LAKESIDE COUNTRY CLUB, FRIMLEY GREEN, SURREY:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 7th to SUNDAY, JANUARY 15th, 2006

Following the annual review of the invitational criteria for the World Professional Darts Championships, the BDO Board of Directors are pleased to announce significant and important changes from the 2006 World Championships onwards.

In order to reflect and enhance the unique status of the greatest World Championships in darts, the BDO Board have unanimously agreed to invite the World Champions of the last three years into the First Round Proper.

This positive initiative means that in addition to the 2005 World Champion, runner-up and Semi-Finalists, who return by right in 2006, the 2003 and 2004 Champions will also be invited to return by right – subject to individual eligibility and providing that they have not already qualified.

To add to this line-up of former World Champions, the 2001 and 2002 World Professional Champions will also be invited into the International Play-Offs – subject to eligibility and providing they have not already qualified. This means that the World Professional Champions of the last five years are either invited to return by right, or are invited into the International Play-Offs.

“This is a fantastic step forward that serves to strengthen and add kudos to our World Championships in keeping with the valuable contracts we have signed with BBC TV, SBS-6 and Bob Potter and Lakeside for the World Professional to continue until at least 2008”, says a delighted Olly Croft of the BDO.

“In addition to the players who qualify through the BDO Invitation tables, we want to ensure that the Champions of the No.1 Championships in World Darts are rewarded by being invited to return by right for the ensuing three years.

“This will be ongoing so that after the 2006 World Professional, in addition to the 2006 Champion, runner-up and Semi-Finalists, the 2004 and 2005 Champions will be invited back by right in 2007, and the 2002 and 2003 Champions will be invited into the International Play Offs. It is a five-year cycle in which everything moves forward by one year in the ensuing years.

“The BDO Board is constantly striving to find new initiatives to make the World Pro even better than it has been in the past, and I am sure that everyone will welcome something that positively rewards talent at the very highest level”.

“Of course, in addition to the invitational criteria already described, there will also be the opportunity for players to qualify through the International Play-Offs, which this year will be held at The Spa Royal Hall, Bridlington on Thursday, October 20th.

“We have also ensured that our two major BBC televised tournaments are linked, by inviting the reigning Winmau World Masters Men’s Champion – if he hasn’t already qualified - into the First Round Proper at Lakeside, subject once again to eligibility.

“These measures guarantee that the very best interests of our players, sponsors, broadcasters and officials are reflected in the No.1 Championship in World Darts”.

There is more positive news in the pipeline for the 2006 World Professional Darts Championships – including a bigger overall programme of competitive darts and even more live darts on BBC terrestrial television. These and other exciting developments will be announced in due course.