The Las Vegas Desert Classic was a darts tournament, organized by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and was held each year in July from 2002 until 2010. Its original venue was the MGM Grand Casino and Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada but the tournament moved down the strip to the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in 2006.
The tournament carried a total prize purse of £126,400 (approx US$250,000). Due to the time difference between the UK and US, the matches were played in the morning local time – which is prime-time evening in the UK where the tournament was broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Initially Fox Sports World transmitted the tournament live but in recent years they broadcasted recorded coverage in the United States. Partypoker.net became the first sponsors of the event in 2006.
The format of the Classic changed over the years with an unusual group stage and matchplay (legs only) in 2003, which reverted to straight knockout and sets from 2004. It moved back to a straight legs format in 2007 – when Raymond van Barneveld took the title.
Phil Taylor won the title five times out of the eight years the event was staged. Peter Manley, John Part and Raymond van Barneveld were the only other winners of the event.
The Las Vegas Desert Classic tournament was retired in 2010 and a new tournament held in Las Vegas, the Tropicana World Series, has been put in its place. However, the tournament is not televised.
Phil Taylor
John Part
Raymond van Barneveld (92.86)