Betfred.com League Of Legends

Excitement is building among the eight protagonists as the clock ticks down to the opening night of the Betfred.com League of Legends darts tournament at Purfleet’s Circus Tavern on May 30.

The most illustrious names of the sport’s 1980s golden era return to the big time this summer in an eagerly-awaited new competition to be broadcast live by Setanta Sports on eight Friday nights, climaxing with the August 22 finale.

Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Bob Anderson and Cliff Lazarenko launched the event this week at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, along with Betfred chairman Fred Done - and they cannot wait to relive their battles of yesteryear.

"We’ve all been talking about it for months and now even just thinking about it gets the adrenalin going," said Bristow, a five-time former world champion nicknamed The Crafty Cockney, at the launch. "It’s only three weeks away now and we are all getting ready and preparing in our own way.

"This is a great thing for the future of darts because it’s an independent event featuring eight people that had retired but who still want to go up there and beat each other on stage. That’s the way it should be and the way it has been for the last 30 years. It opens the door for great players to remain competitive at the game they love.

"It will be a fun night out for all the fans. The older generation who watched us in the eighties will be sitting in the audience and the memories are sure to come flooding back. And they will bring their families along to join in the fun.

"We will be doing the walk-ons to our chosen music, we have some great venues and a superb stage set – everything is in place for a terrific event and it’s just up to us to play the darts."

Bobby George, Keith Deller, Dave Whitcombe and Peter Evison are the other players involved, with the eight all facing each other once over the first seven weeks before the top four in the table at the end of the round-robin stage contest the semi-finals.

The Betfred.com League of Legends will also visit Blackburn, Birmingham, Batley, Bridlington, Reading and Stoke-on-Trent, with the semi-finals and final taking place at the Circus Tavern on August 22.

Bob Anderson, who has quit the main tour specifically to join the Betfred.com League of Legends, believes the competition is a major step forward for darts.

"This is the most exciting prospect I’ve had for years, even though I played in the PDC World Championship as recently as last December," said The Limestone Cowboy. "It’s a whole new venture and a chance to lock horns with a lot of old adversaries.

"I think we will have tremendous crowds, both young and old. The older folks will want to come back and see us all again and meet old friends and as for the youngsters…let’s show them what we can do."

 Betfred.com League of Legends schedule (all matches to be screened live on Setanta Sports)

May 30 – Circus Tavern, Purfleet, Essex

June 20 – King George Hall, Blackburn

June 27 – Hilton Metropole Hotel, Birmingham

July 18 – Batley Frontier Variety Club, West Yorkshire

August 1 – Rivermead Leisure Complex, Reading

August 8 – The Spa, Bridlington

August 15 – Town Hall, Stoke-on-Trent

August 22 – Circus Tavern, Purfleet, Essex (semi-finals and final)

For further information on the Betfred.com League of Legends and how to purchase tickets for the events, please visit www.leagueoflegends.tv

If you require an image of any of the participants in the Betfred.com League of Legends, or would like to arrange an interview, please contact:

Jon Wilde at Betfred on 01925 288598 / 07794 395356

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BETFRED Company Facts

For more information contact:

Jon Wilde

T: 01925 288598 or 07794 395356 E: