Power play to lift Pro Darts
DARTS fans in Queensland will get to see a relaxed Phil “The Power” Taylor when the inaugural Pro Darts Showdown Series rolls into Brisbane this week.
The 57-year-old is the main attraction for the month-long series, which is also heading to the Gold Coast, Townsville and Mackay.
Taylor, who earlier this month missed out on a 17th world championship crown when beaten 7-2 by Rob Cross in the final at London’s Alexandra Palace, has called it quits on the Professional Darts Corporation tour.
But that doesn’t mean he is retiring from the sport altogether with his fans Down Under likely to benefit.
Taylor is in the Sunshine State for the next month but if this series is successful, he could be back for another tour next year.
The 16-time world champ is looking forward to more time in Australia following on from the Masters Series last year.
“There’s no pressure on me – I have had 30 years of being under pressure and under the microscope,” he said.
“I have done it before. “You can relax, there’s no pressure, you can enjoy yourself and you are with people that want to see you.
“It’s different in tournament on tour because you are always going to get the fans who will support other people.”
Taylor is the headline act on the tour where eight players from around the world and the best from this country against some of Australia’s rising stars.
News Corp, publisher of the Bulletin, has also secured Australian No.1 and former world championship runner-up Simon “The Wizard” Whitlock, Australian No.2 and Auckland Masters champion Kyle “The Original” Anderson, with former world championship runner-up Andy Hamilton also taking part.
As well as darts own “battle for the Ashes” there will be an international flavour, with South African No.1 Devon Peterson and America’s best player John Kuzcynski also headed for the Sunshine State.
Scotland’s Jamie Harvey will also take part with Aussie
darting legend Russell Stewart set to show all the talents which won him seven Australian Grand Masters crowns.
News Corp’s Mark Algie said there had been a strong demand for premium tickets with only a very limited number of these seats available across both nights in each location except for Brisbane, which is completely sold out.
Only those players that win on the first night progress to the second night’s play.
The series begins tomorrow at the RNA Convention Centre before the showdown roadshow rumbles to the Gold Coast Turf Club on January 17-18. Tickets for the Gold Coast, Townsville and Mackay are still available on Ticketek.
YOU CAN RELAX, THERE’S NO PRESSURE, YOU CAN ENJOY YOURSELF AND YOU ARE WITH PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SEE YOU DARTS GREAT PHIL TAYLOR