THE PDC are delighted to confirm that ITV Sport have agreed a three-year contract to screen the Grand Slam of Darts.
ITV Sport screened the successful first staging of the Grand Slam of Darts last November, when Phil Taylor claimed the title with a victory over Andy Hamilton at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.
The leading terrestrial broadcaster have committed to the Grand Slam of Darts for the next three years, while the PDC can also announce that prize money of over £1 million will be on offer during that period.
The prize fund has increased by £50,000 to £356,000 in 2008, and will rise to £375,000 and £400,000 for the following two years.
"We're delighted that ITV Sport have made such a commitment to professional darts," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
"It was a pleasure working with them last year and I know they are already looking forward to the second Grand Slam of Darts this November."
ITV's Director of News and Sport, Mark Sharman, said: "Last year's inaugural Grand Slam of Darts immediately established itself as one of the top events in the sport and was a great success on ITV.
"We're very pleased to be committing to the tournament for a further three years."
There are currently 22 confirmed competitors for the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts, including PDC World Champion John Part and Lakeside Champion Mark Webster.
They will be joined by defending champion Taylor, world number one Raymond van Barneveld, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix winner James Wade and World Masters champion Robert Thornton in the field.
Six players, including respective World Championship finalists Kirk Shepherd and Simon Whitlock, will be appearing for the first time in the Grand Slam, but former Lakeside winner Martin Adams has declined his invitation for a second year.
"This is building to be a tremendously exciting competition and it is pleasing to see so many big names eager to compete this November," added Hearn.
"Every player in professional darts wants to compete on the biggest stage for the biggest prizes, and I believe there will be great competition for the remaining places in the next six or seven months."
The PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts is unique in offering players from both the PDC and BDO/WDF systems to battle in combined event, with the first round seeing eight four-man groups compete before moving to a knockout format from the last 16 onwards.
Champions and runners-up from major darts tournaments over a two-year period are invited to compete, along with the semi-finalists from the Grand Slam of Darts and both World Championships.
Staged by the PDC and screened live on ITV Sport, the 2008 tournament offers £356,000 prize money - with £100,000 to the winner.
Places remain on offer in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts, PDC US Open, Blue Square UK Open, PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic, Stan James World Matchplay, SkyBet World Grand Prix and European Championship, as well as for an ITV Wildcard Qualifier.
The PDC will also invite the top player from the DPA William Cross Pro-Am Order of Merit from events staged in Australia in early August, the winner of the PDC South African Open, along with the top players from the PDC North American Order of Merit and the European Order of Merit.
In the event of more than 32 players qualifying, the PDC reserves the right to introduce a Preliminary Round. Should there be less than 32 players, the PDC would then revert to the highest placed non-qualified player(s) from the PDC Order of Merit following the European Championship.
2008 PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts - Prize Fund
| Winner | £100,000 |
| Runner-Up | £40,000 |
| 3-4th | £20,000 |
| 5-8th | £12,500 |
| 9-16th | £7,500 |
| 17-32nd | £4,000 |
| High Finish | £2,000 |
| Total | £356,000 |
2008 PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts - Competitors
2007 Grand Slam of Darts
Winner: Phil Taylor
Runner-Up: Andy Hamilton
Semi-Finalists: Kevin McDine, Gary Anderson
PDC Tournaments
2007 World Championship
Winner: Raymond van Barneveld
Runner-Up: (Phil Taylor)
Semi-Finalists: Andy Jenkins, (Andy Hamilton)
2008 World Championship
Winner: John Part
Runner-Up: Kirk Shepherd
Semi-Finalists: Kevin Painter, Wayne Mardle
2007 World Matchplay
Winner: James Wade
Runner-Up: Terry Jenkins
2008 World Matchplay
Winner:
Runner-Up:
2007 World Grand Prix
Winner: (James Wade)
Runner-Up: (Terry Jenkins)
2008 World Grand Prix
Winner:
Runner-Up:
2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic
Winner: (Raymond van Barneveld)
Runner-Up: (Terry Jenkins)
2008 Las Vegas Desert Classic
Winner:
Runner-Up:
2007 UK Open
Winner: (Raymond van Barneveld)
Runner-Up: Vincent van der Voort
2008 UK Open
Winner:
Runner-Up:
2007 US Open
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: (Raymond van Barneveld)
2008 US Open
Winner:
Runner-Up:
2007 Premier League Darts
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: (Terry Jenkins)
2008 Premier League Darts
Winner:
Runner-Up:
2007 German Darts Championship
Winner: (Phil Taylor)
Runner-Up: Denis Ovens
2008 European Championship
Winner:
Runner-Up:
WDF/BDO Tournaments
2007 World Championship
Winner: Martin Adams (declined invitation)
Runner-Up: Phill Nixon
Semi-Finalists: Niels de Ruiter, Mervyn King
2008 World Championship
Winner: Mark Webster
Runner-Up: Simon Whitlock
Semi-Finalists: (Martin Adams), Brian Woods
2007 World Masters
Winner: Robert Thornton
Runner-Up: Darryl Fitton
The PDC reserves the right to amend this qualification criteria at any time.