2004 Las Vegas Desert Classic

The 2004 Las Vegas Desert Classic, promoted at the time as the Las Vegas Desert Classic III, was the third year that the Professional Darts Corporation held a major darts tournament in the United States. It was held between 30 June and July 4, 2004.

The tournament was held at the MGM Grand Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada and was broadcast in the UK by Sky Sports. The layout of the playing hall had been modified from the previous year, and attracted larger crowds.

Round One

Featured the last 32 and was not televised. Phil Taylor had the highest average in the best of 3 sets matches of 100.6 and coverage began live on Sky Sports with Round Two, the last 16 on Thursday 1 July.

Round Two

The first match featured Kevin Painter against Peter Manley. Manley was erratic in the first set which went to Painter, who then went on to beat Manley 3-0 including checkouts of 143, 124 and 102. Painter averaged of 94.5.

The last American in the tournament, Darin Young (who was World Soft Tip Darts Champion) had beaten Lionel Sams in the first round and faced "Hawaii 501" - Wayne Mardle. The first two sets were close, but Mardle went through comfortably 3-0.

John Part also had a comfortable win against Adrian Gray and in the early stages of the match he was averaging 111.33. It was a 3-0 win for Part who also checked out 161 and a 164.

Alan Warriner faced Phil Taylor and started well. "The Ice Man" was two legs up in the first set only for Taylor to level at 2-2 before Warriner took the deciding leg. Taylor won the next two sets and started the fourth with a 147 checkout. Although Warriner won the next leg, Taylor pulled away to win the match.

The battle of two former World Champions saw Richie Burnett beat Dennis Priestley - the Welshman had to hit a 117 checkout to tie the match at 1-1, which was possibly the turning point and Burnett went on to win 3-1.

Quarter Finals

John Part overcame Richie Burnett 3-1 in a match that wasn't necessarily reflected by the scoreline. Burnett came close to winning the first set having levelled it with a 137 finish. But Part won the decider. Even as Part looked to be coasting to victory at 2-0 in both sets and legs, Burnett put on a fightback to win 3 consecutive legs. Part held him off in the end for a 3-1 win.

Vegas-loving Wayne Mardle, took the first set against Ronnie Baxter - averaging 101 to Baxter's 94.30. Mardle then appeared to slow the game down which possibly affected both players. Baxter was possibly affected the most as he lost 0-3.

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