Several sensational matches were suggested, or advocated for, to win this category: Northern Ireland’s win over Wales to claim the World Cup and the previously mentioned Hood vs Noppert encounter were among those that will live long in the collective darts memory.
However, our inaugural award goes to the winner of a match that very few actually saw and others were too busy looking for controversy to see what unfolded in its true context.
On October 13th newly crowned World Grand Prix champion turned up, the very next day, to participate in the World Youth Championships non TV rounds. Enter the usual noise makers to complain that this was in some way unfair.
Rather than moaning or complaining the youth players simply got on with the job and played down to the last 4 before the final two matches that would decide the finalists. One had true darts fans almost visibly salivating.
Luke Littler had averaged over 100 three times already and would average 107+ in this encounter. But, that was simply was not good enough. He was defeated by a player who almost matched him overall with a 105+ and who resisted everything he threw in their direction.
MORE ON DARTS EVENTS WITH DARTSDATABASE
To put the cherry on the cake, that player broke reigning World champion Littler in the final leg (to claim a 6-5 win) despite The Nuke opening with 100, 180 scores and being left with 32 after 12 darts.
Her 11-dart winning leg sealed a historic victory that may have altered our sport forever!
THE DARTSWORLD AWARDS: Who Won Our Coveted Flying D Digital Statues!
Some of us have long believed that dart is an almost unique sport in terms of its placement for a completely open category on the biggest stages in the world and all the opportunity, for both commercial activity and growing participation, that that may bring. Beau may be proving that beyond doubt.
Introducing The DartsWorld Awards 2025/26
DartsWorld has a half century worth of championing darts, its players, its achievements, and its progress across the globe. For a chunk of that time we have considered some slightly more formal acknowledgments in the vein of some annual awards.
In the end, talking about a project on the sidelines can go on forever without ever progressing unless an initial effort is made there is nothing to hone into a truly useful and celebratory tradition.
Our inaugural awards showcase nine awards that cover a wide spectrum of darting endeavours from the 2025/26 season that ended with the crowning of a new World Champion in January.
From the professional to the amateur, and from elite performance to charitable efforts we try to live up to our name.
In making our selection we do not lay claim to an open and democratic process, at least for the first outing. Instead we have asked those directly connected with DartsWorld. Players, writers, analysts and business leaders have chipped in nominations, award categories and eventual winners.
There are a few self imposed rules, but, somewhat like the pirates code, they are more a set of guidelines. The most important to explain any apparent outrage is that no player will get more than one award each year.
We hope to develop the DW awards over time, they will be released earlier in each new year and may be part of an occasion, event or special issue – in the meantime we hope you enjoy the DartsWorld Awards 2025/26.
Watch closely on social media channels and here at the mothership dartsworld.com for the unveiling of the 9 inaugural winners . If you can’t wait then simply grab yourself a copy of DARTSWORLD 593 and enjoy!
—–ENDS—–
Images: DartsWorld Ltd
