It’s been quite the whirlwind weekend for Gemma Hayter.
A promising player in her youth days, appearing alongside PDC World Number One Luke Humphries at County level, Hayter returned to the circuit at the start of 2024, and has reaped the rewards ever since.
“I took time out as I didn’t feel there was a lot out there for the women,” said Gemma.
“Seeing Luke Humphries win the World title in 2024, it inspired me to come back. Seeing someone you know do so well and fulfilling their dream was really inspiring. My sponsors and management have been great in getting me to where I am too, and I’ve gone from strength to strength”.
Full disclosure Gemma is a brand ambassador for Darts World. Team DW member is looked after by MODUS management and has recently had her own signature darts released by Red Dragon darts. You could say it’s going well!
After winning two PDC Women’s Series titles last year, she secured a debut at the Women’s World Matchplay in 2025, and at the conclusion of the Series for this year, a fifth-place finish on the Order of Merit has meant that she has qualified for the PDC World Championship.
She hasn’t had time to process this feat as yet though, having swiftly returned to work.
“It hasn’t sunken in yet!”
“I didn’t get back home from Wigan until 11pm last night, and I was up for work at 5am so I haven’t had chance to process it all yet”.
“It’s huge for me. I only started playing again last January, so it’s been a real rollercoaster. It’s the biggest achievement I’ve had. It’s massive”.
Ahead of the final block of events on the Women’s Series, Gemma knew there was a chance for a golden Ally Pally ticket on offer. Beau Greaves second-placed finish on the PDC Winmau Development Tour standings meant that she had secured her PDC World Championship place via that system, and with Lisa Ashton qualifying as Women’s World Matchplay Champion, three places would be up for grabs through the Women’s Series table.
Hayter went in having won her first two WDF titles at the English Masters and Classic, so had ideal preparation.
Although the travelling and expense of playing such events can be taxing Gemma gained a great deal and she grateful for the support of Radamec and long time darts supporters The DJ Shop and the rest of her team.
In the end, a run to the Event 23 final proved crucial, and she secured her spot at the biggest darts event of them all.
“I was confident coming into it after winning in Selsey and playing well. I felt pressure there as people were expecting me to do well having done well on the Women’s Series, but it was nice to win those titles and have that extra boost going into Wigan”.
“I knew what was needed. There was talk at the last block of events that there may be an extra place. I felt under a little extra pressure going into the final weekend. Kirsii (Viinikainen) was only £500 behind me in the last spot me going into it, so I knew I had to keep ahead of her. But by Saturday, I was only £300 behind Noa-Lynn in third place, so I felt a lot more relaxed”.
“Getting to the final against Beau was huge for me in securing the Worlds. I have a shoulder injury that flares up every now and then, and it reared its ugly head on the Sunday, so that was difficult to deal with, but we got there”.
Hayter has experience at the Women’s World Matchplay to call on at Alexandra Palace, and she gained credit in defeat to Fallon Sherrock in Blackpool, coming from 3-0 down and having a dart to defeat the Queen of the Palace before being narrowly beaten. That should hold Hayter in good stead for December.
“We had a media day the day before the Matchplay, and because we don’t usually do many of those, I left feeling a bit overwhelmed. Seeing the venue too and playing area was daunting, but on the day of the Matchplay itself I was waiting for the nerves to come, and they just didn’t. In the end I was pleased with coming from 3-0 down and showing what I can do”.
“Playing in front of a crowd, under the lights and on a stage is big. Doing that in Blackpool should help me”.
Experience at Ally Pally though is all new from the Portsmouth thrower, and one she has yet to sample, but her mind is focused on just exactly what she has achieved.
“I’ve never been there!”
“I’d like to go and soak up the atmosphere before I play would be good. Just to think about being there is mind-blowing”.
“It would be interesting if I draw one of the big players. It would also be funny if I drew Adam Lipscombe if he qualifies as we are really good friends!”
Pride will be an overriding emotion for Gemma as she prepares to make her World Championship debut, and she is all set to take her place in the 128-player field from December 11.
“I’ll be really proud to be there. I just want everything to go well, and I want to play well. We want to show that women aren’t there to make the numbers up and we can play well. It’s a chance to show that there is a pathway for women if they want to play at the highest level. The Littler-effect has been massive for the boys, but not so huge for the girls, so it’s important that we show we can play”.
I’m very proud to be one of five women in the tournament”.
—–ENDS—–
Images: Chris Sargeant
Graphic: Red Dragon Darts
