In 1998 the World Grand Prix appears on the PDC calendar for the first time. At first the tournament took the place of the World Pairs championship on the calendar. After the World Championships and the World Matchplay it’s the third regular television tournament on the circuit. First held in Rochester England in 1998 and 1999, but since it’s synonymous with Ireland. The event moved to Ireland in 2000. Via Roslare (2000) it has been held annually in Dublin’s Citywest Hotel since 2001. Since the tournament moved to Ireland in 2000 Irish and Northern Irish players get a chance to qualify into the first round proper. Special to this event is you not only finish but also have to start on a double. Most successful player is not surprisingly Phil Taylor winning 10 out of 14. Only Alan Warriner in 2001, Colin Lloyd in 2005 and James Wade in 2007 and 2010 have proved capable of hitting the doubles all week long. Roland Scholten (2001) and Raymond van Barneveld (2008 and 2009) have been the best Dutch players in the tournament both reaching the final. The only player to have ever completed a perfect nine dart finish in this double start, double finish format in Dublin is Northern Irelands Brendan Dolan who does it in 2011.