Fans help brings darts to city

Top darts promoter Barry Hearn today revealed the passion of the West Midlands fans was the key to Wolverhampton landing the first ever Grand Slam.

The Professional Darts Council chairman praised the atmosphere at Wolverhampton Civic Hall and called it a perfect venue in which to crown 'the champion of champions'.

The PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts, which begins at The Civic on November 17, brings together 32 of the world's best players from all the major darts bodies in search of the £80,000 winner's cheque.

Hearn, who is promotion the event, said: "The Grand Slam is the meeting of the greatest players in the world.

"It puts together champions across all divides, whatever organisation they're with, whatever country they are from.

"It's a competition for anyone who has won or featured in finals, or in the case of the world championship semi-finals, in all major events over the last two years.

"It really is a get-together and a showdown of the greatest players to find a champion of champions.

"We played the Premier League in Wolverhampton and I was so impressed by the fact the crowd seemed to really get behind it.

"They seem to really enjoy their darts around here and it's a great atmospheric venue.

"I love it here with the balcony. It feels like there are 10,000 people in here when there are only 1,500.

"But above all it was the enthusiasm of the people around here that made us bring the Grand Slam here.

"We were looking for the type of venue that would come across on TV as though everyone was having a great time and I think Wolverhampton Civic is the place.

"There are still tickets left but we are expecting capacity crowds and a great event."

Hearn - the Leyton Orient chairman and respected boxing and snooker promoter - has secured live screening on ITV for the Grand Slam.

And he hailed the return to terrestrial television for the game's top players as a major step forward.

"It's a £300,000 prize money event with £80,000 for the winner so it's a big event," he said.

"But bringing ITV on board for darts is a major step as well because we're back on terrestrial TV.

"We have a great relationship with Sky and we do some brilliant events with fantastic ratings.

"But to bring ITV on board puts the cream on the cake.

"They have a history in darts from many years ago but it's a statement of how well we've done and how far the sport has come on that they are interested in us again.

"We're very grateful and we're looking forward to giving them a massive event."