ESPN will broadcast live and exclusive coverage of the PartyPoker.net European Darts Championship as the top players in Europe compete in Mülheim, Germany this September.
Viewers will be able to watch live action from each day of the tournament, presented by Ray Stubbs in Germany, as ESPN and the Professional Darts Corporation team up for the first time to broadcast a major darts event.
The £200,000 championship will see 32 players battling across four days of knockout action, and will feature darts' most decorated player, 15-time World Champion Phil "The Power" Taylor, who has won all four European Championship titles since the event's inception in 2008.
Other players lined up to compete include double PDC World Champion Adrian Lewis - the runner-up to Taylor in last year's European Championship - and world number three James Wade as well as Holland's five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, Australian favourite Simon Whitlock and many top talents from across Europe.
PDC Chairman Barry Hearn said: "The PartyPoker.net European Darts Championship has established itself as one of our most exciting and colourful events over the past four years, and it is a pleasure to welcome ESPN as our broadcast partner for the 2012 event.
The European Darts Championship will join an extensive portfolio of top class sport on ESPN. The tournament will sit alongside live televised coverage of the Barclays Premier League, FA Cup, Aviva Premiership Rugby, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, UEFA Europa League, European league football, international football, and the best in North American sports & motorsports.
The tournament will begin on Thursday September 20, with the first round split across Thursday and Friday nights, and the second round being played in two sessions on Saturday September 22.
The Quarter-Finals will take place in the afternoon session of Sunday September 23, with the Semi-Finals and Final being played in one dramatic deciding session that evening, when the destiny of the £50,000 first prize will be discovered.
The 32-player field will be confirmed following next month's European Tour event in Stuttgart, with the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit joined by eight qualifiers from the ProTour Order of Merit and eight qualifiers from the European Order of Merit.
PartyPoker.net European Championship
September 20-23 2012
RWE Sporthalle, Mülheim, Germany
Thursday September 20
8pm-12am Local Time
7pm-11pm ESPN Broadcast Time (UK)
8x Round One Matches
Friday September 21
8pm-12am Local Time
7pm-11pm ESPN Broadcast Time (UK)
8x Round One Matches
Saturday September 22
Afternoon Session
2pm-6pm Local Time
1pm-5pm ESPN Broadcast Time (UK)
4x Round Two Matches
Evening Session
8pm-12am Local Time
7pm-11pm ESPN Broadcast Time (UK)
4x Round Two matches
Sunday September 23
Afternoon Session
2pm-6pm Local Time
1pm-5pm ESPN Broadcast Time (UK)
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session
8pm-12am Local Time
7pm-11pm ESPN Broadcast Time (UK)
Semi-Finals & Final
Spectator tickets are available through www.pdc-europe.net.
Photo courtesy Chris Sargeant
Tickets available