PREMIER LEAGUE DARTS

McCoy's Premier League Darts will return to The O2 on Thursday April 18 2013 as part of the event's three-month tour of the UK & Ireland.

The world's leading eight players - led by reigning McCoy's Premier League Darts champion Phil Taylor and current World Champion Adrian Lewis - will compete in the tournament, which is screened live on Sky Sports across 15 successive Thursday nights.

The 14-week league season, which sees players face each other twice, will begin on Thursday February 7 in Belfast, with The O2 welcoming the stars back across the Irish Sea on April 18 for the 11th league night.

This year’s debut for the tournament in Dublin saw over 9,000 fans pack the venue as they saw superb wins for World Champion Adrian Lewis, Dutch favourite Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor, who went on to claim the title for a sixth time in May by defeating Simon Whitlock in the final.

"The McCoy's Premier League Darts was the best-ever in 2012 and we're already looking forward with excitement to next year's tournament," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"Not only did we celebrate two nine-dart finishes during the course of the event, but the players who achieved that feat, Phil Taylor and Simon Whitlock, went on to contest a brilliant final in London.

"The race for Play-Off places also went right to the final night with seven of the eight players still in contention, which shows how keenly fought this prestigious title is.

"The McCoy's Premier League Darts continues to get better and better each year, and next year's event promises to be a memorable tournament.

“All of the players commented on how special the atmosphere was at The O2 in Dublin last year, and I’m sure that Irish darts fans will again pack this superb venue next April.”

The McCoy's Premier League Darts will feature the top four players from the PDC Order of Merit at the start of January following the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship, along with four Wildcard selections.

Grafton Capital Hotel near the 02 Arena Dublin