Unibet World Grand Prix 2018 (Sept 30-Oct 6)

[thegentle]

I just think the PDC is in transition Taylor Retiring, Barney Past his best nd Ando winding down.

Looking at the OoM from 2013 has its fair share of Cloggers in the top 16. I think the likes of Gurney and Smith will be outside the top 16 within 5 Years

1 Taylor, Phil England £756,100
2 Lewis, Adrian England £359,100
3 Wade, James England £335,500
4 van Gerwen, Michael Netherlands £324,300
5 Whitlock, Simon Australia £274,000
6 Hamilton, Andy England £242,500
7 Newton, Wes England £237,400
8 van Barneveld, Raymond Netherlands £193,800
9 Chisnall, Dave England £185,000
10 Pipe, Justin England £184,400
11 Anderson, Gary Scotland £160,900
12 Painter, Kevin England £155,200
13 King, Mervyn England £150,300
14 Nicholson, Paul Australia £143,900
15 Thornton, Robert Scotland £141,200
16 Jenkins, Terry England £140,700

Bit of a bold statement that, they're both fairly young and should be at or near their primes in 5 years. There are plenty of other players in the top 16 I'd back to drop out before those two

[StevieBoy]

I just think the PDC is in transition Taylor Retiring, Barney Past his best nd Ando winding down.

Looking at the OoM from 2013 has its fair share of Cloggers in the top 16. I think the likes of Gurney and Smith will be outside the top 16 within 5 Years

1 Taylor, Phil England £756,100
2 Lewis, Adrian England £359,100
3 Wade, James England £335,500
4 van Gerwen, Michael Netherlands £324,300
5 Whitlock, Simon Australia £274,000
6 Hamilton, Andy England £242,500
7 Newton, Wes England £237,400
8 van Barneveld, Raymond Netherlands £193,800
9 Chisnall, Dave England £185,000
10 Pipe, Justin England £184,400
11 Anderson, Gary Scotland £160,900
12 Painter, Kevin England £155,200
13 King, Mervyn England £150,300
14 Nicholson, Paul Australia £143,900
15 Thornton, Robert Scotland £141,200
16 Jenkins, Terry England £140,700

Bit of a bold statement that, they're both fairly young and should be at or near their primes in 5 years. There are plenty of other players in the top 16 I'd back to drop out before those two

Your right it's a bold statement but I think both players flatter to decieve

[The Thorn]

Gurney may have reached his peak but think he'll still be around the top 10 mark for the next years to come. Smith though I think is a potential top 5 player, this may well be his breakthrough year. Needs to do a bit more on TV and he'll really kick on.

[tungsten tossers]

Cross seems to have been a false dawn.
Not convinced by Smith.
White, Whitlock just forget it.
Game desperately needs someone to break through
De zwaan definitely looks the one, this week just a blip in his progress hopefully.

If you put it like that, sure, the top of the game is a little stagnant at the moment, but I wouldn't write off Cross or Smith at all. Cross is looking very snatchy, I think that's more the pressure telling that anything, I think he'll be fine next year if he no longer has the tag of world champion around him. Smith hasn't got the results of late, some of that is poor form, but he's also had some tough draws too. It's still been a breakthrough year for him with his performances in the PL and the WS, and sure they're 'exbos', but they're still big moments in his career.
De Zwaan is gonna be a star, I'm certain of that. So will Cadby, as long as he can actually base himself in the UK, so that's 4 20-somethings who could stick around at the top for a long time

Cross has plenty of time o sort himself out.. he probably doesn't know what is going wrong himself after riding the crest of a wave last year. This is the first time he has struggled since hitting the big time and he will learn how to balance the rough with the smooth.
The top 16 is looking stagnant but it takes time for the new players to break through due to the two year OOM. We have seen many new winners and finalists this year and I think next year will be the same as the likes of Barney and Gando wind down and MvG chooses which events to play in. A lot of the emerging players are not yet used to the TV majors and will get better with experience. The tour is massive now and no game is easy anymore, even in the qualifiers and PC events.
Darts, post Taylor, was always going to be a bit strange and most thought that MvG would just clean up the majors which has not happened. I am looking forward to the next few months to see who has a good run.
I just hope that the likes of JdZ, Cadby, Dimitri, Jamie Lewis and Noppie can show that they are ready for the big events. I think if bully boy can win a major he will kick on into the top 5/6. He still has plenty of time.
I think at times we are over critical of players as we expect their A game all the time and as soon as they have a poor tournament we are writing them off and calling them useless cunts. A lot of the new guys will learn how to improve their B game with experience . In any sport you don't get perfection in every game..

[miguelking]

I would be surprised if Cross wins many more majors if any.

[The Thorn]

I would be surprised if Cross wins many more majors if any.

I think he will win a few. This season has been a bit of a struggle but still not a really bad year overall. We know he has the game as well as the mental capacity to win big events. I think he just needs to learn how to deal with these harder periods, and he'll be fine in a year or two.

Becoming a world champ in your first year as a pro must be an extremely heavy burden to carry. Everyone was going mad after Ally Pally and expected him to challenge MVG for the world no.1 spot which was just stupid, honestly. I would say looking at only this years results, Cross is still in the top 8. Which is a respectable performance, but some people already say he's finished and a one-season wonder. It's impossible to live up to these expectations.

[Randall]

Maybe, Just maybe, come January, assuming he isn't the world champion still he may do better next year with the target off his back.
First year on the world series and everything else, it's a lot to adjust too.

[miguelking]

I don't think so. WE shall SEE. I just think players like De zwaan will come along and batter him in the long run.

[Rogg]

I think at times we are over critical of players as we expect their A game all the time and as soon as they have a poor tournament we are writing them off and calling them useless cunts. A lot of the new guys will learn how to improve their B game with experience . In any sport you don't get perfection in every game..

Well said. All should treat themselves to high standards but a few people burn through darts players like the rest of us get through tea bags.

[Rogg]

https://mobile.twitter.com/ochepedia

[thegentle]

https://mobile.twitter.com/ochepedia

I see the prize money has stayed the same, just as it has since 2014. All the while the Worlds money has gone up and up, and even the Matchplay has received a small boost

[Ross, Bob]

Excellent start, Gary.... Excellent start....

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[Ross, Bob]

Same old story.... Gary set to play Gurney and Gurney always wins..

Can't get one over Superchin damn....

Oh, and just give the trophy to van Gerwen and spare us some choking from the others please thank you....

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Sad Beppe