How many darts players do you actively hate?

[The Thorn]

Of course one tournament isn't going to be responsible for darts stars in every country. It's a start and a good opportunity for players to have stage practice. It's not enough of course to play once or twice a year on TV. But maybe the prize money could help them travel to more events or the exposure could help them secure new sponsors. The PDC can't afford to develop darts in every country like they did in Germany but I am grateful that at least these opportunities exist.

I like both of your tournament ideas. But it seems like the calendar is pretty saturated these days. I don't realistically see the PDC establishing multiple new events. I would take the shootout instead of the Masters. I would definitely not replace the World Cup with a pairs event restricted to top 64, which again would be pretty familiar faces with an odd exception here and there. These players still feature in Euro Tours and Pro Tours a lot

Darts simply will not become popular in some nations and in turn result in a increase in people from those nations taking up the game. The PDC tried for years to crack the US market, but it didn't really work. As I established in my previous post, there is little evidence to suggest that the World Cup has grown the game significantly internationally.

The shootout could indeed replace the Masters. There is also a gap between July and October where there is little meaningful darts on TV. Perhaps a TV pairs event could slot in there if it's viable. There used to be that crappy BBC event in September.

Pro Tour and Euro Tour events are only available on stream and most are played on the floor. Therefore, there are a lot of TC holders who rarely feature in TV stage events. For example, has your hero Ross Montgomery appeared on TV at all since he fluked winning tour card?

Actually in recent years the standard in the US has been growing. They have a few players now that are good enough to have a tour card. And this has definitely something to do with the CDC's activities who now have a proper tour there in partnership with the PDC. This will increase the interest in darts and hopefully down the line we can have more main tour events there. I think North America is a good example for the standard growing.

As Malt said the Women's Series is another great example. Compare the standard in women's darts now to what it was 5 years ago the difference is clear. And the PDC played a part in that.

Probably same goes for the Asian Tour as well. Loads of players there we haven't heard of capable of maintaining an 80+ average. Which might not be enough to be competitive on the main tour but it's a good base to build on.

You have to have the World Cup, World Series and World Championship to support these satellite tours and give them incentives.

[The Thorn]

I enjoyed the European Championship. I will probably enjoy the Players' Championship too.

A nice mix of high quality darts and players that don't appear on TV that often.

European Championship field was pretty much same as the WGP, I think only 4 different players. PC Finals with 64 players is of course a good example.

[TheMalteseDart]

I enjoyed the European Championship. I will probably enjoy the Players' Championship too.

A nice mix of high quality darts and players that don't appear on TV that often.

UK Open is my favourite for the same reason, with the bonus of no seedlings making the draws fun and ‘pub’ qualifiers

[sennafan24]

I enjoyed the European Championship. I will probably enjoy the Players' Championship too.

A nice mix of high quality darts and players that don't appear on TV that often.

UK Open is my favourite for the same reason, with the bonus of no seedlings making the draws fun and ‘pub’ qualifiers

UK Open is my favourite tournament other than the Matchplay.

[sennafan24]

Actually in recent years the standard in the US has been growing. They have a few players now that are good enough to have a tour card. And this has definitely something to do with the CDC's activities who now have a proper tour there in partnership with the PDC. This will increase the interest in darts and hopefully down the line we can have more main tour events there. I think North America is a good example for the standard growing.

As Malt said the Women's Series is another great example. Compare the standard in women's darts now to what it was 5 years ago the difference is clear. And the PDC played a part in that.

Probably same goes for the Asian Tour as well. Loads of players there we haven't heard of capable of maintaining an 80+ average. Which might not be enough to be competitive on the main tour but it's a good base to build on.

You have to have the World Cup, World Series and World Championship to support these satellite tours and give them incentives.

As I've stated, I don't oppose the PDC investing in tours for other regions. I think they are wise investments, which may or may not work out.

All I argued is that I don't see any evidence that the World Cup has significantly improved the growth of the game internationally. For example, the World Cup was around for years and it didn't help produce a US superstar. If, as you claim, the standard has improved due to the PDC having a tour over there, then that further proves my point that it's a tour rather than a single event responsible. I argued something similar on the previous page about the PDC and the growth in Germany darts.

I agree there should be a incentive in the form of a World Championship spot for some of these tours.

I'm not arguing that the World Cup should be scrapped btw, just that I have little interest in watching it and wouldn't give a toss if it was scrapped.

[sennafan24]

I enjoyed the European Championship. I will probably enjoy the Players' Championship too.

A nice mix of high quality darts and players that don't appear on TV that often.

European Championship field was pretty much same as the WGP, I think only 4 different players. PC Finals with 64 players is of course a good example.

And I also find the WGP refreshing because it features some players that aren't on TV that often.

[The Thorn]

I enjoyed the European Championship. I will probably enjoy the Players' Championship too.

A nice mix of high quality darts and players that don't appear on TV that often.

European Championship field was pretty much same as the WGP, I think only 4 different players. PC Finals with 64 players is of course a good example.

And I also find the WGP refreshing because it features some players that aren't on TV that often.

Really? The qualifying criteria is the exact same as the Matchplay. If you can qualify for the Matchplay or Grand Prix you will be pretty much a TV regular at that point.

[sennafan24]

I enjoyed the European Championship. I will probably enjoy the Players' Championship too.

A nice mix of high quality darts and players that don't appear on TV that often.

European Championship field was pretty much same as the WGP, I think only 4 different players. PC Finals with 64 players is of course a good example.

And I also find the WGP refreshing because it features some players that aren't on TV that often.

Really? The qualifying criteria is the exact same as the Matchplay. If you can qualify for the Matchplay or Grand Prix you will be pretty much a TV regular at that point.

There is a gap in the first six months of the year between the Masters and the Matchplay where the only TV darts we get is PL, UK Open, World Series. Only the UK Open showcases the entire PDC main tour. After the Matchplay there is another 3 month gap until the GP. In that timeframe we only get World Series events on TV.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

[The Thorn]

I enjoyed the European Championship. I will probably enjoy the Players' Championship too.

A nice mix of high quality darts and players that don't appear on TV that often.

European Championship field was pretty much same as the WGP, I think only 4 different players. PC Finals with 64 players is of course a good example.

And I also find the WGP refreshing because it features some players that aren't on TV that often.

Really? The qualifying criteria is the exact same as the Matchplay. If you can qualify for the Matchplay or Grand Prix you will be pretty much a TV regular at that point.

There is a gap in the first six months of the year between the Masters and the Matchplay where the only TV darts we get is PL, UK Open, World Series. Only the UK Open showcases the entire PDC main tour. After the Matchplay there is another 3 month gap until the GP. In that timeframe we only get World Series events on TV.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

Fair enough from that perspective. But I wouldn't say it's a really diverse field. It's just that the balance of proper TV events is different and most of them are in the second half of the year.

Of course I'm like most people on the forum following the Euro Tours which are basically mini TV events. So there is a lot more exposure for players there

[vizIIsto]

European Championship field was pretty much same as the WGP, I think only 4 different players.

And I also find the WGP refreshing because it features some players that aren't on TV that often.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

Here's a list of players that played in the Grand Prix but not the Matchplay in a given year:

2023: Callan Rydz & Luke Woodhouse
2022: Ross Smith
2021: Mensur Suljovic (because he withdrew from the Matchplay) & Martijn Kleermaker & Darius Labanauskas

There are so few tournaments between the Matchplay and the Grand Prix that the field is pretty much the same.
If anything the overlap between the Grand Prix and something like the Euros is much weaker.
Don't know where you got these assumptions from.

[Ross, Bob]

Can we just go back to hating darts players?

[vizIIsto]

Can we just go back to hating cricket?

It's shit.

[Ross, Bob]

Can we just go back to hating cricket?

It's shit.

Eloquently said.

+1

[thegentle]

European Championship field was pretty much same as the WGP, I think only 4 different players.

And I also find the WGP refreshing because it features some players that aren't on TV that often.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

Here's a list of players that played in the Grand Prix but not the Matchplay in a given year:

2023: Callan Rydz & Luke Woodhouse
2022: Ross Smith
2021: Mensur Suljovic (because he withdrew from the Matchplay) & Martijn Kleermaker & Darius Labanauskas

There are so few tournaments between the Matchplay and the Grand Prix that the field is pretty much the same.
If anything the overlap between the Grand Prix and something like the Euros is much weaker.
Don't know where you got these assumptions from.

+1, and to back up your point further, Rowby-John would have made the Grand Prix last year had he not pulled out of a Euro Tour event after the Matchplay

[Ross, Bob]

European Championship field was pretty much same as the WGP, I think only 4 different players.

And I also find the WGP refreshing because it features some players that aren't on TV that often.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

Here's a list of players that played in the Grand Prix but not the Matchplay in a given year:

2023: Callan Rydz & Luke Woodhouse
2022: Ross Smith
2021: Mensur Suljovic (because he withdrew from the Matchplay) & Martijn Kleermaker & Darius Labanauskas

There are so few tournaments between the Matchplay and the Grand Prix that the field is pretty much the same.
If anything the overlap between the Grand Prix and something like the Euros is much weaker.
Don't know where you got these assumptions from.

+1, and to back up your point further, Rowby-John would have made the Grand Prix last year had he not pulled out of a Euro Tour event after the Matchplay

What are you doing mate? This thread is now about cricket, specifically the fact that it's shit.

[sennafan24]

Here's a list of players that played in the Grand Prix but not the Matchplay in a given year:

2023: Callan Rydz & Luke Woodhouse
2022: Ross Smith
2021: Mensur Suljovic (because he withdrew from the Matchplay) & Martijn Kleermaker & Darius Labanauskas

There are so few tournaments between the Matchplay and the Grand Prix that the field is pretty much the same.
If anything the overlap between the Grand Prix and something like the Euros is much weaker.
Don't know where you got these assumptions from.

There is a gap in the first six months of the year between the Masters and the Matchplay where the only TV darts we get is PL, UK Open, World Series. Only the UK Open showcases the entire PDC main tour. After the Matchplay there is another 3 month gap until the GP. In that timeframe we only get World Series events on TV.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

[vizIIsto]

Here's a list of players that played in the Grand Prix but not the Matchplay in a given year:

2023: Callan Rydz & Luke Woodhouse
2022: Ross Smith
2021: Mensur Suljovic (because he withdrew from the Matchplay) & Martijn Kleermaker & Darius Labanauskas

There are so few tournaments between the Matchplay and the Grand Prix that the field is pretty much the same.
If anything the overlap between the Grand Prix and something like the Euros is much weaker.
Don't know where you got these assumptions from.

There is a gap in the first six months of the year between the Masters and the Matchplay where the only TV darts we get is PL, UK Open, World Series. Only the UK Open showcases the entire PDC main tour. After the Matchplay there is another 3 month gap until the GP. In that timeframe we only get World Series events on TV.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

I will deliberately leave out stuff you say that doesn't fit in line with the point I'm trying to make.

[Ross, Bob]

Here's a list of players that played in the Grand Prix but not the Matchplay in a given year:

2023: Callan Rydz & Luke Woodhouse
2022: Ross Smith
2021: Mensur Suljovic (because he withdrew from the Matchplay) & Martijn Kleermaker & Darius Labanauskas

There are so few tournaments between the Matchplay and the Grand Prix that the field is pretty much the same.
If anything the overlap between the Grand Prix and something like the Euros is much weaker.
Don't know where you got these assumptions from.

There is a gap in the first six months of the year between the Masters and the Matchplay where the only TV darts we get is PL, UK Open, World Series. Only the UK Open showcases the entire PDC main tour. After the Matchplay there is another 3 month gap until the GP. In that timeframe we only get World Series events on TV.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

I will deliberately leave out stuff you say that doesn't fit in line with the point I'm trying to make.

Viz stealing Thorn's gimmick there.

[vizIIsto]

Here's a list of players that played in the Grand Prix but not the Matchplay in a given year:

2023: Callan Rydz & Luke Woodhouse
2022: Ross Smith
2021: Mensur Suljovic (because he withdrew from the Matchplay) & Martijn Kleermaker & Darius Labanauskas

There are so few tournaments between the Matchplay and the Grand Prix that the field is pretty much the same.
If anything the overlap between the Grand Prix and something like the Euros is much weaker.
Don't know where you got these assumptions from.

There is a gap in the first six months of the year between the Masters and the Matchplay where the only TV darts we get is PL, UK Open, World Series. Only the UK Open showcases the entire PDC main tour. After the Matchplay there is another 3 month gap until the GP. In that timeframe we only get World Series events on TV.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

I will deliberately leave out stuff you say that doesn't fit in line with the point I'm trying to make.

Viz stealing Thorn's gimmick there.

You can't steal your own gimmick can you?

[Ross, Bob]

Here's a list of players that played in the Grand Prix but not the Matchplay in a given year:

2023: Callan Rydz & Luke Woodhouse
2022: Ross Smith
2021: Mensur Suljovic (because he withdrew from the Matchplay) & Martijn Kleermaker & Darius Labanauskas

There are so few tournaments between the Matchplay and the Grand Prix that the field is pretty much the same.
If anything the overlap between the Grand Prix and something like the Euros is much weaker.
Don't know where you got these assumptions from.

There is a gap in the first six months of the year between the Masters and the Matchplay where the only TV darts we get is PL, UK Open, World Series. Only the UK Open showcases the entire PDC main tour. After the Matchplay there is another 3 month gap until the GP. In that timeframe we only get World Series events on TV.

It's therefore nice when the GP and Euros roll around and I get to see a larger chunk of the PDC Tour play in TV stage events.

I will deliberately leave out stuff you say that doesn't fit in line with the point I'm trying to make.

Viz stealing Thorn's gimmick there.

You can't steal your own gimmick can you?

You can if you forgot you've had it in the first place. Only Randall is allowed to do that though.