Darts World Extra’s regular look at who’s hot, and who’s not, in world darts, this issue was from DW Extra 16 (April/May 2024) . 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:
Martin Schindler: The Wall joins the German tungsten immortals as the third to lift a senior PDC title. He is also headed toward the top 16, German no.1 and owner of a thriving darts brand.
Neil Duff: After a tough spell post Lakeside win in 2022 the Northern Irishman seems to have re-found his mojo. Two weekly wins at the MODUS Super Series a chance for more in Champions week and still ranked no.2 by the WDF.
Richie Howson: The Owl finally lifted that TV trophy at the WDST Champions of Champions in Blackpool. The popular Howson has certainly contributed to the early success of Seniors darts and few would begrudge him his moment in the spotlight.
Andy Boulton: X Factor is another who has started 2024 like a train and just keeps winning regardless of the format , code or anything else. After superb MSS wins and a PDC Challenge Tour double he collelected one of the ADC’s tour titles at the first attempt!
Aileen de Graaf: The Dutch woman may have made headlines for her views on biology recently but she is also in the middle of a superb run of darts. Winner or runner up at a vast array of the biggest events over the last couple of years and seemingly getting better.
Bounceouts
Andy Gilding: Goldfinger seems to be fading from view once again. Andy has always had a habit of returning to virtual obscurity every now and then. This would not be the ideal time to repeat the trick,
Van Peer: A year or so ago saw BvP on the crest of a wave. He was winning all over the map. WDF, Challenge Tour and MODUS level events saw him mopping up points and prize money. Currently the Dutchman can’t buy a win. He will need to reverse this habit soon.
Robert Thornton: The Thorn seems to have gotten stuck. A couple of early exits in the WSDT events that had proven so lucrative for him and a few disappointing spells at MODUS have now been compounded by injury. R&R seems in order for Robert.
James Wade: The Machine is misfiring in quite a serious looking way. Losing 5 out of his last 7 games is unlike previous slumps. James has reversed such down spells before, even returning to win majors, but how often can he repeat such swings?
Trina Gulliver: The Golden Girl has seemed to slump ever since claiming a Women’s Series title. Her decision to miss events and lose out on a spot at the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay looks even worse in hindsight than it did at the time.
—–ENDS—-
Images: Darts World Magazine
