THE Professional Darts Corporation's World Series of Darts is to visit Melbourne for the first time this year, with the Hisense Arena to stage the Melbourne Darts Masters from August 18-20.
The World Series of Darts, introduced in 2013, sees the sport's biggest names competing in six worldwide tournaments each year ahead of a season-ending World Series of Darts Finals.
The concept's continued growth will see Melbourne stage a World Series of Darts tournament for the first time in August as part of an Oceanic treble-header, televised live on Fox Sports.
The Melbourne Darts Masters will see eight leading PDC players joined by eight Oceanic Representatives, with play on the opening night on Friday August 18 featuring the first round matches.
Saturday's play features the four quarter-finals, with Sunday's decisive Finals Day seeing the semi-finals and final as the inaugural champion is crowned.
"It's hugely exciting for us to be able to take the World Series of Darts to Melbourne," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
"The World Series of Darts has gone from strength to strength in recent years and this year we'll be returning to Las Vegas as well as visiting Dubai, China, New Zealand and Australia.
"Darts in Australia has really grown in recent years, with the established stars Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson now joined on the big stage by Corey Cadby, whose emergence last year and success in winning the World Youth Championship has been a massive boost for the sport.
"Melbourne is a city with incredible sporting heritage and this is a great opportunity for fans in Victoria there to see top-class darts in their own backyard."
The legendary 16-time World Champion Phil "The Power" Taylor was unbeaten as a four-time winner of the Sydney Darts Masters from 2013-2016, and also landed the 'Holy Grail' of a nine-dart finish Down Under two years ago.
Taylor also won the Perth Darts Masters for the first two years before being succeeded as champion in 2016 by Michael van Gerwen, the world number one.
The line-up of competitors for the Melbourne Darts Masters will be confirmed in due course.
Tickets for the Melbourne Darts Masters will go on sale on Monday March 20 at 3pm via Ticketek at www.ticketek.com.au or via 132 849.
2017 Melbourne Darts Masters
Hisense Arena, Melbourne
Friday August 18 (7pm)
8x First Round
Table Tickets $ 97.45
Tiered Tickets $77.10
Saturday August 19 (7pm)
4x Quarter-Finals
Table Tickets $103.55
Tiered Tickets $82.15
Sunday August 20 (7pm)
Semi-Finals
Final
Table Tickets $108.65
Tiered Tickets $87.25
Season Tickets (Table Seat for all sessions) $240.45