Donegal player to play in Embassy World Darts Championship
Ballybofey darts' player Gerard Porter will represent Ireland at the forthcoming Embassy World Darts Championship after qualifying for the prestigious event over the weekend.
Porter will become only the fourth Irishman to be given the opportunity to compete in the competition, which will be screened live on BBC television from January 7 next. Since its inception in 1978, the three previous entrants from the Emerald Isle came in the guise of Kildare's Jack McKenna, John Joe O'Shea from Cork and Sligo native Sean McGowan.
Last June, the Twin Town's man Porter won the Irish Masters despite being unseeded for the competition at the outset. A former member of the Irish national team in the years 1991 and 1992, Porter travelled to Bridlington in East Yorkshire as one of 320 hopefuls. There are 24 automatic qualifiers for the tournament with the rest being allocated to former winners outside the top ranked and those who qualify
Sitting in what was a provisional first standby place, the barman at Gallen's had a nervous wait before his participation was confirmed at the Windmill Open.
"I had to hope that Dutchman Ray van Barneveld won the competition as he had already confirmed his place in the Worlds. Had Goram Clem triumphed, then he would have taken my place. Gladly though, van Barneveld held on and that ensured that I got in.
"Of course, I'm delighted at the minute and can't wait until January to tell you the truth."
