About Us
The Central Darts League is one of the most prestigious darts leagues in the North East of England, having been a core part of darts in the area for over 40 years and home to some of the best players the area has produced over that time. Among the players and staff in the league are former and current PDC Challenge Tour and Development Tour event competitors, a former PDC match official and a whole host of local darts stars.
Our league season starts annually in September and ends the following year in April or June. The 2024/25 season will begin on September 20th and end with Finals Night on June 6th. Each season consists of a league season, where every team plays each other, a Singles Championship, a Doubles Championship, the Harry Conaty Memorial Trophy, 3-a-side Knockout, Team Knockout Cup (a 4-a-side knockout competition) and a Memorial Charity Night.
The format for the league season will remain the same this year, so each match will be 4-a-side, with two best of three games of doubles, starting 601, then four games of singles, again best of three, starting on 501, before a team game of one leg of 1001. The home team will throw first in the first leg of the game and all the matches from that point will alternate, so the home team throws first in games 1, 3, 5 and 7 (which is the first doubles, first singles, third singles and team game).
The two team captains select which four players play each round (doubles, singles 4-a-side team game). The order of players is redrawn each round. The team captain picks four players each for doubles, singles and team game. They could be the same 4 players for all rounds or a different 4 each round, meaning anywhere from 4 to 12 players can be used per game. The draws for the games (doubles, singles and team game) are all done at once before the game begins. Bust rules for all competitions are that the score remains on what it was immediately prior to the dart that busts the score. So, if a player requires 40 and hits single 20 (to leave 20) then double 15, they will be on 20 for their next visit.
The fixtures are drawn at a league meeting. All league matches and league events are straight start, with the exception of the Team Knockout Cup, which is double start. League standings are decided first by points (total legs won) and if this is tied, then it is decided by the following differentials in this order; legs difference, games won, games drawn then head to head.
Matches start at 8:00 pm, although they can be started earlier or later should both teams agree. The away team is entitled to an open board before the match begins for a minimum of 20 minutes for practice, which can start as early as the home team likes and as late as 8:00 pm, in which case the match would start at 8:20 pm at the earliest.
Our league board is made up of the chairman, who was elected by the league, and people he has appointed for the other roles. The chairman heads and runs the league and the rest of the board specialise in particular areas to further league cohesion. The board members are as follows:
- Chairman: Isaac Marshall, 07548982420
- Secretary: Brad Aldous, 07983163169
- Treasurer: Steve Reed
- Archivist: Glenn Kirk
- Head Referee: Ray Benson
Our committee consists of the team captains (or a delegate) of each team. They form the decision making arm of the league, voting on behalf of their teams. The committee members are as follows:
- Alexandra Ladies delegate: Sandra Laurie (captain: Donna Biggs)
- Alexandra Men delegate: Dale Laurie (captain: Dave Johnson)
- Bertie’s Club captain: Davey Morton
- The Brewery captain: Steve Reed
- Catholic Club captain: Emily Parsons
- Chirton Club Bar captain: Eddy Cramman
- Chirton Club Lounge captain: Kane Wears
- Kings Street Social Club captain: Jack Welsh
- Monkseaton Arms captain: Isaac Marshall
- The Nautilus captain: Liam Larmouth
- Terminus Club captain: Ian Ambler
Our team of referees for streamed events consists of five match officials. For these events, an MC hosts the evening on the stream, while for each match, there is one caller and one scorer. Among our five match officials are two individuals designated as MCs and four individuals designated as referees, two of whom are callers. The team is led by former Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) match official Ray Benson, who has officiated at the biggest events in darts, including the PDC World Championship.
- Head Referee: Ray Benson
- MC/Referee: Reece Paramos
- MC/Referee: Adam Parsons
- Referee: TBC
- Referee: Garry Wells
The Central Darts League has six competitions per year, four of which are majors. The major trophies are the Singles Championship, Doubles Championship, Harry Conaty Trophy and Team Knockout Cup. The other two competitions that take place each year are the 3-a-side Knockout and the Memorial Charity night, which is a blind pairs competition where the proceeds go towards a different nominated charity each year. During the off season, Central Darts also runs a Blind Doubles series, where in 10 events, the league tours different venues. These events are open to any person to enter, not just league registered players. Any new venues who enter the league automatically get to host one of these events for free. From 2025 onwards, Central Darts will also hold another competition during the off season, the Central Darts Open, where the top 8 players from the Central Darts League will be joined by 8 qualifiers from two Open Qualifier events, in the style of a PDC European Tour event.
The Singles Championship and Doubles Championship are straight knockout and random draw. This season, all matches in the Singles Championship are best of five, 501, and all matches in the doubles championship are best of five, 601. The first rounds are played at multiple venues for these competitions and draws for which players are at which venue are done at a league meeting. These tournaments cost £1 to enter per player. The Singles Championship is a live streamed event and from 2025/26, the Doubles Championship will be live streamed.
The Harry Conaty Memorial Trophy this season will be a straight knockout competition this season. The competition is a Champions League style competition and has the following player qualification criteria:
- 2023/24 Harry Contay Trophy Champion
- 2023/24 Singles Championship Champion
- Number 1 Ranked Player in Player Rankings
- Number 2 Ranked Player in Player Rankings
- Number 3 Ranked Player in Player Rankings
- Alexandra Ladies Qualifier
- Alexandra Men Qualifier
- Bertie’s Club Qualifier
- The Brewery Qualifier
- Catholic Club Qualifier
- Chirton Club Bar Qualifier
- Chirton Club Lounge Qualifier
- King Street Social Club Qualifier
- Monkseaton Arms Qualifier
- The Nautilus Qualifier
- Terminus Club Qualifier
The ranking qualifier cut off for the 2024/25 season is March 8th. Should there be players double qualified (for example, if the reigning champion, Singles Champion and league number one are all the same player), the 15th and 16th spot will be taken by the highest ranked players in the singles rankings not yet qualified.
- Number 4 Ranked Player in Player Rankings
- Number 5 Ranked Player in Player Rankings
Should there be any withdrawals on the night of the competition, the highest ranked players not yet qualified will take their place if the withdrawn player has qualified by virtue of winning a major or being a ranked qualifier. If the withdrawn player is a team qualifier, they can be replaced by another member of their team or, if none of the team is present, the highest ranked player not yet qualified.
Each team plays their own team qualifier at their own discretion although there is a designated free week after the ranking qualifier cut-off date. Entry for this competition is free. The draw for the Harry Conaty Memorial Trophy is done on the night.
The 3-a-side Knockout will also retain the same format, and is straight knockout. Squads can be as many players as wanted but the team of three can only be changed in between rounds. Each match for the 3-a-side is made up of three best of three doubles 601 games, three best of three singles 501 games and a 1001 3-a-side game. Players 1 and 2 play the first doubles, 1 and 3 play the second doubles and 2 and 3 play the third doubles. The team captain chooses the order of their three and line-up choices are exchanged at the coin toss. The team that wins the coin toss throws first in matches 1, 3, 5 and 7. The draw for this competition is done at a league meeting and the entry for this tournament is free. Squads for this competition need to be submitted before the first mid season league meeting.
The Team Knockout Cup likewise retains the same format as in the previous season and is the only competition that is double to start. Matches are 4-a-side, best of 5 legs, 1001. The captain of each team chooses their order and can also substitute a player in after each leg if they so choose. Once a player has been substituted out, they cannot be substituted back in again during that particular game. The draw for the 4-a-side team knockout cup is done on the night of the competition, with a random draw before each round, and the entry for this tournament is automatic for every team.
Finals and Presentation Night, the biggest and most prestigious event of the season, will involve the finals of the Team Knockout Cup then the final of the Doubles Championship and will finish with the final of the Singles Championship. This is a live streamed event. Following these matches, there will be a presentation for all the awards and trophies over the entire season, as well as the announcement of any new inductees into the Central Darts League hall of fame.
League fees per season are just £80. Competition entries (Singles, Doubles, 3-a-side and Team Knockout) are £1 per player each. Your venue have the opportunity to bid to host any of the seven competitions throughout the season (in descending order of size; Finals Night, the Team Knockout Cup first rounds, the Memorial Charity night, the Harry Conaty Trophy, 3-a-side Finals, Singles quarter-finals and semi-finals and finally Doubles quarter-finals and semi-finals. Other money taken into the league includes a set portion from each Blind Doubles Tour event in the off season, a portion of the entry fees from the Central Darts Open in the off season and all profits from the Central Darts shop.
Prize money for the 2024/25 season will be as follows:
- League champions: £200
- League runners-up: £180
- League 3rd: £160
- League 4th: £140
- League 5th: £120
- League 6th: £100
- League 7th: £90
- League 8th: £80
- League 9th: £70
- League 10th: £60
- League 11th: £50
- Singles Championship winner: £50
- Singles Championship runner-up: £25
- Singles Championship semi-finalists: £10 and £10
- Doubles Championship winner: £50
- Doubles Championship runner-up: £25
- Doubles Championship semi-finalists: £10 and £10
- Harry Conaty Memorial Trophy winner: £50
- Harry Conaty Memorial Trophy runner-up: £25
- Harry Conaty Memorial Trophy semi-finalists: £10 and £10
- Team Knockout Cup winners: £40
- 3-a-side Knockout winners: £30
Trophies will also be distributed for:
- League champions (x6)
- League runners-up (x1)
- Singles Championship winner
- Singles Championship runner-up
- Doubles Championship winners (x2)
- Doubles Championship runners-up (x2)
- Harry Conaty Memorial Trophy winner
- Harry Conaty Memorial Trophy runner-up
- Team Knockout Cup winners (x4)
- Team Knockout Cup runners-up (x1)
The winners of the league, Singles Championship, Doubles Championship, Harry Conaty Memorial Trophy and Team Knockout Cup will also take possession of the historic trophies until the finals of the respective competitions the following season.
In addition to the league and competition payouts, there will be a £10 cash prize for the following:
- Year End Number One Ranked Player.
- Year End Number One Ranked Lady.
- Most 180s in the season.
- Highest Checkout of the season.
- Best Leg of the season.
The remaining money from the yearly intake fund following prize money payouts and trophy costs rolls over to the intake fund for the following season.
2024/25 Season Meetings
There are two pre-season meetings, including a league opening meeting, three mid-season meetings and one post-season meeting, which closes the season. Balance sheets are displayed at all league meetings and are also available to view on request at any time.
1. August 21st – The Brewery
- Opening of the 2024/25 season.
- Deadline for entry of teams joining the league.
- New season announcements.
- Propositions for the new season and voting.
- Comments and questions.
2. September 4th – King Street Social Club
- Welcoming of new teams into the league.
- Confirmation of new committee members or changes in committee members.
- Deadline for payment of league fees for the season.
- Tournament bidding for the 2024/25 season.
- Draw for venues for initial competition rounds.
- Distribution of fixtures and schedules.
3. October 30th – Catholic Club
- Deadline for entries and payments for the 3-a-side Knockout competition.
- Draw for the 3-a-side Knockout competition.
- Deadline for payments from competition bidding.
- Feedback, comments and questions.
3. January 8th – Chirton Club
- Deadline for entries and payments for the Doubles Championship and Singles Championship.
- Draw for the Doubles Championship and Singles Championship.
- Feedback, comments and questions.
4. April 2nd – Alexandra
- Confirmation of participants and reserves for the Harry Contay Trophy.
- Feedback, comments and questions.
5. June 18th – The Nautilus
- Closing of the 2024/25 season.
- Additional trophy distributions.
- 2025/26 pre-season schedule announcement.
