Official Darts Thread

[Dai]

Been ill these last few days, so have watched pretty much every game. The first two nights have been very entertaining to watch.

 

Nicholson looked very good. Hit some very nice out shots. Same goes for Webster. After his showing in the World Cup and then this match, I think quite a few people will be putting some cash on him to beat Taylor in the quarters. Speaking of Taylor, he was appaling. Reminded me of the period a few years back when he lost to Manley in the PL. An 88 average, and just one 180. The commentators were having a field day about how bad Taylor was playing. Crazy game to watch.

 

 

Co Stompe lost. He played piss poor. Lloyd played average, but it turned into a very exciting game. Adi Lewis looked really classy against Eccles. Eccles was scoring huge, but Adi kept in there and hit some big out shots. Hes looking good for a deep run. Baxter did enough to beat an average Scholten performance. Baxter vs Webster should be very good, and Im picking Webster to win.

 

 

Dudbridge/Roy is the pick of the games tonight. Should be easy wins for Whitlock and Anderson, but you never know with Anderson.

[AlternativeWrestling]

and now Kevin Painter is out, some good matches this year so far

[garynysmon]

Gutted that Richie Burnett lost tonight. Felt he was a bit hot and cold all game, lack of consistency.

[undercover elephant]

Glad James Wade made it past the Spanish No 1!! A 91 average is below his standards, but a win is a win! He's got to up his game in the next round for sure.

 

Gary Anderson has impressed thus far with a good win and a 103 average in the first round. Barney plays on Wednesday so we'll have to see how his frame of mind is after his World Cup win a few weeks ago.

[garynysmon]

I thought Dennis Ovens' finishing was particularly impressive, considering he was feeling ill. Good solid pro.

[The Natural]

Mervyn King has hit out at the growing culture of booing players while they are at the oche as he prepares for his opening PDC World Championship match.

 

King, 44, believes an increasing number of non-darts fans are stepping over the line with their vocal interaction.

 

He told BBC Radio Norfolk: "I'm up there to do a job, I'm not there to have a jolly with the crowd.

 

"It's my living. I don't turn up at their work and boo in their ears for eight hours, do I?"

 

The 2009 semi-finalist, from Bradwell in Norfolk, has defended supporters who come to appreciate top quality darts and hopes vocal spectators keep within the spirit of the game at Alexandra Palace.

 

He added: "The actual darts fans are fine, it's the others that turn up and get drunk and show no respect to anybody or anything in the venue.

 

"They're turning up with a football crowd scenario, they're not really darts fans, the true darts fans will give respect to the players.

 

"It's OK having your favourite, but show some respect when the players are at the board.

 

"It's not just unfair, it's downright out of order. But the mentality of people - it says a lot about them really."

 

King will face either Magnus Caris or Dietmar Burger in the first round on Thursday, with his opponent decided earlier the same day.

 

But the world number six admits he will also have to overcome the emotion of losing his father, who died earlier this year.

 

"It's not been the greatest pre-tournament regime. I'm now starting to get my head around the game a little bit," he said.

 

"But there's a lot more to life than darts."

 

Credit: bbc.co.uk

 

There's always a couple of players you don't like and King's one of mine. Having said that I'm sorry for the passing of his Dad.

Edited December 22, 2010 by The Natural

[Keith Houchen]

King can fuck off. With the exception of Taylor he has the least respect for fans I've ever met. When they are sucking his cock he is fine with it though.

[Baz Windham]

I agree with the sentiment of it though. Chris Mason described it well when he saying surely the paying fans want to see the very best darts being played and this can hinder it, he likened it to throwing drawing pins on the track at F1

Edited December 22, 2010 by Baz Windham

[Keith Houchen]

Yeah I agree with the sentiment but, like Ted BO Hankey, you can't play the part of a pantomime villain and then moan when you get booed. Darts IS becoming like a night out/piss up but if you promote is as entertainment then people will treat you as an entertainer.

[The Cum Doctor]

Mervyn King doesn't really play the panto villain though.

 

Paul Nicholson can't deal with the booing in the more enclosed spaces. He has had problems on the smaller boards at the UK Open.

[Keith Houchen]

No but he does play the cunt in real life and is strongly disliked by many darts fans. Granted its mainly a bandwagon and rumour but he deserves all he gets in my opinion.

[Baz Windham]

I only dip in and out of the Worlds before Christmas and i'm glad because nearly every match i've seen has been a woeful standard this year, they've been making Tony Fleet look like Phil Taylor. Hope it picks up after Christmas, I'm sure it will

[undercover elephant]

It will be interesting to hear the crowd's reactions to King this evening. I think it's the aggressive side to King that the fans dislike. BUT, you need players like King to progress through the tournament, as on his day he can be a good player for TV.

 

Imagine the first round at Lakeside with Waites and Hankey.

[Stylin_and_Profilin]

Anyone see Bates v McDine last night? one of the poorest PDC championship games i've seen in a long time and although they werent top drawer names neither was exactly a newcomer or new to playing on telly. Was BDO standard.

[jimufctna24]

Yeah McDine and Bates was ultra crap

 

Maybe its just me but it seems like the standard in the first round was so much better last year, Anderson was the most impressive I saw and Barney was solid last night

 

Id like Whitlock or Nicolson to win though, should be interesting to see King tonight and see if he loses it