Delight for Guyana as Madhoo and Fitzgerald book a return to the World Cup of Darts

Norman Madhoo and Sudesh Fitzgerald did what they vowed to do immediately after falling in the group stage of the 2023 MyDieselClaim World Cup of Darts: give themselves another shot on the big stage. The pair won through the Latin America and Caribbean qualifier staged by Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean (CDLC) in San Jose, Costa Rica over the weekend and will make a return to Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle this June.

Madhoo, who made his fourth appearance at the World Championship last December, will once again be the standard-bearer for the Guyanese in the 40-team World Cup and both he and Fitzgerald (also a World Championship participant in 2009) relish the opportunity to    build on last year’s foundation.

The qualifier was open to nations across Central and South America as well as the Caribbean and featured 12 teams, each of whom came through a qualifying process in their home countries to secure their spot.

The Guyanese were once again dominant in the round-robin stage, dropping only two legs en route to claiming the top spot in Group B before whitewashing the Panamanian team of Andres Vega and Antonio Arango to advance to the semifinals. There, they took advantage of inconsistent scoring from the Costa Rican pair of Jason Calderon and Denis Valerin, also dispatching them in straight legs without reply – surely a disappointment for Calderon who was part of the Costa Rican side that came within one dart of eliminating Madhoo and Fitzgerald in the semifinals in 2023.

In the final, Team Guyana faced a known quantity in the Nicaraguan pair of Norwin Jimenez and Gerald Ordenana, the teams having advanced from the same Round Robin group. Once again the Guyanese punished missed doubles, cruising to a 4-1 victory and booking their return to Germany for a second straight year.

The 2024 CDLC Tour opens with a doubleheader weekend in Montego Bay, Jamaica from July 20-21 and concludes once again with events in Santiago, Chile on October 12-13. At the conclusion of the Tour, the top player over the course of the four events will secure a spot in the 2025 World Darts Championship beginning in December at the Alexandra Palace. More information is available via email at CDLCinfo@champdarts.com.

Littler to headline 2024 US Darts Masters line-up in New York

Luke Littler will make his bet365 US Darts Masters debut at Madison Square Garden later this year, with the eight PDC representatives now confirmed for the World Series of Darts event in New York.

Teenage trailblazer Littler has created global headlines over recent months, reaching the World Championship final before landing a nine-darter on his way to celebrating Bahrain Darts Masters glory on his World Series debut in January.

The 17-year-old sensation will now set his sights on a second World Series of Darts crown when the sport’s biggest names take on eight North American representatives in The Theater at Madison Square Garden on May 31 & June 1.

2024 World Champion Luke Humphries, the world number one, and reigning champion Michael van Gerwen will headline the star-studded 16-player field, alongside former US Darts Masters winners Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall.

Three other former World Champions – Peter Wright, Gerwyn Price and Rob Cross – will also return to ‘The Big Apple’, as the PDC visits New York for a third consecutive year.

 

PDC Tour Card Holders Matt Campbell, Jules van Dongen and Danny Lauby will head up the eight North American competitors, with Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finalist Stowe Buntz assured of qualification following his 2023 CDC Continental Cup triumph.

The 2024 CDC Cross-Border Challenge winner will also earn a place in the field following April’s event in Michigan City, Indiana, along with a further three players from the CDC Qualifiers, which are set to take place from May 17-19.

Alongside the US Darts Masters, the bet365 North American Championship will also be staged on Saturday June 1, as the eight North American competitors go head-to-head for that title and a spot in the 2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS FOR THE 2024 US DARTS MASTERS
(Click the unlock button at the seat selection screen and use code CDC33 for 33% off. Not valid on table seating or two-day passes.)

2024 bet365 US Darts Masters & North American Championship
May 31-June 1, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York

Session Schedule
Friday May 31 (1900 local time)
bet365 US Darts Masters first round

Saturday June 1
Afternoon Session (1300 local time)
bet365 North American Championship quarter-finals, semi-finals & final

Evening Session (1900 local time)
bet365 US Darts Masters quarter-finals, semi-finals & final

2024 bet365 US Darts Masters field
PDC Representatives
Luke Humphries
Michael van Gerwen
Michael Smith
Nathan Aspinall
Gerwyn Price
Rob Cross
Peter Wright
Luke Littler

North American Representatives
Matt Campbell
Jules van Dongen
Danny Lauby
Stowe Buntz
2024 CDC Cross-Border Challenge Winner
3x CDC Qualifiers

Article by Josh Gorton/PDC

Top Darts Stars Converge on Michigan City for the Second Annual Cross Border Darts Challenge

HEADLINE EVENT IN NEW VENUE REIGNITES RIVALRY BETWEEN US AND CANADA, AIMS TO ATTRACT DIE-HARD SUPPORTERS AND CASUAL FANS ALIKE

TICKETS ON SALE AT TICKETSOURCE.US/CHAMPDARTS

MICHGAN CITY, INDIANA – Uptown Social, Michigan City’s premier historic entertainment venue, will play host to the best darts players on the continent for the second annual Cross-Border Darts Challenge, presented by Championship Darts Corporation, April 12 and 13, 2024. Eight Americans and eight Canadians will take the stage to compete for national glory, a minimum of $12,000 in prize money, and a berth in the largest darts event in North America – the US Darts Masters –taking place in New York City May 31 – June 1.

This invitational event kicks-off the tenth year of the Championship Darts Circuit – North America’s professional darts tour – and will provide darts enthusiasts and new fans alike the opportunity to experience the energy and passion that makes darts truly “the biggest party in sports!

VIP ticketholders will have exclusive access to a Friday afternoon pre-tournament reception to meet players like three-time World Champion, John “Darth Maple” Part, World Grand Slam Quarterfinalist, Stowe “The Neon Nightmare” Buntz, and World Seniors Darts Masters Champion, “Excalibur” David Cameron.

“We’re excited to work with Uptown Social and the City of Michigan City to bring this headline event to a fantastic new home,” said Peter Citera, CEO of Championship Darts Corporation, “the rich history and intimate nature of Uptown Social is the ideal backdrop to showcase our players and the top darts competition North America has to offer.”

Friday evening will feature eight first-round “USA vs. Canada” clashes with the winners advancing. The action will resume on Saturday with the quarterfinals and conclude with the crowning of an individual champion and the awarding of The Nations Cup to the country with the most match wins in the tournament.

“Being chosen to host the second annual Cross-Border Darts Challenge is a true honor,” said Jeremy Rossi, COO of Uptown Social, “the upcoming tournament promises to showcase our premier venue and our wonderful city, propelling it into the spotlight it rightfully deserves.”

Terry Greetham, Director of Special Events for the City of Michigan City adds, “Michigan City is proud to play host to the Cross-Border Darts Challenge and the Championship Darts Corporation. Uptown Social is the perfect venue to launch what we believe will be a long-standing event in our community.”

Uptown Social will also be featured as the home of the World Championship in the upcoming feature film, Bulls, directed by Dan Meyer with filming set to begin at the venue immediately following the conclusion of the Cross Border Darts Challenge.

Tickets for the Cross-Border Darts Challenge start at $22.50 plus applicable fees and are onsale to the general public at ticketsource.us/champdarts.

About Championship Darts Corporation:
Championship Darts Corporation (CDC) owns and operates the Championship Darts Circuit, North America’s professional darts tour, consisting of 14 regular season tournaments leading into The Continental Cup Tour Finals Championship. We are the official North American affiliate of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) – the global head of professional darts, which stages events across the world with over $17 million in prize money. CDC provides the exclusive path to the World Darts Championship, World Series of Darts, World Cup of Darts and other major international events for US and Canadian players. The company also focuses on the next generation of players, running two youth tours to provide exclusive opportunities to play internationally via our affiliation with both the PDC and Junior Darts Corporation (JDC). Further information is available at www.champdarts.com. 

About Uptown Social:
Uptown Social provides a unique blend of historical luxury and contemporary comfort, offering a versatile space where individuals can gather, socialize, and tailor their experience. Guests have the opportunity to explore various areas such as the lounge, event space, covered patio, and iconic courtyard. Within these spaces, patrons can savor signature cocktails, book the venue for private events or weddings, and partake in live concerts or other special events.

About Bulls

Set in the beautiful and picturesque Uptown Arts District in Michigan City, IN, “Bulls” tells the hilarious and inspiring story of how two brothers, who own a struggling bar and play on their mediocre pub dart team, end up with a chance to play for the World Darts Championship. Hank and Austin are certain that they have no chance against the best Darts Team in the world, but with the help and support of family, friends and their community, they not only start to believe in themselves, but that they may have a chance to win.

Championship Darts Corporation Partners with ALT Sports Data as Exclusive Sports Betting Data Provider

Chicago, IL, January 22, 2024– Championship Darts Corporation (CDC), North America’s premier darts organization and official Global Affiliate of the Professional Darts Corporation, is thrilled to announce a partnership with ALT Sports Data, the leading provider of sports betting data and analytics solutions within the emerging sports universe. The agreement will see ALT Sports Data become the global exclusive distributor of wagering data for all events run by CDC.

2024 marks the 10th anniversary season of the Championship Darts Circuit – the continent’s only professional darts tour – and this partnership adds a new dimension to an already-significant moment in darts history. ALT Sports Data will leverage its deep expertise to provide comprehensive pre-match and in-game wagering data to sports-betting operators, enabling them to offer best-in-class experiences to darts fans. Further, CDC will become the first North American-based darts organization to offer live wagering on its events, creating opportunities for the company to both deepen ties with existing supporters as well as connect with new audiences to grow its global fan-base.

“This partnership will transform the way fans interact with the CDC Tour. We know they love the statistics and scoring data they already consume. ALT Sports Data will enhance that by providing another avenue for folks to immerse themselves in our product and fulfill the longtime demand to introduce betting on North American darts. The fact that we’re launching at a time when interest in darts and sports betting in general are at an all-time high is icing on the cake.”

  • Peter Citera, CEO, Championship Darts Corporation

CDC will provide access to its live scoring data via DartConnect, the official scoring app of the Championship Darts Corporation. A newly-built interface between DartConnect and ALT Sports will ensure that data is passed virtually in real-time, preserving the highest level of wagering integrity demanded by betting operators worldwide.

“Acknowledging the global appeal of competitive darts and the significant appeal by sports bettors, we are excited to partner with the premier North American professional darts organization. We look forward to providing a compelling and high-quality product to sportsbook operators through this partnership.”

  • Todd Ballard, Co-Founder and CMO, ALT Sports Data

Fans can look for the initial data framework to be in place in time for the Cross Border Darts Challenge event held in Michigan City, Indiana on April 12-13, with the entirety of the project completed ahead of the second Tour weekend in July.

Berth in Final Stage at PDC Q-School to be Awarded to CDC Tour Points Champion

The Professional Darts Corporation has published revised Order of Merit Rules for 2024 and Championship Darts Corporation is delighted to announce that this year’s CDC Tour Points Champion will receive an automatic berth in the Final Stage at 2025 PDC Q-School! Our representative will join those from the other PDC Global Affiliate Tours (PDC Nordic and Baltic, PDC Asia, Dartplayers Australia and Dartplayers New Zealand) in attempting to secure a two-year spot on the PDC Pro Tour.

Players from the Global Affiliate Tour network (other than those from PDC Nordic and Baltic) will be able to choose whether to attend the UK or European Q-School, but must still register via the PDC entry system. Should the Tour Points Champion decline the invitation, it will pass to the runner-up.

The 2024 CDC Main Tour kicks off in Indianapolis the weekend of May 17-19.