MORE THAN £100,000 is available to the world class field when the first-ever International Darts League starts next month.
Players competing include stars who appeared at the 2003 World Professional Darts Championships at Lakeside Country Club - such as Hampshire heroes Colin Monk and James Wade.
This new competition will be played in Champions League style, with an opening eight groups, each of four players, competing in round robin style over best-of-11 leg matches.
The two top players in each group then play the best-of-13 leg matches, again in round robin style.
From the best-of-seven-set quarter-finals onwards, the International Darts League will be played in traditional knockout style.
The semi-finals will be best-of-11 sets and the final best-of-15.
All sets will be best-of-five legs.
Former Winmau World Master and Embassy semi-finalist Monk will meet Englishman Tony Eccles, Welshman Ritchie Davies and Finn Jarkko Komula in his group.
Wade has England captain Martin Adams, Dutchman Albertino Essers and Austrian Robert Wagner in his section.
Full draw for the league (to be played at The Hague over May 17-25):
First group matches, May 17: Mervyn King (Eng) v Steve Duke (Australia), Tony West (Eng) v Brian Derbyshire (Eng), Tony Eccles (Eng) v Colin Monk (Eng), Andy Fordham (Eng) v Jan Van der Rassel (Netherlands), John Snijers (Belgium) v Darryl Fitton (Eng), Tony O'Shea (Eng) v Shaun Greatbatch (Eng), Peter Hunt (NZ) v Vincent Van der Voort (Netherlands), Martin Adams (Eng) v Albertino Essers (Netherlands), Robert Wagner (Nor) v James Wade (Eng), Ted Hankey (Eng) v Matt Clark (Eng), Raymond Van Barneveld (Netherlands) v Co Stompe (Netherlands), Jarkko Komula (Fin) v Ritchie Davies (Wales), Tony David (Australia) v Andy Smith (Eng), Gary Robson (Eng) v Erik Clarys (Belgium), Mervyn King (Eng) v Tony West (Eng), Brian Sorensen (Den) v John Walton (Eng), Rick Hofstra (Netherlands) v Bob Taylor (Scot), Andy Fordham (Eng) v John Snijers (Belgium), Jan Van der Rassel (Netherlands) v Darryl Fitton (Eng).
May 18: Steve Duke v Brian Derbyshire, Tony David v Gary Robson, Tony Eccles v Jarkko Komula, Colin Monk v Ritchie Davies, Tony O'Shea v Peter Hunt, Shaun Greatbatch v Vincent Van der Voort, Martin Adams v Robert Wagner, Albertino Essers v James Wade, Andy Smith v Erik Clarys, Ted Hankey v Brian Sorensen, Raymond Van Barneveld v Rick Hofstra, Matt Clark v John Walton, Co Stompe v Bob Taylor, Mervyn King v Brian Derbyshire, Steve Duke v Tony West, Shaun Greatbatch v Peter Hunt, Tony O'Shea v Vincent Van der Voort, Andy Fordham v Darryl Fitton, Jan Van der Rassel v John Snijers.
May 19: Ted Hankey v John Walton, Raymond van Barneveld v Bob Taylor, Martin Adams v James Wade, Albertino Essers v Robert Wagner, Co Stompe v Rick Hofstra, Colin Monk v Jarkko Komula, Tony Eccles v Ritchie Davies, Andy Smith v Gary Robson, Tony David v Erik Clarys, Matt Clark v Brian Sorensen.
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