Our regular lighthearted look at who’s hot, and who’s not, in world darts. This time from the summer of 2023 (Issue DWExtra 11) Small incidents can have big consequences. Players and even companies and codes come from nowhere, suddenly move up a level or even dramatically collapse. The signs were there if you’d known where to look.
Nathan Aspinall – The Asp is already hugely popular but his Blackpool heroics will lift him another level. Already enjoying a successful time down under he is sure to lead the line more and more in promoting our game.
Beau Greaves – No shock that the Doncaster teenager on this list. Her first PDC major and another 4 Womens Series victories since our last edition, extend a remarkable dominance . The only question left is can she go on a run in one of the PDC major events for which she has again qualified?
Luke Littler – A 16-year-old collecting more than £80,000 for playing non elite level darts by August! The Nuke is writing his own legend at a rapid rate. His defence of the MSS Champions title was a first and a very difficult challenge. Yet he even had time to test different dart set ups along the way.
Betfred – Perhaps the best value for money and enthusiastic sponsorship of a darts event comes from Fred Done’s firm. The last couple of years has seen them embrace the women’s edition and raise £30k plus per annum for Macmillan Cancer Support all whilst seeming to have a tremendous time.
Rob Cross – Voltage finally ended his two year wait for a televised PDC crown earlier this month. He had been flattering to deceive for at least a year. Some superb form was undone with almost random dips. Perhaps he has fully turned the corner now?
Bounce Outs
Martin Adams – Multiple Lakeside Champion has struggled for a while now and even a change of shirt proved ineffectual as Wolfie donned vivid new apparel for his latest MSS appearances. Surely he would be better off restricting his appearances and re-building a little of his champion’s aura?
James Wade – The Machine seems to be on the blink. After a disappointing season James’s top 16 place is under serious threat after more than 15 years. Recent times have seen him leave another management company (TSMC) and seem to concentrate more on other areas of life such as advocacy, charity interests and family. Perhaps it’s a graceful exit he wants?
WDF – Not their first appearance in this list to be sure. The cancellation of the World Masters is a retrograde step by any measure. Everyone will, of course, wish them well in their long term plans but was it really too much to ask to keep some continuity after re-starting such a storied event in 2022?
Tour Card Winners ‘23 – After a decent start this year’s crop of newly minted Tour Card seem to have been flattering to deceive. Players such as Adam Warner, Graham Hall and Robert Owen had superb years in 2022 and looked likely to make an impact. Whilst some such as Gian Van Veen and Richard Veenstra have been solid enough, none are really impressing possibly adding fuel to the theory that it can be better to just miss out and be able to play in all formats.
—–ENDS—–
Images: Darts World Magazine
