World Darts

All the fun of The Circus is now the stuff of darting folklore. After 14 years of history-making tungsten at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, the PDC World Championship has a new home and it is the start of a new era here at the Alexandra Palace.
If darts powers-that-be have their way, this will be the new permanent home for the greatest darts show on earth.a world record £605,000 in prize money, the biggest darts tournament on the planet, 67 matches over 12 days of dazzling darts all counting down to the 2008 World Championship Final on New Year's Day for the ultimate crown and the ultimate prize of £100,000.
Of course, many darts fans strongly believe the world famous Ally Pally is the spiritual home of the sport  going back decades to the old News of the World Championship, which was staged here in front of crowds of more than 12,000.
These days the impressive structure in North London has changed somewhat! It is a brand new experience for everybody, as we all try to get our bearings in this vast arena.
Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be bringing you all the news, stories and gossip from behind-the-scenes at the Alexandra Palace, as we all embark on this exciting, new darts adventure.
It has taken the PDC stage crew and the Sky Sports crew five days to rig the venue, a massive task involving hundreds of people. You will see the biggest stage in world darts, more than 120 feet wide and it looks impressive en route to the Ally Pally, with giant posters of the four PDC World Champions draped on the building.
It is quite a sight, especially for that exclusive club of Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley, John Part and Raymond Van Barneveld!
In the archway outside the arena is a giant dartboard and the Courage Stand, which is the tiered seating inside the arena, has been built from scratch, so you can see it has been a huge effort all round to make sure it's alright on the night!
During the tournament, watch out for brand new enhanced features on Sky Sports and there will be special lasers inside the venue as well. The TV studios have been built over 10 feet in the air, on top of the Sky Sports commentary box and the players have the biggest practice room they have ever seen, with a dozen boards available to them.
Also this year, there is a special private room for the players. It is called The Concentration Room and access is only permitted to the players who are involved in the next match on, it is meant to help players (if they wish) to get away from the crowds and get themselves 'in the zone' for their games!
And if you're going to the World Championship, you will be able to get your Courage Best without leaving your seats. Another innovation will see beer served at your table or seats, by waiters and waitresses wearing those giant backpacks full of Courage Best! And you will pay with pre-purchased tokens, rather than cash, a system that has worked well at other events at the Alexandra Palace.
A record 19 countries will be represented and they will all be chasing a brand new World Championship trophy, which incorporates a hand-engraved silver globe and has been made by award-winning jeweller Mike Shorer
It will be the best World Championship ever and don't forget to keep in touch with the Courage website for all the behind-the-scenes stories
GAME ON!