Martin Adams leads celebrations as Mirror is unveiled as headline sponsor of BDO World Trophy
The three-time champion is expected to lead the cast of big names competing for the £115,000 prize fund at the famous 115-year-old Blackpool Tower ballroom
Martin Adams led the celebrations as the Daily Mirror was unveiled as headline sponsor of the BDO World Trophy at the Blackpool Tower ballroom.
Three-time champion ‘Wolfie’ , who continues his bid for a fourth world title in the second round against Ross Montgomery at the Lakeside, Scott Waites and Tony O’Shea are expected to lead the cast of big names competing for the £115,000 prize fund.
Darts is in safe hands with the Mirror.
We sponsored the Grand Slam of Darts at Wolverhampton in 2010, the Daily Mirror stand at Alexandra Palace, and we give unrivalled coverage to the fastest-growing sport in Britain.
And the 115-year-old ballroom, famous for the original Wurlitzer organ, long-running TV series Come Dancing and, more recently, Roy and Hayley Cropper’s romantic pas de deux on Coronation Street, will be an evocative setting to inspire the BDO elite.
Adams said: "For the players, it is not only a treat for us to play at an iconic venue like the Blackpool Tower ballroom, but with the Mirror’s backing it will raise the tournament’s profile to a new level.
"It’s great for the sport, great for the BDO and great for the public – just don’t ask me to perform any fandango or foxtrot because I’ve got two left feet!”
Staged from February 4-9 beneath the world-famous Blackpool Tower, the World Trophy is a genuine open competition for professional and amateur players alike.
From pub team regulars to the world’s top-ranked players, anyone can enter (subject to BDO eligibility rules), and the event will include the newly-crowned 2014 Lakeside world champion and, hopefully, a big-name wild card set to be announced next week.
O’Shea, a three-time Lakeside finalist, said: "Blackpool crowds are renowned for being fair and knowledgeable, and the World Trophy will have that special atmosphere of a big tournament.
"I know having the Daily Mirror as a media partner will only help it grow.
"I’ve played at the Grand Slam of Darts when the Mirror sponsored it, and the atmosphere brought out the best in me.
"This is a competition all the top players will want to win.”
