"FLEETY" OFF TO LAKESIDE

It's Official. Anthony Fleet, the big man from Canberra and new World Cup Pairs Champion is heading back to the UK just after Christmas to participate in the biggest darts tournament in the world - Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships.

Fleety new that he would be pretty close to qualifying to play at Lakeside after the final points from the last event played were added to the BDO Invitation Points Tables over the weekend. A few well informed people at the World Cup recently advised him to keep his suitcase packed in case he qualified and they were right.

"I basically found out early this morning as I went in and had a look this morning at the latest BDO Invitation Tables on the Internet" said Fleet.

"When I saw I was inside the top 32 players I felt extremely happy and really proud that I will be following in the steps of other great Australian darts players to play at Lakeside like Tony David, Russell Stewart and Simon Whitlock."

"This means a great deal to me. It has been a long journey and hopefully if I do well, it will open up a few more doors for me. It's a fantastic opportunity for me that hopefully will enable me to realistically increase my chances at gaining some sponsorship that will assist me in advancing my game even further. I know one thing; I will be working my backside off on the practice board leading up to Lakeside. I don't want to be made to look like a fool on that stage."

"First things first though. Heading off to Geelong Friday for the Australian Masters Weekend."

Thousands of players from over thirty countries around the globe have competed to reach the BBC televised stages of the 2010 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships. The 33rd BDO World Professional Darts Championships (1978-2010) maintain their proud history and tradition with a 2010 Lakeside line-up that includes World Champions, top ranked BDO and WDF players (men and women) and eleven players who will be making their debuts on the most famous stage in World Darts.

ELEVEN NEW FACES AND NINE COUNTRIES FOR 2010 LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2ND to SUNDAY, 10th JANUARY 2010

Players from thirty-two countries around the globe have competed to reach the BBC televised finals of the 2010 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships - with representation from nine countries, and eleven players making their Lakeside debuts.

The 32 players who have qualified for invitation into the First Round Proper of the Men's Singles are:

Seeds:
No.1 Tony O'Shea England
No.2 Scott Waites England
No.3 Martin Adams England
No.4 Darryl Fitton England
No.5 Ted Hankey England
No.6 Ross Montgomery Scotland
No.7 Dave Prins England *
No.8 Alan Norris Sweden
No.9 Joey ten Berge Netherlands
No.10 Martin Atkins England
No.11 Steve West England
No.12 John Walton England
No.13 Mark Barilli Scotland
No.14 Scott Mitchell England *
No.15 John Henderson Scotland
No.16 Ian White England *

Qualifiers:
Willy van de Wiel Netherlands
Stephen Bunting England
Brian Woods England
Mareno Michells Netherlands
Robert Wagner Norway
Daryl Gurney N.Ireland
Gary Robson England
Martin Phillips Wales
Paul Hanvidge Scotland
Dave Chisnall England
Garry Thompson England
Martin Mccloskey Rep Of Ireland *
Robbie Green England *
Tony West England
Paul Carter England *
Anthony Fleet Australia *

* Denotes debutants

The 8 Women Players qualified for invitation are:

Seeds:
No.1 Julie Gore Wales
No.2 Trina Gulliver England
No.3 Irina Armstrong Russia *
No.4 Karen Lawman England

Qualifiers:
Francis Hoenselaar Netherlands
Linda Ithurralde England *
Deta Hedman England *
Rhian Edwards Wales *

* Denotes debutants

Bob Potter and Barbara Leitch at Lakeside Country Club will make the official Draw for the 2010 LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS on Thursday, October 22nd at 11am.