BetVictor to sponsor World Matchplay Darts
Operator replaces Betfair as headline sponsor of the event, held in Blackpool in July
BetVictor is set to replace Betfair as the headline sponsor of the World Matchplay Darts championship, the Professional Darts Corporation has confirmed.
The operator becomes the fourth egaming company to put its name to the tournament, which will take place in Blackpool from 20 July this year. Stan James was the headline sponsor for ten years before it was replaced by SkyBet in 2010, with Betfair taking over in 2011.
It becomes the second sporting competition this year from which Betfair has withdrawn sponsorship, after the operator’s newly acquired Blue Square Bet business opted against renewing its sponsorship of the English Football League Conference. However, the operator struck a deal to sponsor the World Snooker Championships for the first time last month.
“These are very exciting times in the world of darts and, after a magnificent World Championship and Premier League, we are delighted to lend our name to the BetVictor World Matchplay from the iconic Winter Gardens Blackpool,” BetVictor marketing director Karl Riley said.
The agreement was brokered by independent sponsorship agency CMSeven, whose director Charles Mitchell described the deal as an “exciting new partnership for the sport”.