THE groups for the 2010 Championship League Darts have now been confirmed, ahead of the tournament's start next month.
Over £200,000 in prize money is on offer in the tournament, which is streamed exclusively on the internet and played across nine days from Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex.
Invitations to compete in the event are based on the PDC Order of Merit following the StanJames.com World Matchplay, with players who are unavailable on certain days able to enter the event at a later stage.
The eight players for Group One, on Tuesday September 7, are headed by world number one Phil Taylor, who won the inaugural Championship League Darts in 2008.
James Wade, who was the Group One winner last year, is joined by Mervyn King, Adrian Lewis, debutant Simon Whitlock, Mark Walsh, Colin Lloyd and Robert Thornton in competing on the opening day.
The event sees the eight players face each other once in the round-robin group stage over the best of 11 legs, with prize money of £50 per leg won on offer.
The top four players after the completion of the league phase progress to the semi-finals and final, where prize money increases to £100 per leg.
The Group Winner will progress to October's Winners Group, while the bottom two players from the league table will be eliminated, and the remaining five players progress to the next group, where they are joined by three other players.
Gary Anderson and Paul Nicholson will make their debuts in Group Two, alongside Ronnie Baxter, while reigning champion Colin Osborne is joined by Andy Hamilton and Co Stompe in entering for Group Three.
World number two Raymond van Barneveld will compete for the first time in Championship League Darts as one of the three Group Four entrants on Tuesday September 21, alongside world number five Terry Jenkins and Kevin Painter.
September 22 and 23 will see Group Five and Group Six played, with the last two groups being followed by the Winners Group from October 12-14.
The list of websites and bookmakers who will be streaming Championship League Darts will be confirmed in the near future, as will daily start times and other details.
Championship League Darts
Group One
Tuesday September 7
Phil Taylor
James Wade
Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis
Simon Whitlock
Mark Walsh
Colin Lloyd
Robert Thornton
Group Two
Wednesday September 8
Ronnie Baxter
Gary Anderson
Paul Nicholson
Group Three
Thursday September 9
Andy Hamilton
Colin Osborne
Co Stompe
Group Four
Tuesday September 21
Raymond van Barneveld
Terry Jenkins
Kevin Painter
Group Five
Wednesday September 22
Dennis Priestley
Alan Tabern
Vincent van der Voort
Group Six
Thursday September 23
Wayne Jones
Wes Newton
Steve Beaton
Group Seven
Tuesday October 12
Denis Ovens
Jelle Klaasen
Jamie Caven
Group Eight
Wednesday October 13
Mark Dudbridge
Andy Smith
Mark Webster
Winner Group
Thursday October 14
The eight group winners will compete, with prize money of £100 per leg in the group stage and £200 per leg in the play-offs, plus £10,000 for the champion, £5,000 for the runner-up and £2,500 for the losing semi-finalists.
The finalists will also be invited to compete in the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts in November.