Are the WDF finally shaking out the rust of covid and the BDO collapse?
The hosting of a storied old major in Hungary, the first African Cup, a new title sponsor for the Lakeside World championship, a deal to bring an element of terrestrial TV coverage back suggests they might be.
Africa and Western Asia’s top darting talents will take centre stage this week as the first ever WDF African Cup takes place in Egypt. Held at the Ivy Cyrene Island Resort in Sharm El Sheikh, the tournament will see players from five countries vying for the titles across Singles, Pairs and Team competitions.
With less than a month until the start of the 2024 WDF Lakeside World Championships, the WDF have announced their broadcast arrangements for this year’s event.
BLAZE (Freeview 64/Sky HD 164/Freesat 161/Virgin 174/Sky Glass 169/BLAZE App) will air live and uninterrupted coverage of the semi-finals and finals of the Girls, Boys, Women’s and Men’s WDF World Championships on Saturday, December 7th and Sunday, December 8th from the iconic Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green.
David McConachie, WDF Promotions Executive Producer, said: ‘’Ensuring UK TV coverage of the 2024 WDF World Championship finals was one of our most important objectives this year and everyone at the WDF is delighted that we’ve made that a reality thanks to the team at Hearst Networks.
“With more players than ever taking to the iconic Lakeside stage this year and a prize fund of £221,000 up for grabs, viewers on BLAZE are going to be treated to some terrific tungsten tussles this December!”
In addition to the final two days of action being broadcast live by BLAZE, thus every dart of the 2024 WDF World Championships will be streamed on the GREAT! game YouTube channel.
The WDF habit of late swings of momentum close to events continued as Mission darts were unveiled as the new Lakeside sponsor.
It’s a logical move for the growing brand as they seek to fulfil the everyman/amateur role that Winmau played whilst Unicorn seemed to have a grip on the top end.
The WDF are obviously delighted and will probably see long term potential in the deal as well as seeing the likelihood of keeping their World championships in the UK. They had this to say:
WDF Secretary-General Nick Rolls said: “It’s great to be working with Mission for the first time as it’s very clear that they are passionate about darts and always looking to develop the products they offer players and tournament organisers.
Mission’s Darryl Fitton, who played in 16 consecutive World Championships at the Lakeside from 2003 to 2018, added: “It’s great to have Mission as the sponsor for the 2024 WDF World Championships at the iconic Lakeside.
“I can’t wait to get back to the Lakeside and feel the atmosphere of the venue in person again. When it’s packed out the Lakeside is like no other venue in darts.”
Earlier this month Wesley Plaisier was once again crowned WDF World Master. The Dutchman took the title at the prestigious World Darts Federation tournament overcoming Kai Gotthardt in the final.
Plaisier had advanced through the pool stage and continued on Thursday with wins over Dennie Olde Kalter and Shaun McDonald, before surviving a total of 11 matchdarts against Gyorgy Jehirszki, Barry Copeland and Jimmy van Schie.
The all Dutch semifinal, Plaisier proved too strong for Corne Groeneveld (6-3), while Gotthardt surprisingly eliminated the other title favorite Connor Scutt 6-5.
Meanwhile Beau Greaves produced another remarkable performance as she dropped only 1 leg while winning 43 and lifting the trophy.
Beau ‘n’ Arrow flew through the group stage and she continued that streak, conceding just one leg to secure a ticket to the semifinals. Greaves managed 3 whitewash victories in the knockout stage.
The 20-year-old triumphed 5-0 against Irina Armstrong. In the final, Rhian O’Sullivan then finished the show with a 6-0 whitewash of world number three O’Sullivan to retain the trophy.
And Finally….
Paul Lim will return to the Lakeside after a 30 year break!
The 70-year-old darts legend competed at Lakeside 12 times in the past, where he made history in 1990 with the first nine-darter ever at a world championship and the only perfect leg ever at Lakeside. The tungsten legend is still the only player to hit a 9-Darter on that iconic stage. Lim last competed at Frimley Green in 1994.
——ENDS—–
Ordinally published in Darts World Extra 19
Main Image: Bas van den Berk
