"THE DFA AUSTRALIAN GRAND PRIX"

BDO Invitational Points and $100,000 in Prize Money for DFA Major Events

BDO Invitational Points have been awarded to seven DFA events that will carry in excess of $100,000 in prize money and rewards available to DFA and WDF players in the space of eight months from April to November 2009.

This follows recent announcements that the Directors of the British Darts Organisation (BDO) approved the DFA Australian Grand Prix to carry BDO Invitational Points on its events.

The Darts Federation of Australia (DFA) has developed the Australian Grand Prix to create a circuit of seven individual tournaments into one Grand Prix circuit giving our members access to BDO points all around Australia. The Federation believes that the development of the Australian Grand Prix circuit will be attractive to players and will assist in the attraction of major sponsors as the success and publicity of the circuit grows especially within the media.

The geographical distribution of the events will provide improved access to players for attendance at an event for our western and northern based players. The Grand Prix will also encourage International participation due to the grouping of some events to coincide closely with existing BDO events in New Zealand and Asia making the long-distance travel and expense more attractive. All of these events are unique because each provides women players with their own stand-alone events.

The events to establish the inaugural Australia Grand Prix circuit are:

The Victorian Open - held over the Easter long weekend in Victoria

The Australian Grand Masters - held in July in Canberra, ACT

The Central Coast Classic - held in June in Gosford, New South Wales.

The Pacific Masters - rotated to the state that hosts the Australian Championships each year.

The Australian Masters - held in Geelong, Victoria.

West Coast Classic - held in Perth, Western Australia

Australian Sunshine State Classic - held in Redlands, Queensland

“Ahh!!! Life is good.  This is great news for DFA, BDO and WDF darts, and reflects the wonderful relationships we enjoy with the world’s largest and most respected darts organisation.” says new DFA President Kelvin James

“The establishment of the DFA Australian Grand Prix is a major step forward in shaping the future of Australian darts and provides our members with greater opportunities than ever before to advance to the world stage. It is important that we plan for the future, and this is an extremely positive agreement that will benefit all those concerned – in particular the players and the sport of darts”.

In addition to the prize money the number one male and female player will be awarded a place in the Winmau World Masters and International play-offs for the BDO World Professional Championships with the Airfare financed by the Federation.

“There isn’t a darts player anywhere in the world who doesn’t dream of being crowned Winmau World Master or Lakeside World Pro Champion.  They are titles, which truly encapsulate all the history of World Darts, and the status that goes with them.

“World Titles do not get any bigger or more prestigious than the World Masters and World Professional – they have been looking after the future of the sport of darts since the 1970s, and will continue to do so by giving players – men, women and youth – the opportunities to develop from grass roots level, right through to National, International, World and Professional levels.”

The Victorian Open

10^th – 13^th of April

White Eagle House, Geelong Victoria

The Central Coast Classic

27^th & 28^th of June

Central Coast Leagues Club, Gosford, New South Wales

The Australian Grand Masters

3^rd – 5^th of July

Canberra Labor Club, Canberra, ACT

The Pacific Masters

25^th of July

Redland Bay Multi Sports Complex, Birkdale Queensland

The Australian Masters Weekend

17^th & 18^th October

White Eagle House, Geelong Victoria

Australian Sunshine State Classic

24^th & 25^th of October

Redland Bay Multi Sports Complex, Birkdale Queensland
 

West Coast Classic

21^st & 22^nd of November

Gloucester Park, Perth, Western Australia

Issued by Mark Heinze on behalf of the DARTS FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA:  4/3/09