Does darts get better than this?

Last time I wrote an article it was on the eve of the best World Grand Prix we have ever seen. Wow. That was one hell of a tournament! If you didn’t enjoy that then I suggest you need a personality transplant! It had everything didn’t it? When I asked at the end of my previous article if there would be a 9 darter or a first round shock, I was only being optimistic, I didn’t really believe they would both actually happen! It’s like buses really, you wait 3 years for a 9 darter in double start format and then two come along in the same match! The match in which they came was in the second round between James Wade and Robert Thornton and it was one of, if not the, best darts matches I have ever seen. Incredibly, Wade was on the receiving end of the only other 9 darter in Grand Prix history in 2011 against Brendan Dolan and he repeated the feat himself this year with a perfect bullseye shot. Then only 2 sets later, Thornton replicated the feat with a 9 darter of his own. This feat was extra special for Thornton as he had come through an incredibly tough week because he attended his Mother’s funeral earlier that same day and I believe that every darts fan has huge respect for Thornton for continuing the tournament and performing to such impeccable standards. This is why many of us were gutted to see him miss 4 darts to win the match as both players thoroughly deserved to progress.

As for the first round shocks, they were provided by Gilding, Mansell, Painter, Winstanley and Burnett who all won against higher ranked opponents. Even Daryl Gurney had match darts to beat twice World Champion Adrian Lewis! But the shocks didn’t end in round 1 as Kevin Painter staged an unbelievable comeback from 2:0 down to beat Lewis 3:2 and then the biggest shock of the tournament came in the quarter finals when 11 time Grand Prix winner Phil Taylor was knocked out by in form James Wade on his way to the final. These shocks prove to me that this is definitely one of the most exciting and dramatic tournaments around and this is ultimately due to the double start format and the short matches. Also to make you aware that I’m getting better at these predictions! My players to watch out for, Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting, both reached the semi finals. #justsaying

However, despite all these shocks, it was still the World Number 1 and reigning World Champion Michael Van Gerwen who regained the crown. This tournament undoubtedly holds special memories for him as it provided him his first major tournament win two years ago. Once again, Van Gerwen showed that he is going to be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come. In addition, this tournament was also a huge success for James Wade but he will surely be disappointed he couldn’t win his third World Grand Prix title. Despite this, this tournament gave us a glimpse of the James Wade we first saw when he broke onto the darting scene and it was wonderful to see him back to his best. I’m not going to lie, I have never been his biggest fan but he is a real asset to darts when he is at his best and he will surely regain his Premier League place if his form continues. 

On the other hand, there was a few slight disappointments in this tournament, on a personal level my favourite players all went out early in the competition. Furthermore, I was personally slightly disappointed with the crowds, was it just me or did they seem relatively quiet? Many people are suggesting the high ticket prices are to blame. Another way I think the tournament could further improve is with a slight tweak to the schedule. I think even the most dedicated darts fan would struggle to watch all the action of the tournament which occasionally went into the early hours of the next morning. Therefore, I know that there is a jam packed yearly schedule in the PDC but for the fans sake, I think it would be beneficial to somehow change the schedule to avoid the late school nights! 

Finally, it was also disappointing to see Van Barneveld “give up” on the big stage. However, the game is going or whatever the score is, no professional player should ever throw their toys out the pram. Yes he was struggling with a back problem but if it was that bad he should have pulled out of the game and if it wasn’t then he should have just given it his all! It is so frustrating as a big Van Barneveld fan to see him do this as he now risks dropping out the World’s Top 16 despite being Premier League Champion. 

So where do we go next? ITV are broadcasting the next 2 big tournaments with the European Championship in Germany being held at the end of this month and then the Unibet Masters at the beginning of November. This is then followed by the Grand Slam of Darts back on Sky Sports on the 8th November. I am still backing my players to watch to succeed again in these tournaments (See post on 7th September). However, It will be very difficult to recreate the drama and quality of the World Grand Prix but lets see what happens because after all. You never know what’s around the corner.

World Grand Prix Preview

What is it that makes the World Grand Prix different from all the other darts majors? Is it the venue, the format or the crowd? I believe that every major tournament on the darting calendar brings something different to the table and the World Grand Prix is no different. 

Now, I thought long and hard about how to write this next article and decided that doing another conventional tournament preview would be too repetitive. It would probably lead to me making a fool of myself yet again with my predictions and lets be honest, the main competitors of this tournament won’t be any different to the previous ones this year. As a result, I decided that I would instead look at the history of this tournament and show why I think it is one of the best tournaments of the year. 

To begin with, the World Grand Prix began in the same year of my birth back in 1998 and the tournament was created as a replacement for the World Pairs tournament which had run 3 years previously. Originally, the tournament was held in Rochester, Kent for the first 2 years before being moved over the Irish Sea to Rosslare in the year 2000. Then, the tournament moved again the following year to the Citywest Hotel in the Irish capital of Dublin and this venue has been the home of the World Grand Prix for 14 years. I personally think it is the venue of this tournament that makes it such a success and before you ask…I am not Irish! However, the Irish crowd is one of the best throughout the world for their singing and passion while at the same time being respectful of the players. This is evidenced not just by the World Grand Prix but also by the Premier League as you won’t find many people who will disagree that Dublin is one of the best if not the best venue on the circuit. 

In addition, as the venue changed so did the prize money because throughout the years the huge crowds and Sky television rights have contributed to thousands of pounds being pounded into our game. Incredibly, back in 1998 the prize money stood at a total of £38,000 and £9,000 for the winner whereas for this year’s tournament, the money has risen by over 1000% to a total prize fund of £400,000 with £100,000 going to the winner! How much would you love to earn £100,000 for chucking some metal spikes at a board!? 

Thirdly, It wasn’t until I researched this tournament that I realised how much the format had changed over the years. Originally, the tournament began as a straight knockout tournament of set play darts before a group stage was introduced in 1999. However this was not a success as all 4 seeded players progressed from their group and therefore the tournament was reverted back to straight knockout for the 21st century. This led to numerous format changes before the right format was found in 2003 and we have stuck with this ever since. This consists of set play darts with each set being the best of 5 legs. This is especially exciting in the first round due to each match being the best of 3 sets so this can lead to surprise results and fantastic drama! Phil Taylor’s record in the World Grand Prix perfectly illustrates the difficulty of the first round games because before 2010, he had either gone out in the first round or won every tournament! Despite this, it is not just the short format which stands out for this tournament but its the double start format which makes it unique from every other PDC tournament. This format means any double trouble will be crucially punished and it lets the fans see who’s really been putting in the practice hours on their doubles. 

Another reason that contributes to the success of this tournament is the timing of the event. Situated at the beginning of October is the perfect time as it provides excellent entertainment for darts fans who are pining for the next major tournament. It’s been a long 2 months since we witnessed Taylor winning his 15th World Matchplay! Similarly, it is also a very exciting time for all darts fans as we enter the busiest few months of our sporting year in the lead up to another World Championships. Therefore, the World Grand Prix provides an outstanding opening for this period. 

Finally, I think I have shown why the World Grand Prix is well worth a watch and it is a tournament like no other on the PDC circuit. There have been many stand out moments over the years with Brendan Dolan providing the highlight when he hit the first ever televised 9 darter in a double start format in front of his home crowd in 2011. Moreover, reigning champion Phil Taylor unsurprisingly has an exemplarily record in this tournament with 11 tournament wins and it was Michael Van Gerwen’s 2012 victory which shot him onto our screens as a fan favourite and future world champion. This year there are many contenders to pick up the crown and again Taylor is slightly ahead of Van Gerwen as favourite to regain his title but don’t forget my players to watch out for as Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting both head into this tournament with a realistic chance of success. So that’s it, i’ve written it, hopefully you’ve read it and now it’s time to watch it! I have my wall chart at the ready and i’m anticipating a great week. Will there be another 9 darter, a first round shock or will Taylor emerge triumphant again? I’m ready to find out…are you? 

Download the World Grand Prix Wallchart at http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/14iyi459yw0zi1ur2cdioczsfe/title/get-your-world-grand-prix-wallchat