SA darts boosted by international competition

Les Francis has won this year’s Emperors Palace PDC South African Open and earned himself a place in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, which takes place in December at Alexandra Palace in London. Last year, Gauteng-based Francis (53) lost in the semi-finals of the PDC SA Open.

Over the past four years the Emperor’s Palace PDC SA Open, sponsored by Unicorn darts, established itself as a highlight of the SA darts calendar. This year 158 SA darts players participated in the SA Open.

The following evening the four semi-finalists – Christo Meiring, Devon Peterson, Wynand Havenga (the winner in 2006) and Francis - took on Unicorn international champions Phil Taylor, James Wade, John Part and Mervyn King in the Virgin Atlantic South African Masters, which Taylor won for the third successive year.

Local distributors of Unicorn darts, Opal Sports, are closely involved in the Emperors Palace PDC South African Open.