Stan James Bookmakers have announced that they are to extend their sponsorship of the World Matchplay Darts Tournament.
The Gibraltar-based bookmaker sponsored the World Matchplay event last July, and the new agreement will extend the sponsorship for a further two years to include the event in 2001 and 2002.
The World Matchplay is one of the most prestigious Darts Tournaments on the circuit.
It takes place at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool at the height of the holiday season and has become a firm favourite with the Blackpool audiences.
The tournament attracts crowds of over 2,000 for each session of play, and has proved a welcome entertainment alternative to the traditional summer season shows.
The Stan James World Matchplay will take place in Blackpool from Sunday 29 July to 4 August.
The event will be covered live and all the world's leading players will be competing, including defending champion, Phil 'The Power' Taylor, Rod 'The Prince of Style' Harrington, Alan 'The Iceman' Warriner and former World Champion, Canadian John Part.
The total prize money for the event is £65,000 and there will be a £100,000 bonus on offer for the first televised nine-dart finish of the tournament.