Wolverine Darts Association and Metro East Darts Association to Host Michigan State ’01 Darts Championships

The Wolverine Darts Association and Metro East Darts Association leagues announce Michigan’s biggest ’01 format tournament of the year, the Michigan State ’01 Championships, January 19-21, 2007 at a metro Detroit location to be named in the coming weeks. Some of Michigan’s top professional and amateur dart competitors are expected to be among the dozens of players, including several ADO (American Darts Organization) ranked professionals.

(PRWEB) September 3, 2006 -- The Wolverine Darts Association and Metro East Darts Association leagues announce Michigan’s biggest ’01 format tournament of the year, the Michigan State ’01 Championships, January 19-21, 2007 at a metro Detroit location to be named in the coming weeks. Some of Michigan’s top professional and amateur dart competitors are expected to be among the dozens of players, including several ADO (American Darts Organization) ranked professionals.

“(The World Series of Darts) is a massive breakthrough for darts in America and I'm sure it will be bigger next year”, states Phil Taylor, 13 time and current reigning World Champion. "The game is going worldwide at the moment and the opportunities are massive. There's a lot of talent in America and I can only urge players over in the United States to get their darts out and start practicing for next year!"

Players in this year’s tournament will be competing for more than $7500.00 in cash and prizes, and Tournament Director Tony Bradford, expects a full field of competitors again this year. “Last year, we recognized over a 40% increase in players for our events, and we are hoping for the same growth this year.” “The explosive growth of this game is incredible,” said Patrick Kovack, president of the Wolverine Darts Association. “We hosted only 20 players five years ago, and every year since then the number of players has increased dramatically. We may eventually have to limit the field to ensure a timely finish.”

The game’s popularity growth has also been evident in every day use of the dartboards at the area’s bars and taverns, which cater to an estimated average of 1000 players per day, some league players and others which just play for fun.

The tournament format includes three days of events, open to both professional and amateur players from the state of Michigan, including singles, doubles, and triples events, with men’s, women’s, and mixed brackets. The public is welcome and encouraged to come watch the action. Event entry is free.

Professional or amateur dart shooters who are interested in participating in the 2007 Michigan State ’01 Championships should contact Tony Bradford at (586) 899-8664.

What is competitive darts?

Darts is a very visual game and an excellent human interest story opportunity. The game of darts requires skill, tremendous hand/eye coordination, finesse, and is certainly a thinking person’s game. Dart games such as cricket, 501, and 301 are the most commonly played anywhere in the world, with the ’01 games (501,301, etc) being the most popular in tournament play.

The object of the ’01 games is to be the first team or player to reach zero from a starting score of X01. During his turn, a player throws three darts and subtracts his total from his previous score until he reaches zero.

This game is simple, but it becomes tricky as the players near the zero score. To win, a player not only has to reach zero exactly, but also must obtain it through a "double." For example, if a player has 18 points left, he needs to hit a double 9 (outside ring) in order to win. The closer each player gets to zero, the more exciting and difficult the game becomes.

These games can also be started from point values of 301, 601, 801, 1001 and any other value ending in 01. 301 has an added difficulty: it can be played 'double in, double out'. Each player must hit a double (any double) to start scoring. Each players scoring begins with the score of the first dart that hits a double.

According to the American Darts Organization, over 20 million people play darts in the United States each year. Add this to the growing legions of players around the world, and darts has a following worldwide that would rival most major professional sports, here or abroad.

The game of darts offers many of the same pleasures as other sports: the camaraderie of friends, the challenge and excitement of harnessing personal skill and speed to send an object toward a target, and the mental toughness to make the game winning shot. And perhaps best of all, the game of darts is inexpensive. The only equipment you need is a set of darts, which retail between $5 and $200, and most cities around the world have a dart board somewhere close, generally in a great little pub or tavern, and of course, the board is free for any patron to play on.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, contact Patrick Kovack at (248) 217-1063 or email at pk@pkitechnologies.com

# # #