Bullseye’s and Bounceouts are a lighthearted look at who’s ‘on the up’ and who’s in a slump. They feature regularly in Darts World Extra. Our 4th edition looked like this:
MVG: The last few weeks could scarcely have gone better for The Green Machine. Recovery from any surgical procedure, on the most important limb of a particular sportsman/woman, carries risk, anxiety, and uncertainty. Michael’s matchplay win and now World Series of Darts together with a clearly restored confidence suggests he and his medical team hit the bullseye.
Fallon Sherrock: For all her many achievements the Queen of the Palace had surprisingly little prestigious silverware in her cabinet. The inaugural Women’s World Matchplay trophy will reside there and may mark a major turning point. Fallon always has to carry much of the pre-event burden and expectations are high, to come through and lift the trophy must feel special.
Neil Duff: In DWE II The Duff Man stated his next 2022 goal was to top the WDF rankings. Following his hard-won victory in the (Platinum ranked) Australian Open it’s Job Done!
Matt Jackson: The Action has dominated the ADC ranking table this year, and came of age during August, clocking up 21 event wins. He seems keen not to stick though and is in pursuit of the various rewards on offer to the ADC OoM winner.
Keegan Brown: Of all those entered into Players Championship 23 few would have been thought less likely to win it than Keegan Brown. The popular Isle of White thrower produced a truly superb run and won his first Pro Tour since 2015. Following his admirable efforts: working for the NHS throughout the pandemic and raising significant funds through his auctions few would begrudge The Needle a return to tungsten success.
Bounce Outs:
Raymond Van Barneveld: The heady days of Barney’s fairytale return to top-level darts seem to be fading already. Currently ranked in the low 50s on the main and Pro Tour orders of merit, and worse still on the European Tour table, Barney simply must start producing his best on a consistent basis. His fellow countrymen have lost their fear of him and he seems to be unable to sustain a real run at this level. Many of the Barney Army will hope the German Darts Open provides a vehicle for a turnaround of fortunes.
Jose de Sousa: The popular Portuguese has endured a tough few months by the standards he had set for himself in the previous year or so. A sudden dip in Pro Tour form coupled with him not seeming himself either in form or mood. Could the grafters run to the Matchplay quarters, and a similar run in PC 24, indicate that he has bottomed out?
Fallon Sherrock: Milton Keynes’ favourite daughter becomes the first player to feature in both halves of B&Bs. Despite her superb effort to win the Women’s Matchplay, it cannot be denied that Sherrocks’s recent World Series attempts have not seen her exciting best and the results have thus disappointed. Are the guys getting used to the ‘Fallon Factor’?
Shaun McDonald: Last year The Punisher seemed to be set for a fairytale return to elite darts. A sensational recovery (from a dismal start) on his Live League debut saw many tip the 37-year-old for future stardom. The reality is proving tougher than many might have thought. A good run in the recent England singles may be a turning point but the Scot must soon work out how to combat the experienced tour hands and newer talents alike.
James Richardson: The former ADC European Champion has hit a bump in the road in the last few weeks. Ruthless lost his Belt to Kevin Painter in a dramatic Bristol encounter and doesn’t seem to be getting the breaks ever since. News has just reached us that the Rushden man has activated the bidding for a re-match. Perhaps he feels his ADC belt brings him more than a few £s and a warm fuzzy glow?
—–ENDS—–
Images: Darts World
Available Free: Darts World Extra 4
Darts World Magazine (Issue 580) and fantastic value bundle offers:
Subscribe or purchase your copy
