GSOD 2021

[The Ginge Reaper]

Everyone jizzed about the group stage element of the Zuiderduienededededduein. And that was even worse with groups of 3 ffs.

[The Thorn]

Zuiderduin was a proper event, would like to see it back. Always had better crowds than the UK events too.

[Rogg]

Just release an owl in the players' room. Whoever catches it first can have the title.

[Randall]

Another samey tournament? No thanks. We need more variety in PDC tournaments right now, not less.

Group stages are utter bollocks

I don't love group stages as such but there are hardly loads of ways of formatting tournaments, are there? You could google up Triple Elimination Tournament Brackets... not before bedtime though.

All the Sky Sports events are highly distinctive.

Premier League - World Cup - World Matchplay - World Grand Prix - Grand Slam of Darts - World Championship

League, groups, pairs, legplay, setplay, double-in... No-one can accuse Sky of being samey. If anything you could argue it's weirdly gimmicky.

I accept it gives it an identity
I just don't like all the irrelevant games it throws up
Add in the floor qualifiers I just find the early part of the event tedious.

It has an identity then. Good.

Well, you know. The groups can provide fun too. Group stages have been around forever and you're not powerful enough to prevent them so it's up to you what you do with it. The GSoD format seems to be a continuation of the old International Darts League thingy. Hearn withdrew the troops etc.

I miss fanny

[Rogg]

Everyone jizzed about the group stage element of the Zuiderduienededededduein. And that was even worse with groups of 3 ffs.

It was as recently as 1998 that the PDC Worlds itself was played in 8 groups of 3.

[Randall]

Everyone jizzed about the group stage element of the Zuiderduienededededduein. And that was even worse with groups of 3 ffs.

It was as recently as 1998 that the PDC Worlds itself was played in 8 groups of 3.

God yes

[PT13]

Everyone jizzed about the group stage element of the Zuiderduienededededduein. And that was even worse with groups of 3 ffs.

It was as recently as 1998 that the PDC Worlds itself was played in 8 groups of 3.

God yes

The first 5 years at the Circus Tavern it was like that, 1994-1998. Eric Bristow in 1997 had that famous run to the semi finals where Phil Taylor beat him, but Bristow had lost in the group stage to Gary Mawson. Bristow got through his group with Mawson and Bob Anderson on leg difference.

[Randall]

Everyone jizzed about the group stage element of the Zuiderduienededededduein. And that was even worse with groups of 3 ffs.

It was as recently as 1998 that the PDC Worlds itself was played in 8 groups of 3.

God yes

The first 5 years at the Circus Tavern it was like that, 1994-1998. Eric Bristow in 1997 had that famous run to the semi finals where Phil Taylor beat him, but Bristow had lost in the group stage to Gary Mawson. Bristow got through his group with Mawson and Bob Anderson on leg difference.

They were desperate for players in the early days

[PT13]

Everyone jizzed about the group stage element of the Zuiderduienededededduein. And that was even worse with groups of 3 ffs.

It was as recently as 1998 that the PDC Worlds itself was played in 8 groups of 3.

God yes

The first 5 years at the Circus Tavern it was like that, 1994-1998. Eric Bristow in 1997 had that famous run to the semi finals where Phil Taylor beat him, but Bristow had lost in the group stage to Gary Mawson. Bristow got through his group with Mawson and Bob Anderson on leg difference.

They were desperate for players in the early days

Aye. During the 1994-1997 Circus Tavern World Championships, anyone who played in them was banned from any BDO darts, even down to county matches and exhibition matches. It was only after the spring of 1997, beginning with News of the World's brief revival, and then the Tomlin Order, that things could change. Chris Mason played at the Circus Tavern in 1997. If not for the Tomlin Order 6 months later, he couldn't have gone back to Lakeside like he did from 1998-2001.

[Rogg]

Everyone jizzed about the group stage element of the Zuiderduienededededduein. And that was even worse with groups of 3 ffs.

It was as recently as 1998 that the PDC Worlds itself was played in 8 groups of 3.

God yes

The first 5 years at the Circus Tavern it was like that, 1994-1998. Eric Bristow in 1997 had that famous run to the semi finals where Phil Taylor beat him, but Bristow had lost in the group stage to Gary Mawson. Bristow got through his group with Mawson and Bob Anderson on leg difference.

Did anyone ever win the Worlds having lost a game in it?

[Randall]

Everyone jizzed about the group stage element of the Zuiderduienededededduein. And that was even worse with groups of 3 ffs.

It was as recently as 1998 that the PDC Worlds itself was played in 8 groups of 3.

God yes

The first 5 years at the Circus Tavern it was like that, 1994-1998. Eric Bristow in 1997 had that famous run to the semi finals where Phil Taylor beat him, but Bristow had lost in the group stage to Gary Mawson. Bristow got through his group with Mawson and Bob Anderson on leg difference.

Did anyone ever win the Worlds having lost a game in it?

I don't remember but it's a great question

[PT13]

Everyone jizzed about the group stage element of the Zuiderduienededededduein. And that was even worse with groups of 3 ffs.

It was as recently as 1998 that the PDC Worlds itself was played in 8 groups of 3.

God yes

The first 5 years at the Circus Tavern it was like that, 1994-1998. Eric Bristow in 1997 had that famous run to the semi finals where Phil Taylor beat him, but Bristow had lost in the group stage to Gary Mawson. Bristow got through his group with Mawson and Bob Anderson on leg difference.

Did anyone ever win the Worlds having lost a game in it?

No. Nobody. The only times that somebody lost a match in the group stage and still got through to the quarter finals were Tom Kirby in 1994, Eric Bristow and Rod Harrington in 1997, and Keith Deller and Harry Robinson in 1998. Only Bristow in 1997 and Deller in 1998 got to the semi finals.

[Ross, Bob]

It was as recently as 1998 that the PDC Worlds itself was played in 8 groups of 3.

God yes

The first 5 years at the Circus Tavern it was like that, 1994-1998. Eric Bristow in 1997 had that famous run to the semi finals where Phil Taylor beat him, but Bristow had lost in the group stage to Gary Mawson. Bristow got through his group with Mawson and Bob Anderson on leg difference.

Did anyone ever win the Worlds having lost a game in it?

No. Nobody. The only times that somebody lost a match in the group stage and still got through to the quarter finals were Tom Kirby in 1994, Eric Bristow and Rod Harrington in 1997, and Keith Deller and Harry Robinson in 1998. Only Bristow in 1997 and Deller in 1998 got to the semi finals.