'Biggest pro-am tournament in the world': Calls for Jersey's Festival of Darts to return

The Jersey Festival of Darts which saw some of the biggest players compete on the island, could be revived if the tournament can secure funding.

The event has not taken place for a decade and Jersey Darts are calling on the government to assist with some financial support.

It was an opportunity for both professionals and amateurs players to compete against each other.

Reflecting on festivals of the past, Jersey Darts player, Eddie Le Bailly says: "It was actually the biggest pro-am tournament in the world.

"It was held up at Fort Regent and it was always packed, it was a massive tournament for Jersey."

In it's heyday the festival saw record-breaking, 16-time World Champion, Phil Taylor play on the island, who in 1999 said: "The first round was as hard as the last round, to be honest, it has been a great competition."

"Anyone that wants to win the Jersey Opener has to play well the whole way through.

Eddie got to play against Phil and recalls how good he was: "I played him twice two years on the trot, I beat him the first year, when he was World Champion and then I lost against him the second time.

"It was a terrific games. He [Phil] was who you wanted to play. You could be the weakest player in Jersey but you would still want to play him."

General Secretary of Jersey Darts, Stuart Moon says: "You just look at this World Championship by itself and there are eight players who have competed in it this year who competed in the Jersey Festival of Darts.

"It's important that these events do happen. If you look at The Isle of Man for instance, it is heavily funded by their government and they have 300 or 400 people turn up every year to play in that competition.

Eddie says he would love to see the competition back on the island: "It meant everything to me, and I gave it everything. I just played and played darts.

"If it came back now it would just be tremendous, it really would."