunday night.”
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