The two most recent PDC ranking majors have provided genuine shocks and multiple fairytale stories. And this is not a one off few weeks or months. Ross Smith in 2022 and Andrew Gilding last year also lifted major trophies from lowly ranking positions.
Others, such as Luke Woodhouse, would normally have captured headlines for their valiant efforts from lower rankings yet his semifinal run was utterly dwarfed by both finalists and certainly the eventual winner.
So what is going on?
Several factors have been suggested for the increased frequency of such events: The schedule meaning the top players are not able to maintain their very best for the full year, the format of the European Championship seeming to be too demanding to produce the very highest standards toward the end? The novel qualification and seedings/draw are just a few of the proposed reasons.
Our resident coach/mentor, who is a former manager and sponsor, adds some ingredients to this recipe. His view is that time is the ultimate reason and that, together with the lightening of the financial pressure on newcomers, has revolutionised our sport.
More controversially he suggests that the very elite of our game has effectively plateaued since the retirement of Taylor and the peak of MVG. We look forward to a fuller explanation in the next print issue.
Syncing the Seasons
The Women’s game – within the PDC – runs on a strange summer to summer timetable to coincide with the biggest Womens event. However, as important as the Women’s World Matchplay is the qualification spots for the Grand Slam and Ally Pally create a second peak in their season meaning they have to run two Orders of Merit for the same events.
Surely, it would be better to run the season to the same rhythm as the Pro Tour. In order to facilitate this a new women’s major in the later autumn or even a Women’s World Championship?
——ENDS—–
From Darts World Extra 19
