Blue Square announces 3 year sponsorship of the UK Open Darts Championships

Blue Square, one of the largest online UK bookmakers, was today unveiled as the headline sponsor of the UK Open Darts Championships, known as the 'FA Cup of Darts', for the next three years.

To celebrate, Blue Square is offering exclusive prices on the 2007 tournament including odds on an event that could deliver a piece of darts history - 100/1 on any two darts players producing a double nine dart finish at the Blue Square UK Open Darts Championship.

Never before have two opponents both produced the 'ultimate checkout' in a Championship. The spotlight will be on the Blue Square UK Open in Bolton this June (7th - 10th) to see if this feat is possible.

Phil 'The Power' Taylor is the only player to have produced three televised nine dart finishes whilst Barney chalked up his most recent one on 23rd March 2006.

A Phil versus Barney final may seem like a safe bet as the tournament builds to its conclusion. However, the unique format of the UK Open means that 32 ordinary players will battle through from a series of amateur qualifiers, held in 9,000 Punch Taverns pubs across the UK, to the televised finals in Bolton, for the chance to go head to head with the pros - a dream come true for every pub darts player.

Richard Bloch of Blue Square comments:

"We are proud to be sponsoring the UK Open Darts Championships and helping to promote darts in this country at all levels. Nothing would be a better advert for the game than to see Phil and Barney pull off the nine dart double."

PDC Chief Executive Tim Darby said:

"We are delighted to welcome both Blue Square and Punch Taverns as sponsors of the UK Open.

"This event has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting in the sport, with top amateur players getting the chance to rub shoulders with the biggest stars in the game.

"We have already seen some superb Regional Finals as players battle for places in the televised finals, which I'm sure will provide an exciting weekend of top-class darts."

If nail-biting finishes are not your thing; Blue Square also offers more ways to take a punt on darts than any other site, including:

1/4 odds a place 1,2,3,4:

If you have an each-way bet on the 2007 UK Open Darts with Blue Square before the Bolton televised finals (starts 7th June) and your selection reaches the semi-finals, you are guaranteed a return!

Money Back Offer:

As well as enhanced each way-terms, Blue Square are offering money back for a nine dart finish (as managed by Phil Taylor in the UK Open in both 2004 and 2005).

If any player manages a nine dart check-out at any stage of the Blue Square UK Open Darts finals at the Reebok Stadium (7th-10th June), Blue Square will refund all losing outright bets placed before the finals begin.