Official Darts Thread

[Dai]

Just actually got round to finishing it. I actually find it a bit dull when its all the usual suspects toward the end, so my attention was drifting off alot from the quarters onwards.

Its a shame none of the second tier stepped up in this one, when theres all the majors coming up. Feels like it will be an iteration of the Premier League guys in all semis and finals, as it seems like  one of the lower rung guys have the bottle or nerve to step up when it matters.

I would have picked Doets and Nijman to do something at the majors coming up, but considering their form then im not of that opinion any more. Ross Smith, Woodhouse, and Asp are probably the outsiders with the most form, so can see them doing something decent sonewhere along the line, but unfortunately I can see it  being another load of fairly forgettable thumpings by Litter at the back end of the tourneys. 

Edited September 10 by Dai

[Dai]

Some cracking stuff on day 1 of the latest Euro Tour. 

Bialecki/Huybrechts must be one the best R1 games of all time, considering the stakes, and those final few legs. Unbelievable drama. Unbelievable couple of checkouts from Kim to keep himself in the match. Unbelievable final leg with all those missed darts. You dont get many Friday games which were more tense than that. Have to really commend the crowd there at the end too, as they were silent for Bialecki throwing his darts.

[TheBurningRed]

Luke Littler out in the first round of the Grand Prix. First round in a first to two sets in a double in tournament is always tricky. Just a shame it was to that covid and weather machine conspiracy theorist Luke Woodhouse.

Opens the tournament up though.

[hallicks]

12 hours ago, TheBurningRed said:

covid and weather machine conspiracy theorist

Haha no way! Dreadfully boring to watch and stupid. What a combo.

Littler looks burnt out at the mo. I think the crowd at the WSOD finals has got to him. They were proper bellends though, I didn’t bother with the final session. Also please let’s never have Barney on commentary again. 

Nice to see Nijman through, even if it was an absolute grind. Pretty sure he would have lost to anyone else and I can’t see him getting past Clayton playing like that.

Speaking of conspiracy theories, note how MVG isn’t on the poster/advert for Premier League 2027…

[Dai]

Ive only watched the first day and it was a cracker. Great little format. Gelt bad for Menzies and Doets though. Doets is starting to get the vibe from me that he may not have the major stage bottle. In the last set I had no confidence that he was going to win.  Great to see the tournement open up too. Littler cant blame the crowd on this one. Good shout on him looking burnt out. 

MVG still should be fine for the Premier League shouldn't he, even if hes outside the top 16? He's still a massive name that people want to see. If Bunting still got in last year, then MVG should be in next year's too. Not much competition for him really is there. Its a vietually guaranteed top 5 and then chuck in Ross Smith. Throw in Beau and MVG and you aren't leaving someone major out, unless Nijman gets to the World Final or something 

Edited Wednesday at 05:00 PM by Dai

[TheBurningRed]

That’s if MVG wants it. I know the money is good for the premier league, but he’s not that big of a draw now, he doesn’t like the format or the travel. I think taking a break from it would be good. 

[HandsomeButchIII]

8 hours ago, Dai said:

Ive only watched the first day and it was a cracker. Great little format. Gelt bad for Menzies and Doets though. Doets is starting to get the vibe from me that he may not have the major stage bottle. In the last set I had no confidence that he was going to win.  Great to see the tournement open up too. Littler cant blame the crowd on this one. Good shout on him looking burnt out. 

MVG still should be fine for the Premier League shouldn't he, even if hes outside the top 16? He's still a massive name that people want to see. If Bunting still got in last year, then MVG should be in next year's too. Not much competition for him really is there. Its a vietually guaranteed top 5 and then chuck in Ross Smith. Throw in Beau and MVG and you aren't leaving someone major out, unless Nijman gets to the World Final or something 

If it was up to me I'd have Leonard Gates in as a wildcard into the PL. Every year. He won't win much, but I love Leonard Gates and it was piss funny when he made Menzies cry.

 

Mind you, he won't need the sky wildcard, as he'll win the Worlds this year.

[hallicks]

Gates is tough to watch as he always takes about 4 hours from 201 due to his lack of counting. But, great dancing. So it’s swings and roundabouts.

I’ve heard Dan Dawson mention a few times this year that they might change up the format for the next PL. I hope they bin off the nightly tournaments. 

[Dai]

A shame that alot of the elite 'Euro Tour/Pro Tour' guys got smashed last night by the big boys. You'd have expected at least one of Smith, Woodhouse and Nijman to get through. Nijman seems to have timed his average spell at completely the wrong time. He looked completely flat against Clayton, and certainly someone who isnt troubling the later stages of any tourney the rest of the year if he keeps up this form. 

A shame that it seems alot of these fringe players just dont have that extra character/bottle when it comes to the majors.

[hallicks]

20 hours ago, Dai said:

A shame that alot of the elite 'Euro Tour/Pro Tour' guys got smashed last night by the big boys. You'd have expected at least one of Smith, Woodhouse and Nijman to get through. Nijman seems to have timed his average spell at completely the wrong time. He looked completely flat against Clayton, and certainly someone who isnt troubling the later stages of any tourney the rest of the year if he keeps up this form. 

A shame that it seems alot of these fringe players just dont have that extra character/bottle when it comes to the majors.

I was disappointed with Wessel, he got in pretty well overall and looked good getting it back to 1-1. But then he just fell off in the next two sets. He has timed his form all wrong, as you say. 

“Bobbin’” Niels Zonneveld through, though. He was brilliant against Rock, but Humphries looks in very good nick so I can’t see him making the SF.

Great to see Anusol sponsorship on the hoardings. Hopefully they can sponsor a whole tournament and we can have an Anusol Champion.

Becci knows.