This Week In Darts – 30th Of March 2024

TOURNAMENT THRILLS

Fallon Sherrock captured a title at the PDC Women’s Series for a second time last weekend, defeating contender Beau Greaves in the final.

The “Queen of the Palace” was a real class act during the final tournament of the opening weekend, losing just five legs in seven matches. In addition to victories over Rhiannon Graham and Mozhgan Rahmani, she also defeated Adriana van Wijgerden-Vermat, Noa-Lynn van Leuven, Kirsi Viinkainen, Desiree Geel and the aforementioned Beau Greaves for the title.

This officially makes Fallon Sherrock the leader on the Women’s Series Order of Merit after the opening weekend, where she earned 5,000 pounds. Following behind her are Mikuru Suzuki with 3,300, Noa-Lynn van Leuven with 2,800 and Beau Greaves with 2,400.

The number one of this tournament will go on to compete at the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Darts Championship respectively, while the number two gets to compete at Alexandra Palace.

GLOBAL DARTS SCENE

In the global darts circuit, John Hurring has made headlines for his impressive victory at the DPNZ Pro Tour event in Auckland.

Hurring came through a stacked 98-player field to win Event Three this past Saturday against New Zealand’s number one Ben Robb in a last-leg thriller. While Robb would miss two match darts in the dramatic decider, he did claim back-to-back titles in the DPNZ double-header last month.

Hurring would battle back against Rob from 6-5 down for a memorable win. The 38-year-old averaged 94.3, landing five 180s and converting a 110 checkout en route to victory, firing in an 11-darter skin-saver in the penultimate leg. Hurring not only scooped up the 1,000 pound prize for his efforts, but also won all four matches in the initial group phase and relinquishing a solitary leg in the process.

The victor, who previously competed in the 2018 Auckland Darts Masters, also registered wins against Craig Caldwell,Haupai Puha and Kayden Milne in the later stages of the tournament.

VENUE VARIATIONS

Former world champ Gerwyn Price has demanded that future darts tournaments take place away from the Alexandra Palace. Often hailed for its atmosphere, Ally Pally is where most players dream of being crowned world champion.

Except Price, that is. The 2021 World Champ feels the time has come to change venues. “I want to win it when the family’s there,” he said back in December. “Not watching on TV from 200 miles away.”

“And I want to lift up that trophy again when I can show it off and it’s not locked up in my kitchen,” he continues. “I don’t class 2021 as a win because it was sterile, it was like the Home Tour when we were playing in our living rooms. It may be the World Championship, but for me it’s not the real thing when it’s behind closed doors.”

“Not for me it isn’t,” he admits. “Can I win it again? Sure… when it goes to Wales, Germany or wherever. That’s what happens with other sports – their World Cup or World Championship is played in different countries. I think it’s only right that the tournament should move to different parts of the world, and then I’ll have a better chance.”

Where would Price like to see the game moved?

“Germany is becoming a huge market for the PDC and darts is growing massively all over Europe, so if they were to move it to Germany, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales or Belgium, I don’t see any reason why they can’t host it. I know darts has a lot of history invested in Ally Pally, but things change and you have to move on and move with the times.”

“Just change it up and make the game a bit fairer.”

What do you think? Should the PDC move future tournaments away from Alexandra Palace?

If so, where would you like to see future matches played out?

EPIC MATCH-UP

Luke Humphries won’t be making Premier League Darts history with a fourth consecutive night win. Luke Littler has officially snapped the champ’s hopes for that in Belfast during a dramatic decider.

Throwing an average of 102.02 and a 50% double percentage, ‘The Nuke’ prevailed over ‘Cool Hand Luke’ with a 6-5 win that advanced him to the semi-finals and a match with Michael van Gerwen.

Interestingly enough, following his third successive win in the Premier League last Thursday, Humphries admitted that he felt Littler was one rival capable of bringing his streak to an end.

“I am not arrogant at all,” he explains. “But, I feel like if I play my ‘A’ game, there are only a couple of people who can test me in that manner. I think Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen are the two that can push me and their ‘A’ level can beat me.”

“I feel like I am playing the best darts in the world,” he concluded. Especially in the past six or seven months consistently. But there are so many great players and anything can happen every week.”

Clearly, that statement is ringing a little truer this morning.

PLAYER INSIGHTS

Michael van Gerwen didn’t make it past the semi-finals on the ninth day of Premier League Darts. While ‘Mighty Mike’ was able to defeat Michael Smith, he would go on to lose 6-3 to Luke Littler.

“Right at the beginning of that match, it went wrong,” Van Gerwen told Viaplay after the match. “I can see he’s not comfortable and then I’m just too preoccupied with him instead of concentrating on my own game.”

“But there was still more in it,” he continued. “I have now played Luke six times, three of which I lost and three of which I won. Every time he won against me it was not convincing, while he does against other players. I just have to take advantage of that, which is still a downside that it didn’t work out tonight.”

The Dutchman is now third in the standings, five points off of leader Luke Humphries. “It’s still fighting for the playoffs,” he says. “You also see that everyone is extra motivated against me. But, don’t let that be an excuse, I just have to see for myself that I’m well prepared and then that shouldn’t be a problem.”