Darts players from across the Isle of Wight will have the opportunity to compete in a brand-new competitive series this year, with the launch of the Isle of Wight Grand Prix at the Ambassador Freehouse.
The 6-event series, which begins in July and runs through to December, is open to players of all ages and abilities and will offer a £300 prize fund at every event, alongside a lucrative Finals Day featuring a £1,000 added prize fund courtesy of the Ambassador Freehouse in Gunville.
Organiser and professional darts player, Keegan Brown, says the series will provide a fantastic opportunity for local players to compete regularly in a structured format while building towards a prestigious finals event.
Each competition will feature a round-robin format, ensuring all entrants receive plenty of game time before the knockout stages begin from the Last 16 onwards.
Events will be limited to 40 players, with all matches tracked through Darts Atlas. Entry is £10 per competition, with entries being accepted both in advance and on the day of each event, subject to availability. Registration will close at 11:45, with play commencing promptly at 12:00.
A points-based ranking system will run throughout the series, with the top 28 players qualifying for Finals Day on 6th December. In addition, every entry fee collected throughout the series will be added directly to the Finals Day prize fund, helping to create one of the biggest grassroots darts finales ever seen on the Island.
The Grand Prix will also support the next generation of local talent with special prizes awarded to the top three Under-21 players who do not qualify for Finals Day, thanks to the generosity of Luke Hawkins of Retro Hobby & Games and Kenny Adams of Kenny & Sons.
Keegan said:
“One of the biggest reasons for launching this series is to help develop young players on the Island. The only way to improve is by regularly playing against experienced opponents.
This series gives youngsters the chance to test themselves against some of the best players on the Island, learn from those experiences and build confidence in a competitive environment. Hopefully it will help create the next generation of Island darts players.”
“I wanted to create something that gives players a reason to keep coming back month after month. The format rewards consistency, gives everyone plenty of darts for their entry fee and builds towards a Finals Day with significant prize money on offer.
“It’s fantastic to have so many local businesses supporting the series, and I’d like to thank every sponsor for helping make it happen.”
The series has received backing from a number of local businesses and organisations including the Ambassador Freehouse, Island Echo, Iain Seabrook of Seabrook Roofing, Ian McDonough of Ian’s Gas, Rhys Hunt and Wayne Till of Modern Landscapes, Kenny Adams of Kenny & Sons, Andy Willis of Vistavis, and Luke Hawkins of Retro Hobby & Games.
The tournament will be held on the following dates: 26th July, 23rd August, 27th September, 25th October and 15th November, with the Finals Day taking place on 6th December.
Island Echo is very proud to be supporting this event, helping to raise the profile of darts and showcasing local talent on the Isle of Wight.
