The Men's Draw for the Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship 2014

The finals of the tournament are played at Lakeside starting on Saturday 4th January and finishing on Sunday 12th January.

As usual there are some interesting games, starting with the prelims.
The 2012 winner Christian Kist (Neth) has been drawn against Shimizu Hiroaki (Japan). The winner will go on to face the No2 seed, James Wilson (Eng). It isn't often the No2 seed could face a recent champion in the first round of a seeded tournament.
Paul Hogan (Eng) has a tough one against Karel Sedlacek (Czech). Karel won't be well known by a lot of the TV audience but he is known on the darts circuit having been a finalist in the 2011 Austria Open and knocking Darryl Fitton out of the 2013 Romania Open.
Another past champion in the prelims is Martin Adams (Eng), who will face up to David Cameron (Can). The winner of this one will have a match against the runner-up from the last 2 years - Tony O'Shea (Eng).

In the first round there are also some interesting matches.
Richie George (Eng), the son of the runner-up from 1980 and 1994 Bobby George, will play Robbie Green (Eng).
Darryl Fitton (Eng) has been drawn with Tony Eccles (Eng). These two have never met in the World Pro but out of the five top event games they've played Tony leads by one.
Another all England first round match is between last years winner and No7 seed Scott Waites and Alan Norris.

For the full draw:

http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/TournamentDetails.aspx?TournKey=2

The Prize Fund

The prize fund has increased this year by £13,000 to £329,000 between the Men and Ladies events. The winning man will receive a cheque for £100,000 and the money pays all the way down to the losers of the prelims who will receive £2000.

Full prize fund:

http://www.bdodarts.com/2322/22-10-2013/Lakeside_2014_Prize_Funds

Ticket News

Tickets are still available but are selling fast: 

http://www.lakesideworlddarts.co.uk/

Future Blogs:

In the future I hope to interview Sue Williams the Chair of the BDO and also have a feature on Ladies Darts - to include their World Professional Championship. 

Why Darts?

I've been interested in darts for many years. We had a board up at home when I was young where me and my brother used to have a throw but not as well as my Mum and Dad. When I was a teenager my mum played darts for the local pub - The Rose of Lancaster, in a ladies league. I occasionally went to watch but not very often.

I left home to join the RAF Regiment in 1984 and often met my Mum and Dad in the Rose for a game of darts when visiting at a weekend. It was during these visits that I started to learn different games and different rules. Singles, pairs and team games. As well as games there were challenges and bets using dart skills. I married a girl who lived about 8 miles from where I was brought up. When I visited pubs near her house they were using a totally different board, the Manchester Board, smaller, no trebles and only a single bull.

 

The Manchester "Log End" Board

I played for my first team when I moved to Germany with the RAF. I represented my squadron in the RAF Bruggen Inter-Section League. This was where I won my first trophies - individual 180 medals, pairs champions trophy and team league winners. By now I was truly gripped.

I started organising darts marathons for charity in Germany and in the Falkland Islands. I started a service league in the Falklands as well as playing a couple of games for the Globe Public House in Port Stanley.
On returning to Germany I was selected to represent RAF Bruggen in the Super League, I'd gone up a level.
My next posting was to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, I played for the Osprey there in a local league.
Wherever I went, I played darts. If I was in a town I'd never been in before, I could walk into a pub and throw some darts. People would challenge me and win or lose I'd made new friends. If others were on the board when I walked in, I could play the winner and again - new friends.

By the time I was posted back to Germany I was captaining teams and organising leagues. I had played Eric Bristow in an exhibition. I won the player of the night against Bobby George in another exhibition, I had 32 left when Bobby checked out on 140!

After leaving the RAF I settled in Norfolk. I played in pub leagues three nights a week. I took over the administration of one of those leagues. I later played super league and eventually took charge of my super league team.

The highest I got in the darts world - up to now - was to be asked to take the position of General Secretary for Norfolk darts. A role I did for five years and one I had to give up due to moving to London for work. I was selected and represented Norfolk at darts 3 times.

 

 At Rileys Norwich - The Home of Norfolk Darts

My son and daughter both represented Norfolk Youth darts and played super league. My son was also selected as a Norfolk reserve. My brother played for his local pub. My wife has played up to super league and won a holiday competition.

Darts has played a big part of my life and it will for a long time to come. In the weeks to come I will share my interest with you. from pub darts to internationals, the fun of darts and the politics.