LIFE as a professional darts player can offer a whole gamut of emotions. And it feels as if, in just a short two year spell, Adam Warner has experienced just about all of them.
First there was his precipitous rise to prominence via the ADC and Modus Super Series in 2022, with prize monies from the latter funding a trip to Q School in January of last year.
It was there that every aspiring dartsist’s Charlie Bucket dream was fulfilled, as within a few days, his darting fortunes were transformed yet again with the acquisition of a Tour Card.
Since then, Warner has once again seen it all, from the high of nearly beating then incumbent world champion Michael Smith at the German Grand Prix in April 2023, to the lows of defeats and compounded misery on the Pro Tour.
But through it all Adam has kept calm, cool and collected, much to his credit. He reflects on the tumult of the last three years with the sanguinity of a Buddhist monk, rarely seeming overcome or unduly challenged.
“It has been a learning experience for sure,” declared an understated Warner. “The first six months I was definitely holding my own and winning some games, but I do think I was getting a bit lucky at times.”
“Then towards the end of the year, I just couldn’t buy a win. I was losing games, my confidence was falling and then some of that luck wasn’t falling into place. Unfortunately, that has followed me into this year results wise, even if my performances have been better.”
The bad spell, which Warner puts in part down to the curse of 6-4 and 6-5 defeats, has been alleviated somewhat in recent weeks, a win over Karel Sedlacek at the pair of Players Championships in Germany a noted bright spot. But it is fair to say that the fairytale some, though far from all, new pros experience has not materialised.
The 27-year-old currently sits in 97th place on the PDC’s Order of Merit, some £60,000 off the top 64 he would need to be in to retain his card.
He admits remaining on the circuit by right is “very unlikely”, appearing already resigned to the fate of a Q School appearance. But it has allowed him to reframe the remainder of his 2 year PDC spell as a learning experience.
“I am not that experienced, but the year preceding my tour card, I would see the results of that form much more regularly,” the 27-year-old observed. “Your confidence isn’t so easily worn down that way. But on the Pro Tour, it is much easier to just lose over and again as there are no easy games. This has been difficult, but I also think it benefits me in the longer term. I have learned much more about my game and what serves me best.”
Recent signs have augured better for Warner, who cites a meet up with Mission Player Development Manager Darryl Fitton as important to improving his setup.
“I do feel that because of those changes my ceiling will go higher. For me, it’s about getting to that better average level. If I can get some more wins, maybe second or third round placings in events, I’ll be in a much better position.”
But it doesn’t entirely brighten what is a difficult picture. The Sheffield resident has had a ‘baptism of fire’ which might make some turn from the game completely, though he refutes any suggestion that he has been cowed…..
No Warm Welcome for Brother Warner can be read in full in Darts World Magazine (Issue 586)
