2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic

The 2007 SBets.net Las Vegas Desert Classic (also billed as Las Vegas Desert Classic VI) was the sixth time that the Professional Darts Corporation stage the prestigious darts tournament. The tournament was held at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino for the second successive year and was staged between July 3 and July 8, televised on Sky Sports from July 4 - there was no title sponsor for the event after PartyPoker.net's sponsorship lasted for just one year.

The opening day of the tournament saw a few surprise results - none more so than when Mark Dudbridge stunned three-time Desert Classic champion Phil Taylor 6-5.

Raymond van Barneveld secured his third major PDC title of the year, adding to his World Championship and UK Open successes, by beating Terry Jenkins in the final, with a tournament average of 101,24.

Prize money

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The prize fund increases for the 2007 event to a total of £126,400.

  • Champion £20,000
  • Runner-up £10,066
  • Semi-finalists £7,000
  • Quarter-finalists £5,000
  • Second round Losers £3,000
  • First round Losers £2,000
  • Qualifying event prize fund £6,400.

Results

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A random draw was held after each round meaning no seedings were applied.

1st Round
losers £2,000
Wed 4 Jul &
Thu 5 Jul
2nd Round
losers £3,000
Fri 6 Jul
Quarter-finals
losers £5,000
Sat 7 Jul
Semi-finals
losers £7,000
Sun 8 Jul
Final
winner £20,000
runner-up £10,500
Sun 8 Jul
Raymond van Barneveld6
Kevin Painter1v. Barneveld8
Wayne Mardle6Mardle1
John Ferrell3v. Barneveld10
Steve Beaton6Scholten4
Andy Hamilton5Beaton5
Roland Scholten6Scholten8
Andy Smith4v. Barneveld11
Dennis Smith6Part7
Dennis Priestley5D.Smith8
Darin Young6Young7
Tony Eccles3D.Smith9
Mark Dudbridge6Part10
Phil Taylor5Dudbridge7
John Part6Part8
Steve Maish4Raymond van Barneveld13
Adrian Lewis6Terry Jenkins6
Steve Smith3Lewis8
Mervyn King6King6
Gerry Convery1Lewis8
Peter Manley6Manley10
Vincent van der Voort4Manley8
Colin Osborne6Osborne4
James Wade5Manley8
Gary Mawson6T.Jenkins11
Stuart Holden2Mawson8
Alan Tabern6Tabern6
John Kuczynski5Mawson7
Wes Newton6T. Jenkins10
Colin Lloyd3W. Newton7
Ray Carver3T. Jenkins8
Terry Jenkins6

Television coverage

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Sky Sports broadcast the event live in the UK & Ireland for the 6th year running. The final between van Barneveld & Jenkins achieved viewing figures of 82,000 - although that was surpassed by other matches during the week. [1]
Wednesday 120,000 (SS1) & 65,000 (SS2)
Thursday 90,000 (SS1) & 115,000 (SS2)
Friday unavailable
Saturday 87,000 (SS2)
Sunday 82,000 (SS1)

Qualification

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Following the 2007 UK Open at the beginning of June, top 12 players of the PDC Order of Merit became the automatic qualifiers for the sixth Desert Classic. They are Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, Colin Lloyd, Peter Manley, Terry Jenkins, Dennis Priestley, Adrian Lewis, Wayne Mardle, Roland Scholten, Andy Hamilton, James Wade and defending champion John Part.

Four North American's qualified for the event via qualification tournaments across the United States and Canada. They were Darin Young, John Kuczynski, Gary Mawson and Gerry Convery.

16 further places were to be decided at two qualification days on the eve of the tournament itself. These qualifying events were for lower ranked PDPA members and US residents. Eight players each day joined the automatic qualifiers in the first round of the main event.

Monday's qualifiers were Wes Newton, Steve Maish, Kevin Painter, Steve Beaton, Colin Osborne, Mervyn King, Ray Carver and Dennis Smith. Tuesday's qualifiers were Alan Tabern, Mark Dudbridge, John Ferrell, Tony Eccles, Stuart Holden, Andy Smith, Steve Smith, Vincent van der Voort.

Players Championship

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On the eve of the Las Vegas Desert Classic a PDPA Players Championship event was held on Sunday July 1 and was won by Raymond van Barneveld.

References

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