Новости Unicorn

The Unicorn Global member was suspended from playing, after failing a drugs test at the UK Open in Bolton in June. The PDC has been informed by the Darts Regulation Authority that he is now free to resume playing. The DRA is due to make a statement on the matter later this week.

The Liverpudlian will join 172 other hopefuls at the PDPA qualifiers, desperate to claim one of the 16 lucrative spots up for grabs at the next month’s Ladbrokes.com World Championships. His first match is against American Isen Veljic. The seed on his board is former World Champion Keith Deller.

And talking of former World Champions……Team Unicorn legend John Lowe is hoping to roll back the years to claim his place back at the Circus Tavern.

Lowe has been practicing hard and will certainly be one of the crowd favourites to make the 16 in Birmingham at the weekend.

‘Old Stoneface’ who of course has won the World Championship three times in three different decades, will certainly fancy his chances. His opening match is against Dennis McCarthy and the seed on his board is Belgian Erik Clarys, who is due to make a brave comeback at Villa Park.

Clarys has undergone seven operations on the right elbow that he shattered, when he fell from a ladder six months ago, putting his darts career in serious jeopardy.

Unicorn Global star Ray Carver is over from the USA, as he tries to book a return ticket to the Circus Tavern. The left-hander has been drawn against AJ Urmston and would then have to get past Irishman John Magowan on his board.

Michael Barnard will be aiming to reach the World Championships for the first time after several near misses. He will face either Pat Koyce or Garry Spedding. Steve Hine, who reached the Circus Tavern last year, will be Barnard’s biggest threat on his board.

Unicorn new boy Kirk Shepherd faces arguably the toughest test of all on board one. He will face Brian Whybrow but down the line could take on Dennis Smith, Eric Bristow, Alan Reynolds or Alan Green.

The 16 qualifiers from Saturday will be guaranteed at least £3,500 for reaching the World Championships in Purfleet.
The 16 seeds are – Dennis Smith, Colin Osborne, Mick McGowan, Steve Hine, Erik Clarys, Gary Welding, Alan Caves, Jimmy Mann, Jamie Harvey, Keith Deller, Andy Callaby, Adrian Gray, John Magowan, Darren Webster, Jason Clark and Alan Tabern.

Five-times World Champion Eric Bristow will be attempting to qualify, along with the likes of Richie Burnett, Rod Harrington and Peter Evison.

There will be some consolation for the beaten finalists on the day, who will all collect £1,000.

There will be first news of the qualifiers from Villa Park, right here on the Unicorn website at the weekend.

BY STUART PYKE