P1M purse offered in dartsfest

The biggest darts tournament ever to be held in the country, the Philippine International Darts Open 2008, will take place on Dec. 5-7 at the Trade Hall of the Starmall in Mandaluyong City.

The organizing Darts Council of the Philippines said the tournament sanctioned by the World Darts Federation offers P1million in prize money to the 500 players expected to participate.

While the tournament is open to everyone, top caliber competition is guaranteed with foreign players from Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines vying for the coveted singles title.

It is worth P200,000 (more than $4,000) and with almost four weeks left organizers are getting feelers from the top players from New Zealand, Australia and the United States.

Atty. Andre Arrienta, DCP president, appeared in yesterday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s UN Avenue along with operations director Erol Magtubo and organizer Rey Junia.

“This is the biggest tournament ever to be held in the country. And we are also holding it in honor of Senator Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel. There will be six events to be contested,” said Arrieta.

On tap are classified doubles (with a top prize of P50,000), open doubles (P50,000), four-man team (P80,000), women’s doubles (P15,000), women’s singles (P20,000) and men’s singles (P200,000).

“Aside from the prize money and trophies, world ranking points are also to be awarded. And this has attracted the best players from Asia, and now even those from Europe and the US as well,” Magtubo said in the forum sponsored by Shakey’s, Accel, Brickroad gym and Aspen spa and MedCentral Medical Clinic and Diagnostic Center.

Arrieta said Filipino darters have been lording it over the Asian circuit, and are expected to figure prominently in this tournament. Just recently, they swept tournaments in Korea and Singapore.