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 JOHN PART has been confirmed as the seventh player for the 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.
The Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Champion will make his second appearance in the tournament this year, following his success at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.
He competed in the inaugural year of the Premier League, in 2005, and is the seventh player in this year's event, alongside Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, James Wade, Terry Jenkins, Peter Manley and Adrian Lewis.
"I'm delighted to be playing in the 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts," said Part.
"I really enjoyed the Premier League three years ago and the tournament has obviously grown massively since.
"Obviously travelling back and forth from Canada is an extra obstacle for me, but I am determined to be successful.
"My plan obviously is to win, but initially the aim is to be in the top four and make the play-offs and take it from there."
James Wade has earned his debut in the Premier League this year after moving up to third in the PDC Order of Merit, while Part took on 21-year-old qualifier Kirk Shepherd in the World Championship final.
He believes that standards within the PDC are now higher than ever.
"It's not easy for anybody now," said Part. "There's a huge new generation of players doing really well and some of them are coming in and finding out it's quite hard.
"Others have been around for a while, like Adrian Lewis and James, and you can't argue how well they play, and there are others who are on the verge of getting some good results.
"Then there are guys who have been on the circuit for some time who are starting to mature a bit and I think it's the most exciting time in darts right now.
"It's anybody's show any time, and it's whoever steps up to the oche and hits their doubles and big 180s at the right time that generally is going to do well, and there's no predicting it."
The 2008 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts will begin on Thursday 31 January in Glasgow, with every dart screened live on Sky Sports.
The final place will go to a Sky Sports Wildcard, who will be announced in mid-January. |
