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Posts Tagged ‘Rileys’

FIRST-EVER UNDER-21 WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP!

£10k prize and road to pro career starts at Rileys

Young darts players have the chance to be crowned the PDC Unicorn Under-21 World Champion and pick up the £10,000 first prize. Preliminary qualifying for the first-ever Under-21 World Championship will take place at 42 Rileys Darts Zones on Saturday October 16 and Saturday October 23.

Fifty winners from Rileys clubs across the UK will join 14 of the best young players from around the world in a 64-man tournament at the Barnsley Metrodome on Saturday November 6. Two winners will then go head-to-head in the Final, which will be held at London’s Alexandra Palace during the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in front of a full house and live on Sky Sports.

The winner collects the £10,000 first prize. Players finishing in the last 16 share another £20,000 in the prize fund.  Both finalists will receive a wildcard for the Grand Slam of Darts professional tournament in November – where they could face reigning World Champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor – and also an invitation to join the PDC ProTour in 2011 and 2012 as a full-time professional.

Rileys Chief Executive Maurice Kelly said: “Rileys are delighted to be holding at our clubs the preliminary qualifying for the inaugural PDC Unicorn Under-21 World Championship.  There are some very talented young players using our clubs. I’ll be watching with great interest to see how they progress.  I hope that Rileys can help find the new Under-21 world champion. There is a great prize up for grabs and it is a real shot at the big time for all of them.”

The Under-21 World Championship could be the first stepping stone for the next superstar of our sport, and we’re very excited about the tournament.  The Rileys qualifiers will give the chance for any young player with talent and ambition the chance to earn their spot in the last 64 in Barnsley. From there they can go on to live the dream - PDC Chairman Barry Hearn said:

The PDC Unicorn Under-21 World Championship is open to players aged between 16 and 21 on January 3 2011, who must have been born between January 4 1989 and January 3 1995.

Entrants must register at www.rileys.co.uk/under21champs by Friday October 1 2010.

The Rileys Darts Zones holding qualifying tournaments are:

Saturday October 16

Aberdeen, Bolton, Burton-on-Trent, Chester, Chesterfield, Coventry, Edinburgh, Hull, Inverness, Ipswich, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool (Bootle), Loughborough, Manchester (Chorlton), Middlesbrough, Norwich, Peterborough, Scunthorpe, Solihull, Stirling, Sunderland, Wigan.

Saturday October 23

Bournemouth, Basildon, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Colchester, Croydon, Exeter, Gillingham, Gloucester, London (Victoria), Oxford, Plymouth, South Benfleet (Essex), Stevenage, Taunton, Torquay, Wolverhampton, Worcester.

Rileys, the UK’s largest cue sports operator, are adding Darts Zones to their 119 clubs nationwide. Rileys Darts Zones provide top quality facilities for players including championship quality boards, wide throwing lanes and electronic scoring.

Darts knockouts for chance to play Wolfie and Jackpot!

I had another great night playing darts in my local Rileys Darts Zone last night – 4th visit in 3 weeks now, it’s my new local    While I was there I had a chat with the boss Tanis, and found out that they have some competitions coming up, to win not only cash prizes, but also a game verses either Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis, or Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams in the upcoming official opening exhibition.

The Peterborough Q Club opening exhibition is on Tues 28th Sept, featuring those two players, and Russ Bray calling (15 other club opening events detailed HERE).

Anyway, during the build-up to next months opening exhibition, Rileys will be hosting 3 darts knockout tournaments, for a guaranteed £50 first prize (£3 entry), with both finalists of each event also winning a game vs. one of the pros in the big night exhibition! The exhibition is invite/ticket only, so this could be your best chance to be there.

So if you fancy a chance to play one of the big names in darts, and also win yourself £50 for a few games of arrows, why not get yourself along to one of the events?  The first is this Saturday – so don’t waste any time sorting it out!

The Peterborough Q Club knockouts are being held on; 21st Aug (this sat, registration 3.30pm I believe), 3rd sept, and 17th sept. All £3 to enter and guaranteed £50 prize money.  For more details call the club on 01733 348939.

Peterborough (Q Club)

15-27 Cowgate
Peterborough
Cambridgeshire
PE1 1LZ

The Rileys Darts Zone

Introducing the Rileys Darts Zone. Rileys are on course to have 50 high tech Darts Zones completed in their clubs by the end of the year. A Rileys Darts Zone is an innovation in the world of Darts, boasting up to six top quality throws and electronic score-boards. Rileys are rapidly earning an envied reputation as the home of Darts in the UK and welcome players of all standards to our friendly clubs.

WORLD’S TOP DARTS ACES IN THE ZONE AT RILEYS!

I’ve just received some great news from my contacts at Rileys – they are going to officially open some more of their darts zones by sending along some great players to put on a bit of an exhibition and take on the public.  Even better for me, one of the events is at my local Rileys (Q Club Peterborough), and I think I’ll def be along to watch/take on both Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams (local darts legend), and Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis.  Get in there!  So check out the announcement below and get along to the nearest Rileys for a great night.

Nationwide tour of clubs by eight greats

Eight of the world’s best players are darting into Rileys clubs around the country to open 17 new Darts Zones.

BDO World Champion Martin Adams has been booked for the tour along with Adrian Lewis, Terry Jenkins, Tony O’Shea, Colin Lloyd, Kevin Painter and former ladies’ World Champion Anastasia Dobromyslova.

Each of the 17 events, which are scheduled to run from mid-August, will see two giants of the darts world do battle in a best-of-seven challenge match in a Rileys Darts Zone. The Darts Zones provide players with top quality facilities including six or eight wide throwing lanes, championship-quality boards and electronic scoring.

The tour professionals will also take on local players and then join in a Q&A session with the audience in the club. With the 17 new Darts Zones, Rileys now have a total of 42 in their 119 clubs throughout the UK.

Rileys Chief Executive Maurice Kelly said: “Rileys are committed to darts. Our Darts Zones offer top quality venues for players of all levels.  As pubs all over the country continue to close down, we are opening more and more Darts Zones to give players and teams somewhere to play and the facilities they deserve.”

Adrian ‘Jackpot’ Lewis said: “I am looking forward to really getting in the zone again at Rileys and taking on some local talent.  I’ve seen the facilities on offer at Rileys Darts Zones – and they are world class! The Darts Zones are an ideal place for players to practice and compete, especially if they are looking to push on to the next level.  And with up to eight throws, there’s no endless hanging around waiting to get on the oche!”

The full list of Darts Zone launch dates is below:

Rileys Croydon qualifier Tricia beaten in world title final

Darts ace Tricia Wright was pipped 6-5 by Stacy Bromberg in the first-ever final of the PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship.

Tricia, 51, from Mitcham, Surrey, who battled to the final after qualifying at Rileys Croydon, was 4-2 and 5-3 ahead before Bromberg came with a late burst to claim the title.

Tricia, who collects £5,000 as runner-up, said: “The final was very exciting, and although I didn’t win, I really enjoyed myself!

“Both Stacy and I didn’t play as best we can, as the nerves set in, and the game was a close one.

“The atmosphere was amazing.  I am going to bounce back, and hopefully you will be seeing a lot more of me.”

Following her great show in the final at the Blackpool Winter Gardens, Tricia, who has career 50 titles, will get a PDC ProTour Card for 2011 and a place in the Grand Slam of Darts at Wolverhampton in November.

Rileys held qualifying heats in their Darts Zones across the UK, with 20 lady players going through to the second stage of the competition.

Rileys Chief Executive Maurice Kelly said: “It is so near and yet so far for Tricia. What a great match for the players and the fans. I’m sure Tricia will be back next year.

“Rileys have been delighted to host the regional rounds for a world-class competition like this.

“Over 500 lady players entered through our Darts Zones. We very much hope to be involved again.”

Rileys, the UK’s largest pool and snooker operator, are opening Darts Zones across their clubs 120 nationwide offering quality facilities for darts players of all levels.

The Darts Zones feature six to eight throwing lanes, championship-quality boards, hi-tech electronic scoring and specially-focused lighting.

Krispy visits a Rileys Darts Zone – a big thumbs up!

I thought I’d make the day of it yesterday evening, by playing some darts before watching Taylor win the WMP (in 3D).

Rather than play at home as normal, Danger and myself decided that we would visit the Peterborough Rileys (Q Club in the center of town), as I’ve not been there since they refitted it to be a fully fledged darts zone.  It did used to have a board or two, but it was nothing compared to what greeted us.

The entire area around the bar has been renovated, with 6 Winmau Blade III’s set-up for play, each fitted into a very smart ‘booth’.  4 had the old fashioned chalk boards (and plenty of chalk!), and two had fancy new electronic scorers.  Being lazy and on a night out we went for the electronic variety.   Each board also had it’s own table for drinks – and the whole bar area is now decked out in plush leather seats and stools, so if you’re there for a darts competition there’s plenty of space to sit around and relax.  They’d also fitted a HUGE projector screen to one side, with more chairs around it, for watching sports and the like (a ‘fan zone’ as its branded).

It was nice playing with a raised oche too, something I don’t have at home – it really seems to make a difference (there’s no looking down all the time to see if you’re stepping over the line).  It didn’t help me that much though, as Danger beat me 8-3, although it was 7-0 at one stage!  I was trying my new Tony Eccles darts, and they did seem to suit my throw – apart from the moment I threw one at bull without realising the flight had come out!  Doh.

I believe that Rileys are also trying to support darts by encouraging you to bring teams to play at the clubs as your home venue… they are offering support (such as paying league fees, discounts on food/drink to team members, and free food after league games).  I can see new teams springing up to take advantage of the facilities and offer of support.  More details on that HERE.

If you’ve not visited your Rileys club recently, I really recommend you give it a go now – as the new darts zone’s could be the future of darts as pubs with darts boards slowly seem to disappear.  (and no, I’ve not been paid to say any of this )

IT WILL BE ALL WRIGHT ON THE NIGHT! Womens PDC WC News

Darts ace Tricia Wright, through to the Final of the Women’s World Championship, has had a ‘good luck’ call from top pro Anastasia Dobromyslova.

Tricia, 51, from Mitcham, Surrey, is one big game from collecting the £10,000 first prize.  She started on the road to the Final by winning an amateurs’ qualifying event at the Rileys Croydon Darts Zone.

Tricia, nicknamed The Wright Stuff, won through four more rounds to reach the Final at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, on Sunday July 25.

I really appreciate the phone call I got from Anastasia.  Anastasia’s call has really helped me get myself together for the big game.  She is a great player and an inspiration to me, and I have taken all her advice on board. - Tricia Wright

Former World Champion Anastasia went out of this inaugural PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship to Stacy Bromberg – who Tricia now faces in the Final!

Anastasia said: “I phoned Tricia to wish her good luck and pass on some advice which I hope will help her do well.  It is great to see one of the Rileys’ qualifiers in the Final. I have my fingers crossed for Tricia to be named champion!”

Tricia is already guaranteed the £5,000 runner’s up prize if she falls to Bromberg.

Rileys, the UK’s largest pool and snooker operator, are opening Darts Zones across their clubs nationwide offering quality facilities for amateur players.  The Darts Zones feature championship-quality boards, hi-tech electronic scoring and specially-focused lighting. (Krispy: I’m chuffed to say that my local Rileys in Peterborough now a darts zone, so I better get there!)

Double Finish Darts Open – £3,200 Prize fund!

I thought I would let you know about an amateur darts open being run by the lads over at DoubleFinish darts forum (it’s a non censored darts forum for those who like their forums a little more ‘spicy’ )  Sharky over on the DoubleFinish forum told me he wants their competition to be like the PDC UK Open…but without the pros.

Doublefinish.com have teamed up with Rileys to create a pretty amazing darts open – £2,000 winning prize, and £3,200 of prize money guarenteed!  That’s pretty impressive stuff, and got to be worth a shot if you can throw a dart!

If you fancy a pop, get yourself over to their Darts Open page HERE.  £15 to enter, for a chance at that big prize.

The competition is over two days, and has a cap of 256 players, and will be played in the Rileys Bolton darts zone.

Rileys Sponsor UK Open

The sponsor for next weeks UK Open has finally been announced (it was obviously not going to be the Blue Square UK Open this year).  RILEYS have stepped up to the oche to sponsor the ‘FA Cup of darts’ in Bolton – which I think is a great move.  Rileys are really starting to commit to the game of darts, with new darts zones opening up all around the country (multiple boards with proper lighting and oches).  They also were the home of the UK Open amateur qualifying rounds, and the womens World Championship region qualifiers.

On to the official gumph;

The event – now officially called the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open – takes place at the Reebok Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, from Thursday June 3 to Sunday June 6.

The tournament’s prize fund is £200,000, with £40,000 to the winner. All sessions will be screened live on Sky Sports in High Definition.

Rileys Chief Executive Maurice Kelly said: “Rileys are proud to become the official main sponsor such a great tournament. “We’re committed to investing in darts at grass roots and the professional level. The Rileys Darts Zones UK Open sponsorship gives us the perfect opportunity to do both. Rileys are opening Darts Zones, with up to eight throws, top quality boards, electronic scoring and focussed lighting, at the majority of our 120 clubs across the country. We aim to have over 100 operational by the end of this year.”

PDC Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We’re delighted that Rileys are to sponsor the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open.  “They have recently become a valued partner of the PDC. Their successful staging of the Amateur Qualifiers for the UK Open in their Rileys Darts Zones shows what a great innovation they are for grass roots darts players. “We look forward to working with them at the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open for what will be a memorable tournament.”

The Rileys Darts Zones UK Open is affectionately known as ‘the FA Cup of Darts’. The free draw format puts 32 Rileys qualifiers and ten BDO County qualifiers up against the top 96 PDC professionals, with play being held on eight stages simultaneously at the Reebok Stadium.

To find your nearest Darts Zone please visit www.rileys.co.uk

Tickets for the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open are available on 0844 871 2932 or in person from the Reebok Stadium Box Office.

Duo Win Final Rileys Spots – on to Bolton now!

MARK WILSON and Reece Robinson are the final two Rileys Qualifiers for the UK Open, after winning through the Regional Finals in Hull on Saturday.  Wilson defeated John Martin 3-1 in the final of the first qualifier to win his place at the Reebok Stadium next month.

The 32-year-old from Broughton was a whitewash winner against Chris Quantock in the quarter-finals before edging out Adrian Welsh in the semis, while Glen Durrant – an amateur qualifier for last year’s UK Open – also made the last four.

The second qualifier was won by teenager Reece Robinson, who turns 18 next week and completed his 3-1 win over Keith Evans with a 160 checkout. The former British Masters Youth champion was pushed all the way by Philip Birch in the last four, and was a 3-1 winner against Barry Colclough in the quarter-finals.

Another former UK Open amateur qualifier, Richie Corner, lost in the semi-finals to Evans.

Wilson and Robinson complete the line-up of 32 Rileys Qualifiers for the UK Open following the free-to-enter knockouts which have been held in the Darts Zones of Rileys clubs around the UK over the past six weeks.

Well done to all those who entered, won, and lost – I hope it was a great experience.  I know a lot of darts fans will be watching the UK Open in Bolton on the TV, so we’ll keep an eye out for you!

UK Open Rileys Qualifiers

Hull Regional Finals

Qualifier One Results
Quarter-Finals
Mark Wilson 3-0 Chris Quantock
Adrian Welsh 3-1 Simon Crossland
Glen Durrant 3-2 Paul Jennings
John Martin 3-1 Dominic Hartveld

Semi-Finals
Mark Wilson 3-2 Adrian Welsh
John Martin 3-1 Glen Durrant

Final
Mark Wilson 3-1 John Martin

Qualifier Two Results
Quarter-Finals
Reece Robinson 3-1 Barry Colclough
Philip Birch 3-1 Sharo Watson
Richie Corner 3-0 Anthony White
Keith Evans 3-0 Mike Atkinson

Semi-Finals
Reece Robinson 3-2 Philip Birch
Keith Evans 3-2 Richie Corner

Final
Reece Robinson 3-1 Keith Evans

Calling female darters – one week left to register for World Championships

AMBITIOUS female darts players have just a week remaining to enter the qualifiers for the PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship.

Qualifiers for the inaugural PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship in the UK will be held in 20 Rileys Darts Zones during May (list at bottom of the post).

The qualifiers are free to enter for any female player aged 18 or over when the final is held on July 25 2010, with the culmination of the event being played live on stage at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens ahead of the World Matchplay final.

Rileys clubs in Bournemouth, Hull, London (Victoria) and Worcester will hold knockout qualifiers on May 15, with one winner from each progressing to compete in the last 32 in Barnsley on June 12 alongside the international qualifiers. Further qualifiers will be held at the Rileys clubs in Liverpool (Bootle), Cardiff, Norwich, Oxford and Wolverhampton on May 23 and in Aberdeen and Manchester (Chorlton) on May 29.

The final nine qualifiers will be held on Sunday May 30 at Rileys clubs in Brighton, Burton, Chester, Coventry, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gillingham and Solihull.

Entries close on April 30 2010, and to enter visit www.rileys.co.uk/herecomethegirls or ask in-club.

Players can enter more than one qualifying event, but must be eligible to also compete in the last 32 on June 12 in Barnsley as well as potentially the final on July 25 in Blackpool.

The PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship carries a prize fund of £30,000, with £10,000 to the winner and £5,000 to the runner-up, along with an invitation to compete in the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts and also to receive a PDC ProTour Card in 2011 and 2012.

Rileys clubs staging qualifying events will be:

• May 15: Bournemouth, Hull, London (Victoria), Worcester
• May 23: Liverpool (Bootle), Cardiff, Norwich, Oxford, Wolverhampton
• May 29: Aberdeen, Manchester (Chorlton)
• May 30: Brighton, Burton, Chester, Coventry, Croydon, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gillingham, Solihull

Entries close on April 30 2010, and Any player who enters a knockout must be available to compete in the last 32 in Barnsley on June 12 and the final Blackpool on July 25, should they qualify.  The PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship is open to any woman who will be aged 18 or over on July 25 2010.