UNICORN SEARCH FOR NEXT GENERATION ALONGSIDE NEW PDC CONTRACT
UNICORN DARTS are to give the next generation of darts stars to opportunity to compete on the Professional Darts Corporation's circuit following the completion of a new, five-year contract to remain as official dartboard suppliers.
Unicorn Darts' current partnership with the PDC stretches back almost 20 years and will now extend into the next decade as a result of the new deal, which will see Unicorn dartboards continue to be used in all PDC competitions.
The new contract will see Unicorn continue to sponsor the PDC's second-tier Challenge Tour, the Development Tour for players aged 16-23 and the World Youth Championship, which sees the early rounds played from the last 64 down to the semi-finals before the final is held live on TV.
Unicorn's commitment to developing the stars of the future will also see them launch their search for the next generation of talent by sponsoring three players to enter the 2017 PDC Qualifying School and support them on the circuit next year.
Full details of Unicorn's "Next Generation" player search will be announced later in 2016, but the scheme will be open to players aged 16-23 in January next year.
"Unicorn Darts have been tremendous supporters of darts throughout their company's existence and of the PDC for two decades, and this new contract extends one of sport's strongest partnerships," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
"Unicorn have fully backed our introduction of the World Youth Championship, Development Tour and Challenge Tour in recent years and their new search to find the next generation of stars reaffirms their commitment.
"In addition, Unicorn are also introducing the ground-breaking new Eclipse HD2 dartboard, which both breaks with tradition and takes the evolution of their product to a new level. We're delighted to continue working alongside Unicorn."
Unicorn Darts Managing Director Edward Lowy said: "We're absolutely delighted to be retained as the official supplier of dartboards to the PDC.
"We take it as a pat on the back, and we have been keen believers in the PDC since day one, and I'm delighted that we're still there now. We're very proud of the heritage, but we're really looking forward to what's going to happen in the next five years.
"We've always been very keen investors in the future of our sport, we've always been about giving people opportunity, and now going forward we're looking to launch a Unicorn investment to help younger players to get on the tour.
"We're delighted to continue to cement our relationship with the PDC."
Alongside their partnership with the PDC, Unicorn also sponsor a wide range of players, from World Champion Gary Anderson, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld through to emerging prospects including Keegan Brown, Dirk van Duijvenbode, Chris Dobey and Adam Hunt.
Unicorn also produce a wide range of darts, darts equipment, clothing and accessories, which can be seen at www.unicorn-darts.com.
Click below for video interview with Unicorn Darts Managing Director Edward Lowy