Plymouth's top talents all set for Champions event

A TOTAL of 85 of Plymouth’s top darting talent are raring to go for the 39th edition of the marathon that is the Champion of Champions, which begins in earnest on Sunday.

- JAMES COOK

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2024

The annual charity competition is raising money for Woodside Animal Welfare Trust who provide sanctuary for all kinds of abandoned domestic animals, including cats and dogs.

The total raised before a dart has been thrown through entry fees and donations stands at £851.87 and will be added to between now and the grand Final, which will take place at the Victory Inn on Sunday, December 10.

Simon Stevenson, who won the competition for a record breaking sixth time in 2023, will begin his defence and bid to extend his legacy at the Indian Inn.

Fred Goldsmith, who made it to the prestigious final’s night along with Stevenson last time out, will be a banana skin that Stevenson will look to avoid.

Quinton Taylor, who made the semis in 2022, Could also prove a good test of Stevenson’s early credentials if drawn against each other in the preliminary round.

At the Fawn, three-time winner John Mann bids to regain the title that Stevenson wrestled from him alongside Cornwall county teammate Lee Hellings, who will be amongst the favourites for the crown.

Should he make it that far, Paul Palmer will be looking to end his final’s night hoodoo after reaching multiple quarter and semi-finals with his first outing coming at Legends Lounge amongst some tricky opponents.

Waiting for the 21 triumphant marksmen from this stage will be 43 players that received a bye, including 2018 Champion Neil White.

Another fascinating story will be the comeback of Bruce Harrison who was the 21st century’s first winner back in 2000, but that will also have to wait until the last 64 stage.

An open draw will be done at each of the two venues at 7pm sharp with the winners, and luckily recipients of safe passage already, returning on November 24 to be whittled down from 64 to 16.