Darts articles in the Media thread

[ChrisW]

Luckily the festival of darts on November 11th has been included.

[Rogg]

https://dartsnews.com/pdc/sleeping-van- ... ague-darts

After the awards ceremony and other commitments, the players returned to the players' hotel, where drinks were had in the bar. However, not all semi-finalists appeared to be up for that, as Smith did not show up.

Van Gerwen, Price and Clayton then could not resist teasing the world champion some more via social media. The three darters present took a selfie and wondered if 'Bullyboy' was already in bed.

[Rogg]

https://dartsnews.com/pdc/question-abou ... illionaire

Clemmy was a quiz question on the German 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire?'

'He was asked at which tournament Gabriel Clemens managed to make history at the beginning of this year. The candidate could choose from the World Darts Championship, the Four Hills Tournament, NFL Playoffs and the Australian Open.

''Obvious answer B right?"'', joked Clemens on Instagram with a picture of the quiz question attached.'

[Potter's Lake]

100% Ask the Audience, impressive.

[Rogg]

Why darts is more popular than ever before
https://www.swlondoner.co.uk/sport/3105 ... ver-before


The sport of darts is exploding in popularity, with 33% more viewers and 10% more winnings for its players in the last year alone.

The 2023 PDC World Darts Championship Final between Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen saw almost two million people tune in to Sky Sports, half a million more than in 2022 and almost a million more than in 2021, seeing the ratings double in just two years.

---

PDC Media Executive Josh Gorton believes the sport’s massive increase in popularity is down to a whole host of factors, but the individual rivalries and characters cannot be overlooked.

Gorton’s first experience watching darts was the iconic 2007 World Championship Final, when Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld overcame a 3-0 set deficit to beat then-11-time world champion Phil Taylor and win the title.

That final was the first to top one million TV viewers on Sky, and with good reason too.

Gorton said: “I think in all sports you need a rivalry – Phil Taylor at the time was a real dominant figure in the sport – seeing that rivalry emerge between him and Barney was what really gave darts its first real boom in joining the PDC.

“There are big characters in the sport, darts is a predominantly working-class sport with working-class people, and I think that appeals to many – just look at Peter Wright, he’s a brand in himself!

“The atmosphere is unique as well, a sort of party atmosphere.”

---

The PDC Order of Merit – a ranking system based on prize money won over a two-year period by players in ranking tournaments – now shows more money in darts than ever before, the sum of the top 10 earners’ winnings passing £7 million for the first time.

Gorton commented on how The Order of Merit no longer represents the top 10 arrow-smiths making a professional living out of the sport, as pretty much all of the top 20 are now full-time, professional darts players.

Following a period of Taylor dominance, and van Barneveld’s mid-noughties charge, the level of competition has levelled up a gear and last year saw eight different TV title winners.

Gorton recalled his early days following the sport and compared it to now – painting the picture of a more globally popular game.

He said: “When I first started watching the darts in 2006, all eight quarter-finalists were English. In 2007, we had seven English plus van Barneveld.

“In the 2022/23 tournament, the four semi-finalists contained a German, Belgian, Dutch and one English representative.

“It’s such a global game now. The World Cup of Darts has even been expanded from 32 teams to 40 this year.”

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And this globalisation of the sport shows no sign of slowing down.

Smith and van Gerwen’s astonishing final went viral worldwide as Smith threw a nine-dart finish after van Gerwen missed his ninth throw to complete the feat – bringing even more attention to the sport.

Gorton added: “The nine-darter and Wayne Mardle’s commentary went absolutely viral – Smith was interviewed by Ariel Helwani, the MMA journalist who’s absolutely huge in America, taking the sport across the pond.

“It wasn’t just the final as well – German Gabriel Clemens’ sensational run to the semi-final generated massive interest.

“We had German TV news crews coming over from the quarter-finals onwards – and we’re not just talking sports stations – there was a peak of 3.78 million global viewers in his semi-final against Smith!”

---

While darts has always been a staple feature of pubs and social clubs for a number of years, much of the public needed a reminder of how easy it is to play over the Covid pandemic.

Gorton explained: “Darts was one of the first sports to come out of the pandemic, because there was literally nothing on.

“All of a sudden, the PDC launched the Home Tour, which did huge numbers the first few nights.

“Home darts and online darts have continued since then.”

While the entertainment aspect of darts undoubtedly suffered during Covid – losing that party atmosphere behind closed doors – it has helped to cultivate the perfect storm.

Sell-out crowds, massive TV viewing that has now gone global, and a new generation of even more gifted darts players eager to take each other on and celebrate their eccentricities.

It seems the best is yet to come.

[Randall]

Ironic at its most popular I've lost interest

[Rogg]

Ironic at its most popular I've lost interest

Darts is like Doctor Who. Withered in the 80s, warmed up in the 00s and then boom. Nerdy things lose some of their appeal when they become popular. Ask any dork.

[sennafan24]

I think the biggest reasons why some long-time fans have struggled to maintain interest in current darts are overexposure and how long they've been following it.

The novelty has worn off for them.

[The Ginge Reaper]

Darts winnings up by 10%.

So they have gone up by inflation then

[TheMalteseDart]

That’s why the pro tour and euro tour is good because you get exposed to different players. I think if I only watched majors on tv I’d grow quickly tired of it all

[Rogg]

People for Crossy a weirdo for his funny habits...


The small rituals that have helped turn Gerwyn Price into a darts superstar

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/g ... rview-2023

[tungsten tossers]

Ironic at its most popular I've lost interest

Darts is like Doctor Who. Withered in the 80s, warmed up in the 00s and then boom. Nerdy things lose some of their appeal when they become popular. Ask any dork.

Are you calling Randy a dork?

[Randall]

I lost all interest in who in 86

[oche balboa]

That’s why the pro tour and euro tour is good because you get exposed to different players. I think if I only watched majors on tv I’d grow quickly tired of it all

The anticipation of a match should be good. TV Events/Majors are still good to watch and i believe September-January is the best time for a darts fan has its full of tv events. I'm different to you all, I much prefer watching Senior darts, WDF Darts, PDC Majors and in and out of Modus. I rarely watch the Euro Tour

There are now different types of darts fan. When i was at the UK Open i was mainly at 3-8 boards and i loved it as i enjoy multiple darts going on at the same time, It's why i rarely look at a game on DC as i just watch the scores on the main page. I do this for Football & Cricket too

I'm a weirdo

[tungsten tossers]

Ironic at its most popular I've lost interest

Spending 18 hours a day at work doesn't help

[sennafan24]

The anticipation of a match should be good. TV Events/Majors are still good to watch and i believe September-January is the best time for a darts fan has its full of tv events. I'm different to you all, I much prefer watching Senior darts, WDF Darts, PDC Majors and in and out of Modus. I rarely watch the Euro Tour

There are now different types of darts fan. When i was at the UK Open i was mainly at 3-8 boards and i loved it as i enjoy multiple darts going on at the same time, It's why i rarely look at a game on DC as i just watch the scores on the main page. I do this for Football & Cricket too

I'm a weirdo

Amazingly Oche, other than the parts about WDF and Modus, I actually agree with all of this post.

Especially the final sentence

[oche balboa]

hahaha

[Randall]

Ironic at its most popular I've lost interest

Spending 18 hours a day at work doesn't help

There is that

[oche balboa]

And being old

[Rogg]

Ironic at its most popular I've lost interest

Darts is like Doctor Who. Withered in the 80s, warmed up in the 00s and then boom. Nerdy things lose some of their appeal when they become popular. Ask any dork.

Are you calling Randy a dork?

I am. Dork is a solid quality. Although the actual definition isn't completely kind.

A quirky, silly and/or stupid, socially inept person, or one who is out of touch with contemporary trends and typically has unfashionable hobbies.