This Week In Darts – 26th Of April 2024

TOURNAMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Gary Anderson returned to his winning ways this weekend, defeating Ross Smith to take the title at the European Darts Grand Prix and ending a 10-year trophy drought on the European Tour.

“It’s been a very long time since winning a stage title,” said Anderson, who officially climbs to 21st in the world rankings thanks to this most recent tournament victory. “I don’t know how I’ve won it tonight; my last three games I’ve never been as lucky in darts.”

Anderson only returned to the tournament last year, following a seven year absence. Since then, the athlete admits that he has seen more than a few things change. Especially the crowds.

“Many years ago when I played in the European Tour the crowd was just starting to grow and since then it’s just got bigger and bigger,” the Scot recalls. “Wherever you go now, people want to play darts and watch darts; these crowds are incredible.”

And it was these crowds that cheered Anderson on all the way to victory at the Glaspalast!

Congratulations to the new PDC Euro Darts world champ!

Clearly, good things really do come to those who wait!

WOMEN IN SPORT

Beau Greaves is once again atop the Women’s Series Order Of Merit.

The 20-year-old Englishwoman managed to reach the finals at all four tournaments last weekend. She would win the title twice, while taking second place twice more before the end.

Greaves is now in first place after eight of the 24 Women’s Series tournaments with 8,400 pounds. She took the lead position away from Fallon Sherrock, who recorded a sole run to the final as her best result of the weekend. The “Queen of the Palace” brought her total prize money to 6900 pounds, keeping both Mikuru Suzuki and Noa-Lynn van Leuven below her with 6300 pounds and 5900 pounds respectively.

Lisa Ashton sits in fifth with the rest of the Top 10 comprised of Katie Sheldon, Robyn Byrne, Deta Hedman, Gemma Hayter and Lorraine Winstanley.

A total of 16 more tournaments will be played at the Women’s Series later this year. The top two players of the season will move on to compete in the World Darts Championship, while the number one ranked player will also receive an invitation to the prestigious Grand Slam of Darts.

PLAYER INSIGHTS

In the world of professional darts, there aren’t many better on the big stage than Nathan Aspinall.

Last Thursday night in Rotterdam, Aspinall took victory on Night 12 of the current Premier League Darts campaign, thriving in the atmosphere of the Dutch crowd. “I’m a big stage player. I hate going to Leicester or Milton Keynes for the Pro Tours,” ‘The Asp’ admitted in a conversation with Sky Sports. “I just hate them. But, you have to do them.”

“I’m a big stage player. That’s what you pick up the darts for the first time for, to play in these big arenas and big tournaments,” Aspinall continued. “I’m concentrating on the Premier League. I know, because of my ranking (world number 4 ed.), I’m in every TV tournament this year. Granted, I’ve fell down the Pro Tour rankings and I won’t be a seed, but I don’t care. It is what it is, I don’t worry about draws anymore.”

Tomorrow Aspinall will be back in Premier League Darts action on Night 13 in Liverpool, where he will take on Luke Humphries in the quarterfinals. Set your DVR’s accordingly!

TITLE TRIUMPHS

Both Ben Robb and Nicole Regnaud walked away with titles at the WDF North Island Masters last weekend, a New Zealand-based tournament with bronze status on the WDF calendar.

Previous gold medal World Cup winner Robb lost in the final of the South Island Masters last month, but emerged victorious in Hastings. After making it through the group stage, Robb took on Martin Black, Anthony Benitez and Harley Smith to reach the final. In it, he was 5-2 strong over Jonny Tata.

In the women’s tournament, Nicole Regnaud won her second WDF title of the year. Following a win over Jadine Black in the last 16, Regnaud recorded comfortable victories over Amelia Watt and Desi Mercer and forced a final against Wendy Harper. The latter was the defending champion, but saw the title go 5-2 to Regnaud after the 24-year-old New Zealander managed to throw a 141 finish for the win.

Congratulations to both winners on a pair of hard fought wins!

FROM THE EXPERTS

While currently sitting at fourth in the league table, Michael van Gerwen still has some work to do to ensure his spot in the playoffs.

The Dutchman went down immediately in the quarterfinals last week in Rotterdam and is now fourth in the standings as a result. The top four after 16 days of play will eventually qualify for the playoffs, Van Gerwen currently has a two-point lead over number five Michael Smith.

“Van Gerwen looked a little tired in Rotterdam but he’s got the ideal draw to bounce back with in Peter Wright,” former Premier League Darts winner Glen Durrant assesses via Sky Sports.

“I know what it’s like to be bottom of the table and you feel embarrassed. Peter probably just wants it all over,” Durrant continues. “Michael just has to get that work life balance right, let his body breathe and go into the Premier League full of energy.”

On Night 13, ‘Mighty Mike’ will square off against Peter Wright in the quarterfinals in Liverpool.