PETERSEN REVEALS PLANS FOR AFRICA WORLD SERIES EVENT

DEVON PETERSEN believes Africa could be just “two or three years away” from hosting a World Series of Darts event.

The former UK Open quarter-finalist has revealed discussions are already taking place behind the scenes as the sport continues its rapid global expansion.

The PDC has added destinations including Bahrain, Poland and Saudi Arabia to the circuit in recent years, while the popularity of the game has exploded following Luke Littler’s emergence.

Petersen is hopeful Africa could soon welcome the world’s biggest stars but admitted finding space in an increasingly crowded calendar remains the biggest obstacle.

He told the Weekly Dartscast: “I feel as though it’s not long now.

“I think that discussions are happening behind the scenes. I’ll tell you that.

“The challenge is the popularity of the sport and the compact calendar that currently exists.

“So, we would have to squeeze in somewhere, and we would have to lose out. So, we’d have to make a real case for it.

“Areas that could host events like this, I think that South Africa, obviously my hometown, they are begging for it.

“I do think that Kenya as well, a big part are playing it. Egypt as well.

“Egypt are hosting the World Darts Federation World Cup in 2027. So, we know that they can stage major events.

“It’s nice for everybody to travel in and around Europe, as well as West Asia, which is Saudi and all of those areas, and then obviously also Africa as well.

“So yeah, I think that there’s multiple countries sticking up their hand, and I think the popularity of the sport helps that.”

Petersen confirmed talks are ongoing but acknowledged organisers would need to build a strong case to convince the PDC.

He added: “For me itself, it’s just building a proposal strong enough for the PDC to even consider.

“We are actually having the conversations, but I think that the numbers currently now for the sport are astronomical, which is fantastic for players and the sport itself.

“Hosting it is a small bit of a challenge, but I think we could be about two or three years away from it.

“And it will be fantastic because then Africa will be welcoming the world’s best to see some of Africa’s best and compete.

“Who knows? We could be lifting trophies anyway.”

Petersen enjoyed the best spell of his career in 2020, winning the German Darts Championship and reaching the semi-finals of the European Championship.

The African Warrior also broke into the world’s top 32 during his rise and will once again represent South Africa at this year’s World Cup of Darts alongside Graham Filby.

Image by Taylor Lanning.