Darts will be returning to FDA Leeds

The First Direct Arena will stage the competition’s opening night, on Thursday, February 4, for the second successive year.

A crowd of around 11,200 packed the venue for this year’s season launch.

That was the second time the competition had visited the city, following its debut at the FD Arena in 2014.

Leeds is known as the birthplace of televised darts, after the Indoor League began at the Irish Centre, York Road, in the 1970s. Sixteen-time world champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor has described Leeds’ arena as “one of the best” venues for the sport in the country.

Speaking before this year’s event, he said: “The stage is close to the crowd, it’s situated perfectly so everybody can see and they aren’t far away. I think it’s the best one to kick off with.”

Tickets go on sale in early October and the 10 players will be announced in January. The event will visit 16 venues – including the Netherlands for the first time – before finals night on May 19.