Darts will be back in Dubai for ‘years to come’, insist PDC

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Huge success: The Dubai Darts Masters attracted huge crowds of fans.

    There is “no reason” to think that the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters will not become a regular fixture in the UAE sporting calendar, according to Professional Darts Corporation chief executive Matthew Porter.

    A packed crowd at Dubai Tennis Stadium enjoyed the culmination of the two-day tournament last night, with world No1 Michael van Gerwen showing his class to retain the title.

    Speaking to Sport360°, PDC chief executive Porter said: “This is where the World Series began for us 12 months ago, so it is great to be back. It was really important for us to show we could deliver top-class darts in a non-traditional setting.

    “There is a big European and Australian expat community out here, who have really bought into it. The atmosphere has been brilliant again, and there is no reason not to come back here for many years to come.

    “We have excellent promotional partners and sponsors in Dubai, with the players really enjoying coming out here.”

    The Masters was not only a success for the promotional body, with the darts players also revelling in the atmosphere in Dubai.

    A number of the sport’s most high profile competitors, including reigning World Champion Van Gerwen and world No3 Adrian Lewis brought their partners with them to enjoy the first-class facilities in the Emirates.

    Asked whether the competition was something all the players look forward to, five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld replied: “It is fantastic here.

    “Me and my wife take pictures all day, it is like a fairytale out here. You can shop all day and go on the beach. I would love to come back every year.”

    This weekend is a packed one for promoters Matchroom Sport, with the company also putting on the monster Carl Froch v George Groves boxing fight at Wembley tonight to a sold-out 80,000 crowd.

    Despite the size of that occasion, Porter insisted there had been no issues with organisation in the UAE.

    He said: “It has not been a distraction in the slightest. We have separate boxing and darts teams. There is some crossover between the two, but not enough that we cannot look after the darts.”

    Recommended