Official Darts Thread

[Dai]

At no point did I feel confident that he was winning that match. The same feeling I used to get when Taylors opponents were out ahead of him in a match. Littler is something else, a proper champion who just finds the finishes and performances that no one else can. 

MVG just looks 95% of what he used to be. Has done for ages now. Theres sparks of what he used to be, but the consistency isnt there any more.

Price has continued to look tremendous, and the semi final between him and Littler should be a cracker. Im thinking its a Wade/Clayton semi final too, as both seem to be in great form also.

[hallicks]

Gilding beat Littler at the Euros last year, I feel like he averaged over 100 for most of the game (though a quick check says he ended with 98.92). He’s averaged over 100 in his first two matches as well. The longer format here makes it somewhat more unlikely, but I wouldn’t write him off completely. Might have a little tickle on him if the price is decent. 

I like Wattimena, he’s definitely got game. Mentally, he’s not there yet. Fell apart against Edhouse in the Euros after smashing the whole tournament up to that point, then couldn’t keep the composure after playing so well against Littler. He’s still fairly young though, he could be more of a threat in big tournaments if he can channel these experiences into something positive.

Hitting that double double on the 19’s really fucked van Veen. Obviously Wade wasn’t going to keep missing doubles the way he was but it seemed to put a rocket up his arse. Think the occasion got to GVV a bit in the end. 

Bunting never got going this week, did he. Dreadful match against Joyce. Anderson kept shanking the doubles against him. Clayton got that fast start against him and it was a canter after that.

Roll on this evening! 

[TheBurningRed]

Missing this evenings session. Don’t mind who wins out of Littler and Gilding. Hoping Rock wins however. Should be a good night and fast paced (well apart from Gilding)

[Dai]

Gilding put in a very good performance, but only just not good enough. As I said in my last post about Littler being one of those special Champions that just does things others cant/don't, he did the exact same thing in this one. Two 180s in the final leg, against the throw, and when there was big pressure on as Gilding was fighting back hard. Amazing stuff. 

[TheBurningRed]

Saw the Rock-Price match from 11-9 to Rock. Fuck me, that 164 to win it. Incredible nerve. 

[hallicks]

Two absolute classics tonight. Clayton looked dead and buried at 16-10, once he got it back level, you felt he had to be favourite, but that was some real mental toughness from Wade to go on and win.

Littler is just beyond words. An incredible 9 darter, to come back from 5-0 down as well. Hoping he gets the job done tomorrow. 

Edited July 26, 2025 by hallicks

[TheBurningRed]

Really thought Clayton would win. And Josh Rock, what a showing. Shame that didn’t go all the way but a great match either way. Can’t see beyond Littler winning tomorrow. 

[Dai]

I don't like him, but have to respect how Wade is still near the top of the pack after all these years. Seems to be playing better than he has in donkeys years. 

Agree that I can't see past Littler. The man is just insanely good, and good at the right times too. Over the long format, I think he will win fairly comfortably. 

[TheBurningRed]

Wade was ready to drop so far down the rankings last year. Whenever he starts hovering around 16th or lower, he pulls this out the bag. Incredible stuff.

Women’s World Matchplay this afternoon. Shorter formats. Beau Greaves to win again. I’d say against Noa-Lynn in the final. 

[TheBurningRed]

Decent final that. A blistering start from Wade and the third slow start from Littler. But champions doing champions things. A great performance for the fight back and to break away. Poor Gary Anderson, twice this week when Littler has spoken about the triple crown (which is bollocks as the premier league is an exhibition, give it to the UK Open), he’s mentioned Taylor, MVG and Humphries being winners and forgetting Gando had won 2 worlds, 2 premier leagues and a Matchplay. Know your history young man.

Grand Prix up next for a big tournament to win for Littler. A tough one but he his double 10 hitting could give him that good start.

Lisa Ashton winning the Women’s was a pleasant surprise. I couldn’t see anyone but Beau winning. 

[Dai]

Yeah, not the best of finals, but its really scary to think that he averaged 107 and it didnt seem anything special or memorable. Its just what he does now. 

 

Aspinal drops a massive 16 places and is 23rd ranked now. Brutal. Josh Rock has cracked the Top 16 now too, which is great news. Peter Wright is still somehow scraping into the Top 16, but I assume its only a matter of when not if he drops out, and it will be sooner rather than later. 

[TheBurningRed]

Lots of big names dropping in the rankings. Dimi is in the twenties now and will probably drop further. Not in position to qualify for the Grand Prix, Players Finals or Grand Slam (unless he wins the bullshit tour card qualifier).

MVG has a couple more months but currently is way off qualifying for the Players Finals as only has 7 grand on that ranking. Being runner up at the Worlds has got him into the Grand Slam or he’d be struggling with that.

Joe Cullen is slowly making his way out of the top 32.

Peter Wright surprisingly in all the tournaments to come despite his form. He’ll stay in the top 16 but the end of the worlds.

As for Aspinall, he’s only one spot outside of qualifying for the Players Finals. He will definitely start playing more pro tour events now to get back up the rankings. 

[hallicks]

Aspinall's been great so far this year, so I can see him getting back into the top 16 if he carries on. 

Mardle going on about how Wade was slowing the game down by pausing and staring at the board before he retrieves his darts, like it was a deliberate ploy he only used against Littler. Jeeesuz. How about every fucking game he played this week, bellend. Also Littler's been dabbling with going 16s/8s for a good few weeks now, and with pretty good success, so it annoyed me how they acted surprised about it in his first game. Dawson's usually excellent but he was commentating on the WSD and the Euro tour when Littler started doing it, so presumably he had to act surprised to make Mardle seem like less of a dickhead. 

[Dai]

Mardle, and in particular John Part, are both dreadful.

 

Cullen too is defending 40k at the Grand Prix too, so will be out of the top 32 fairly soon. 

[TheBurningRed]

14 minutes ago, Dai said:

Mardle, and in particular John Part, are both dreadful.

 

Cullen too is defending 40k at the Grand Prix too, so will be out of the top 32 fairly soon. 

Cullen has 7 pro tour events to get a place at the Grand Prix so could defend his money. Just needs consistency back on all aspects.

I think John Part is the best commentator. Mardle is better with him and at his absolute worse when with any combination of Studd/Pyke/Turner who are the absolute worse.