This year is the 30th year of a BDO/BBC partnership stretching back to 1978 and is possibly the most eagerly anticipated tournament for some years. Over 9 days of top tungsten, 32 men and 8 ladies from 8 countries will do battle for the top honours in BDO darts. The draw has thrown up some enthralling matches and we have the two youngest ever world champions taking part.
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At 22, Jelle Klaasen is the defending champion and the youngest ever world title holder after his defeat of PDC defector Raymond van Barneveld last year. Just as he did in 2006 he comes into this unseeded and tackles countryman Co Stompe first up. Michael van Gerwen is just 17 and as reigning Winmau World Masters champion comes into this as the world number 3, youngest ever world title holder, youngest ever Lakeside competitor and youngest ever favourite (9-4). He takes on England’s Gary Robson in round one and will be hot favourite. Other first round highlights include No.1 seed Martin Adams against Tony O’Shea, No.4 seed Tony Eccles against 23-year-old Mark Webster and 2004 champion Andy ‘The Viking’ Fordham against Aussie Simon Whitlock.
The 2006 final saw 4.2 million BBC2 viewers and 5 million SBS6 viewers (1 in 3 of the Dutch population!) and this year an estimated 100 million viewers from 70 countries are expected to follow the coverage on BBC Worldwide, SBS6, Eurosport. BBCi will show every dart thrown live and there will be extensive coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Innovations for 2007 include a brand new stage set with on-stage markers replaced by plasma screens. Only a caller/referee will accompany the players on stage with a second off-stage referee being used for the first time. There is also a new, longer player walk on to add to the razzmatazz and stoke up the unique atmosphere. In addition to these first time features there are several players making their debut this year. Seven men (van Gerwen, Mario Robbe, Goran Klemme, Paul Gibbs, Mark Webster, Gary Fenn and Phil Nixon) along with four ladies (Anastasia Dobromyslova, Carla Molema, Apylee Jones and Carol Forwood) will all be hoping to repeat Klaasen’s feat of a debut win.
18 year old Carla Molema will join van Gerwen in the record books as being the youngest ever lady to compete at the Lakeside. She’s drawn top seed Trina Gulliver in round one who will be going for her 7th straight title. She has never been beaten in the competition’
The scene is set so let the fun begin.
Published in association with www.DartsMad.com.
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