With January almost out of the way already the new DPA season is about to fire up as players from around Australia throw to become the DPA number one and head to the stage of the Ally Pally so brilliantly graced by Team Misfit’s Raymond Smith this year. Winmau dart products are on board once again this year, with players using their brand new Blade 6 boards throughout the year for these events. This year Pirate Life is also onboard as a sponsor throughout the whole season.
Due to border restrictions during the planning phase, and uncertainty still moving forward, this year’s series is being played across a variety of venues once a month for five months. Events will be played in venues in South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. Each weekend will see separate events played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, making the season a 15 event one in total.
Event Two, that is the Saturday event of weekend one (February 13), will see the Russell Stewart Classic be contested once again. Previous winners include former world championship representatives like David Platt, Shane Tichowitsch, Gordon Mathers, Simon Whitlock and Damon Heta, who defeated Steve Fitzpatrick 6-1 in the last final of the event held prior to the pandemic in 2019. That is extra motivation for players to be involved and aim to take away this prestigious title, dedicated to one of the legends of darts in Australia.
No venue, unlike last season, will be determining their own winner for any of the events. Each venue will instead play to a certain amount of players and those players will then go into a final 32 draw. The draw will see those left play off against anyone from any of the five venues. From this round of 32 onwards Darts stream live will also be broadcasting to keep others up to date with what is occurring and the DPA have entered into an agreement to see some of these knock out matches become part of PDC TV.
The DPA is looking forward to hosting some excellent matches again this year as well as encouraging the next tier to come along and be involved to help raise more into the top echelon of player in Australia, as anyone who has a tour card can play all the events. Last season players were involved and enjoyed going deeper in local events. They still have the opportunity to do this locally, whilst the top players also have the chance to play others of the highest quality to refine their match craft in the round of 32 and onwards.
Rob Denny, CEO of Dartplayers Australia, says of the upcoming events: “I am looking forward to having a national competition once again and having the best play against the best.”
“Every player has a chance of progressing through to the top 32 and you never know from there.”
“It will be good to see the standard improve again as the top players play off against each other at the end of every event throughout the year.”
After two interrupted seasons it is hoped things can start heading back in the right direction this year. Keep tabs of the Dartplayers Australia website and facebook page for updates on the series to stay in touch with any news.
Event one to three will be played on the weekend of 12th – 14th February at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club NSW, Australian Italian Club Morwell Victoria, Surfers Paradise Golf Club Queensland, Northern District Darts Association Elizabeth North South Australia, and the Port Kennedy Tavern Western Australia
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