Another year over, and a new one not beginning for another 330-something days (unless, of course, the PDC expands the tournament to 256 players, and it starts in October). Anyhow, some thoughts on the 2026 Worlds:
- The disappointment of the final will take some time to wear off. We were told (and were hoping, admit it) that this would be a blockbuster. This was despite Gian van Veen always likely to struggle after the highs of the previous two nights, and the fact that playing in your first WC final is rather difficult (ask Littler, MVG, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright or Michael Smith). Regardless it felt a little like we were robbed
- Which is oddly how much of the tournament felt. There were just eight sets in the final (best of 13), an average of eight in the semis (best of 11) and a total of 25 sets in the quarter finals. That’s 22 sets of darts of the best darts we never got to watch
- This was not entirely unavoidable. Using rankings to create the draw seems fair (so seed 1 is drawn to play seed 32, 16, 8, 4), but only if the rankings are fit for purpose. Using two years of earnings means they are not. To have GvV, Anderson, Humphries, MVG, Rock, and Noppert in the same half robbed us of some decent games. Anderson v MVG was never a last 16 match; Humphries v GvV was too good for first to 5 sets. Think again PDC bods
- Of course, Anderson v GvV was a simply sparkling semi. For six sets to go to the fifth leg isn’t entirely unusual – but for one person to win five of them is something special. The set with two 170 finishes was not the greatest ever – it needed a stunning 5th leg checkout for that – but it was superb. The 6v3 scoreline hides quite how close a match it was – at 4v3, 2v2, with the crowd on Anderson’s side, it was there for Scotsman’s taking. Maybe being 55 is harder than it looks
- Many moons before the tournament reached its peak, round 1 went on for ever. And ever. 64 matches, to get rid of just two of the worlds top 24 (and all 5 Belgiums in the draw). Bothering to watch all of this is beyond most darts fans
- It was noticeable in the early rounds with late nights how many people left before the last game. This has often been the way, due to the dreadful transport out of Ally Pally. Next year there will be 5,000 seats for each session, we’re told. Good luck getting an Uber
- 5,000 fans feeding on the misery of players will not be a pleasant thought for Cameron Menzies, Callum Rydz, Rickie Evans, Thibault Tricole, and others who struggled on the stage for a whole range of reasons. Increased prize money and an even bigger pantomime does not bode well for the wellbeing of the players. The PDC is likely to care about this; the broadcaster not so much
- Dave Chiznall’s interview skills haven’t changed
- The daytime MC showed how good John McDonald has been at this job, and, oddly, how much the job is part of the occasion. He will be missed, as was Phil Jones before him. Tip for the new guy/gal: innovate don’t imitate
- The Guardian’s Jonathan Liew saved a load of average writers a great deal of time by churning out a series of high quality articles on a range of darting issues. Comparing his pieces to the ugly fodder thrown up by numerous UK tabloids illustrates well concerns about player welfare – which Liew wrote about here.
- Hail Noa-Lynn
- One-hundred and twenty-seven matches need a lot of pundits and commentators; Sky managed this well, with plenty to go round, but not so many that a sense of continuity was lost. Mark Webster could do the whole lot on his own, superbly. (And someone please buy John Part a jacket)
- The tournament may have had a record number of nations represented, but 14 of the last 32 and half of the quarter finalists were English, and only one person from outside Europe managed to win two matches (the #16 seed). The ambition is welcome, but it’s still not working
- The battle for Premier League places was not, and never has been, relevant. It’s an exhibition. This is the World Championship. Stop talking about it
- Luke Littler definitely wasn’t bothered by the crowd booing, not bothered at all, really not bovvered. Some fine PR/blaming it on Germans seemed to help
- Luke Littler won’t break Phil Taylor’s record. I doubt he will win 5 world titles. He may not even win another. The game is now too big for such dominance, and things change, rapidly. Years of Luke v Luke finals were on the cards in January 2024. How’s that going?
- Littler is, however, incredible. The last 7v1 final drubbing was Taylor v Van Barneveld in 2009. Taylor won the last five sets – four of which were 3v2. On Saturday night, GvV managed just 2 legs in the last 5 sets. The total leg score was 23 v 8. Littler won 21 of the last 24 legs. Luke Littler is both class, and a class apart.