World Grand Prix Darts moved from Dublin to Leicester's Morningside Arena for 2021

Leicester's Morningside Arena will be the venue for the 2021 World Grand Prix, with the tournament's traditional home in Citywest, Dublin unavailable. PDC chief executive Matthew Porter says they are planning to return to Ireland in 2022.

Image: Gerwyn Price will be looking to defend his title

The World Grand Prix has been moved to Leicester's Morningside Arena for 2021.

The 24th staging of the double-start format tournament, will again be broadcast live on Sky Sports, will see 32 of the world's top players competing across seven days, from October 3-9 for £450,000 in prize money.

Gerwyn Price will be looking to defend his title, with five-time winner Michael van Gerwen and world No 2 Peter Wright set to head up the field.

For a second consecutive year the tournament will take place away from its traditional home, Dublin's Citywest Convention Centre, which is currently being used by health services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The PDC plans to return to Ireland with the competition in 2022.

The World Grand Prix was played behind closed doors at Coventry's Ricoh Arena in 2020, but is now set for the return of fans at the Morningside Arena, which previously hosted the Champions League of Darts in 2019.

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"We are delighted to have secured the Morningside Arena as the venue for this year's staging of the BoyleSports World Grand Prix," said PDC chief executive Matthew Porter.

"The venue was a hit with fans and players alike when it played host to the Champions League of Darts in 2019 and we would like to thank them for their co-operation in securing a new home for one of our most prestigious events in 2021.

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"The BoyleSports World Grand Prix is always one of the highlights of the PDC calendar, with the unique double-start format providing a challenging element for competitors and extra drama for viewers.

"The Citywest Convention Centre remains part of our plans for 2022 and beyond, and we thank them for their continued support and communication."

Image: Dirk van Duijvenbode enjoyed a breakthrough run to the final at last year's tournament

The first round will be split across two nights on October 3-4, with the second round taking place across October 5-6. The quarter-finals will be held on Thursday October 7, before the semi-finals on Friday October 8 and the final on Saturday October 9.

World Grand Prix 2021: Sessions

Sunday October 3 (1900 BST) 8 x First Round
Monday October 4 (1900 BST) 8 x First Round
Tuesday October 5 (1900 BST) 4 x Second Round
Wednesday October 6 (1900 BST) 4 x Second Round
Thursday October 7 (1900 BST) Quarter-Finals
Friday October 8 (1900 BST) Semi-Finals
Saturday October 9 (1900 BST) Final

The remainder of the Players Championship season was also confirmed on Monday with 10 further events planned for the second half of the year as the PDC complete their 30-event Pro Tour.

Super Series 6 will consist of two days in August (2 and 3) at the Barnsley Metrodome and with European Tour card holders qualifiers on August 4.

Super Series 7 will be a four-day run of events, also in Barnsley, that kick off on October 19 - one day after the World Series of Darts Finals Tour Card holders qualifier which has also been announced.

The Pro Tour season will conclude with a final four-day run of Players Championship events, November 2-5, with the Grand Slam of Darts qualifier confirmed for November 5 as well.

Also revealed on a busy Monday was the final chance to qualify for the World Darts Championship with the Tour Card Holders qualifier scheduled for November 29.

Darts is back on your Sky Sports screens in July, with nine days of coverage from the iconic Winter Gardens and the World Matchplay - the action gets underway on Saturday July 17

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