It’s certainly been an important period for World Senior Darts. The unveiling of important new sponsors and television coverage for the next few years will help to fill the gap left by Phil Taylor and his undoubted galvanising effect on the organisation’s first three years.
The rebranded World Seniors Darts seem to be returning more to their core mission and leaving the tour and qualification elements to their partners as they explained:
WSDT is delighted to announce some exciting changes for 2025 and beyond.
From the very inception of WSDT, our vision and goal was to ensure that the legacy of the many Champions that have graced the sport of Darts were honoured and celebrated.
To this end, WSD (World Seniors Darts) will now be responsible only for the organisation of televised Seniors darts tournaments rather than a tour.
Each of these tournaments will feature a core cast of invited players who have a history and legacy in the sport.
Rivalries will be renewed, and new rivalries will be forged, as players compete for honour, prestige and Seniors TV titles.
As part of our rebrand, we have also made the decision to lower the age criteria from 50 to 45.
We believe this change will allow us to invite new players to TV tournaments, as well as giving any player aged 45 or over on 31st January 2025 the chance to make it to the TV stages of all future World Seniors Darts tournaments.
Meanwhile John Henderson became the latest Senior dart player to assert his dominance over his rivals upon completing a hat-trick of senior TV titles with a nail-biting victory in the BetGoodwin World Seniors Darts Matchplay in Sunderland.
The Highlander defeated fellow Scot Robert Thornton 6-5, coming back from two sets down twice to take the title and lift the trophy.
‘Hendo’ had already claimed the World Seniors Championship and World Seniors Matchplay, before pocketing the £10,000 first prize on Saturday night with his third major success of 2024.
“It’s unbelievable,” The Huntley native stated after his title win. “Just to get over the line was fantastic.”
The hugely popular Scot follows in the footsteps of fellow Scot Thornton and Leonard Gates who dominated the Seniors in 2022 and 23 respectively.
A catchphrase has even been coined to mark the enjoyment fans experience at these events. Will there be another Big Hendo weekend in 2025?
—–ENDS—–
Article appeared in Darts World Magazine 588 (December 2024)
