Thursday, November 14, 2024

Bridlington braced for British Open Darts tournament weekend

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East Riding of Yorkshire Council Interior of Bridlington Spa with rows of partitioned dart boards in the foreground in front of rows of desks with dozens of people sitting at them and a raised stage in the backgroundEast Riding of Yorkshire Council

The British Open, which was established in 1975, has been staged at Bridlington Spa since 2003

Darts players and fans from around the world are set to descend on Bridlington later this month as the British Open Darts competition returns to the resort for the 21st year.

The prestigious three-day tournament, which attracts competitors from all over the UK and overseas, will be held at Bridlington Spa from 20 to 22 September.

A spokesperson for East Riding of Yorkshire Council, which runs the venue, said: “The competition has global appeal, with… competitors travelling from Europe, America, and Asia.”

Last year, the men’s event was won by teenager Luke Littler just months before he became the youngest player to reach the PDC World Darts Championship final, aged 16 years and 347 days.

PA Wire Head-and-shoulders shot of dart player Luke Littler wearing a purple zip-up sports shirt, with a dart board in the backgroundPA Wire

Luke Littler won in Bridlington last year before his stratospheric rise to darts stardom at the age of just 16

“The organisers will be hoping to unearth more sporting superstars at this year’s event,” said the council spokesperson.

The entry this year will feature several former men’s champions as well as Doncaster-born Beau Greaves, a two-time ladies’ world champion and former British Open champion.

PA Wire Profile shot of Beau Greaves throwing a dart. She is wearing a short-sleeved, black sports shirt patterned with white spots on the sidesPA Wire

Beau Greaves – nicknamed Beau ‘n’ Arrow – has won back-to-back world championship titles

The British Open is part of the World Darts Federation’s Worldwide Tournament Ranking system, which leads to qualification into their annual Lakeside World Championships, and is one of the last qualifiers in the year for the World Masters.

Councillor Barbara Jefferson, the council’s cabinet member for heritage and coastal, said: “I am delighted that this fantastic event is returning to Bridlington.

“Some of the best darts players in the country will be taking part and I would encourage darts enthusiasts to come down and watch the world class sporting action.”

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