SOMERSET is set to host the best Darts players in the world in a PDC tournament which starts today (Friday, February 28).
The unique multi-board tournament will see PDC Tour Card Holders competing across three days of action alongside PDC Amateur Qualifiers and top players from the 2024 Winmau Challenge Tour and Development Tour Orders of Merit.
The biggest names in sport, including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, and more will be at Butlins over the weekend - with the best players getting involved from round 4.
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Former champions Michael van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall, Peter Wright, Danny Noppert, James Wade, Gary Anderson, and Andrew Gilding will also enter the event at the fourth round stage.
A Somerset-born Darts player will also be playing in the tournament, as the 18th in the world darts player, Ryan Searle, looks to win in his home county.
Sky Sports analysts have even touted Searle as one of the favourites to win the whole tournament. Matthew Edgar, a pro darts player, spoke about Ryan's chances in Minehead: "He always plays well at the start of the year. I've never spoken to Ryan in all the years that I've known him and be interested in darts as much as he is now. He's now speaking quite a lot in interviews about how he doesn't really put effort in, and he's right, he doesn't!
"We've shared hotel rooms together and I'd be up at 9 o'clock, we've got a board up in the room, I'd be practising and he'll be playing Mario Kart. We'd get to 11 o'clock and I'd be saying 'we need to get downstairs because it's starting in an hour' and he'll still be playing Mario Kart.
"Then he'd roll out of bed, have a wash, get ready, go down and hit 100 averages. It's like bare minimum, but high output. So what's he going to be like when he starts putting effort in?
"He's actually spending time in the practice room, so I'm really interested to see where this goes for Ryan. I'd love to see him pick up a title."
As per PDC.tv: 'Main Stage matches across all three days will be broadcast live on ITV3 and ITV4 for UK viewers. 'Stage Two action on Friday and Saturday will be streamed exclusively for all PDCTV Subscribers worldwide, with matches from Stages Three to Eight also broadcast live on PDCTV.'
