2024 had already provided at least a years full of headlines and fairy tales but, as it turned out, it was barely getting started. The second half of the year may still have provided us with plenty of fallout from ‘The Nuke’ but others were determined to write their own chapter:
July:
In case there were any doubt of his long term trophy winning success Luke Humphries halted his runner-up habit by adding our second most prestigious trophy to his set. MVG had diffused ‘The Nuke’ in the first round – owing to ranking rules Luke was merely a Pro Tour qualifier – but it was Cool Hand who repaired his miss from 2023.
Beau Greaves retained her Women’s World Matchplay title capping a fine tournament by defeating 2022 Champion Fallon Sherrock in the final.
The remarkable run of different Player Championship winner reached 14 as Ross Smith and Jonny Clayton became the latest to claim an event this season.
The Nuke Fallout: He waited until the final day of July but he still crashed the healdines as Luke Littler bagged Players Championship 15 to become the first player to claim multiple off camera Pro Tour crowns and break the unprecedented run. But of course he did!
August:
Previously the quietest month even August now contains events every week. Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries bagged the ‘Down Under’ Masters/World Series events for this year. With Price at last being rewarded for some decent form.
Marvin Van Velzen confirmed his form and rise through the ranks as he claimed a MODUS Super Series tile becoming the 8th player, and first Dutchman, to do so.
The Women’s Series German visit produced multiple titles for Greaves but also mainland Europe as Noa Lynne Van Leuven and Aileen De Graaf added their names to the weekend winners.
The Nuke Fallout – No Luke Littler news was perhaps the story of August!
September:
Once again Snakebite bit back again in autumn after suffering a tough year. This time it was the German Darts Championship which saw Peter lifting another European Tour title. Only a week later and Chizzy was adding to his vast collection of these events.
Robert Thornton bagged the third MODUS Super Series Special as he won the years second ‘Double Double Week’ in Portsmouth.
The Nuke Fallout: As if to correct his quiet August Luke littler hit back to take the World Series of Darts Finals in superb style. Luke hammered Dobey, MVG and Michael Smith back to back on finals Sunday.
October:
A truly remarkable month in PDC history. The outsiders and or lower ranked players burst through in a group to record some truly sensational results.
Mike De Decker claimed the World Grand Prix to give the Belgian’s two of the ‘Big 5’ so far in 2024. They had also threatened in World Cup! Andrew Gilding’s UK Open win in 2023 may have been a shock but the nature of the event and the fact Gilding had been a major semi-finalist previously suggest that De Decker’s effort may rank as an even bigger shock.
“Hold My Beer” said Richie Edhouse as he went one better to win the European Championship from the bottom end of that events rankings. The other lowest player, Jermain Wattimena, also reached the final!
The Nuke Fallout: No major headlines for Luke Littler in October. Rumours he was distracted by the release of new video games remain unsubstantiated.
In the sprit of the month Wesley Plaisier was having a tremdous spell of success. He had defended his WDF World masters title in Hungary only days before he finally added a Players Championship to his roll of achievements. Previously he had reached back to back finals and won neither.
The twice World Master managed the feet despite not having a tour card, although he would fix that very soon. Beau Greaves also retain her title as the 2024 hosting of the World Masters mirrored the 2022 edition
As the off camera season came to an end a hugely popular maiden win arrived for Cameron Menzies!
Wessel Nijman continued his remarkable rehabilitation as he added a Players Championship to his lorry load of Tier Tour titles.
The Women’s Series concluded with Greaves and Van Leuven bagging the qualification spots, although Beau would not attend The Palace. The emergence of Gemma Hayter – with multiple event wins – and Robyn Byrne continuing to thrive, added to the depth of the Women tour.
November:
The Nuke Fallout: Once again a month with no major headlines could not be extended as Luke Littler produced a fabulous week’s darts to claim his first ranking TV major at The Grand Slam of Darts. Once again the outsiders and journeymen produced the goods.
Mickey Mansell after almost fifteen year on the Pro Tour reached the semi-finals and Martin Lukeman, who has shown fine form in patches over recent years, went one better and defeated the Cyclone to reach the final. Unfortunately ‘Smash’ would be blown away by The Nuke in the final!
Gary Anderson rolled back the years, as he has been doing all season, with a superb ru to the semi-final. Only Littler could prevent further progress for the Scot as a last leg thriller wen the way of the teenager.
Luke Humphries reasserted himself once more at the Player Championship finals. After failing to defend his Grand Slam final and multiple other runner up places in 2024 it was time for Cool Hand to lift trophies once again. For a while it looked like Littler would go back to back but winning his tough semifinal against Ross Smith in a deciding leg was probably costly, even to teenager energy levels.
December:
Lakeside returned and seemed to go much better this year. The fabulous fairytale rn of Paul Lim, returning to the event after 30 years, doubtless added a little stardust to proceedings. But, Shane McGuirk achievement in becoming the first Republic of Ireland thrower to lift the storied trophy was certainly overdue and much celebrated.
Greaves lifted the crown for the ladies and was never in any trouble throughout her hattrick campaign. She joins Trina Gulliver in winning three in a row!
The ADC’s inaugural Global Championship was claimed by the African Warrior Devon Petersen. Dancing Devon becomes the first player from Africa and from outside the Euro/Oceania/North America axis to lift a global crown.
MODUS Super Series 9th edition was claimed by Darius Labanauskas as he became the third mainland European in a row to take the title.
We returned to where we began, at Ally Pally, for the annual jamboree of tungsten tossing. As I write there 8 men left. The defending Champion is gone and so were a record number of seed before Christmas. Our game is changing quickly but the thrills, spills and storylines are still coming thick and fast….
The Nuke Fallout: Luke is one of the final 8 left at Ally Pally, can he finish the remarkable 12 months going one step further….
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
