Former Lakeside World Champion Neil Duff once again claimed the honours at the latest instalment of the MODUS Super Series.
That now elevates the Northern Irishman to seven weekly titles, placing him two clear at the summit of the overall leaderboard ahead of the man he defeated in Saturday’s final, Steve West.
Generally speaking, whenever Duffman materialises at the Live Lounge, he is more often than not still lingering at the business end of proceedings, contesting silverware. He is also one of a tiny number to have claimed weekly wins and a ‘MODUS Major’ having previously claimed the Double Trouble week.
WATCH MODUS SUPER SERIES PLUTO TV ON YOUR FAVOURITES DEVICES
Yet despite this glut of triumphs, one accolade continues to elude him – a Champions Week crown, which, given his hegemony within the MODUS Super Series ecosystem, remains a rather astonishing omission from his collection.
With a World Championship title adorning the Ballyclare thrower’s résumé, alongside an abundance of BDO and WDF major honours and a catalogue of additional accolades – including those seven Portsmouth conquests – it inevitably provokes the question of why Duff has never truly pursued loftier aspirations within the professional darting stratosphere.
Logically, the reasoning probably distils down to two principal possibilities.
Firstly, there may simply be lingering reservations surrounding whether his game would consistently withstand the unforgiving brutality of elite-level competition. There is absolutely no disputing Duff’s calibre as a talented and accomplished operator, but many superior players before him have ventured onto the PDC circuit only to find themselves rapidly humbled.
Furthermore, when examining the fortunes of the other recent WDF World Champions, it becomes increasingly evident that life on the Pro Tour is anything but a convivial excursion.
Andy Baetens, an exceptionally gifted Belgian, struggled to cement himself. And although this is merely the inaugural campaign for both Shane McGuirk and Jimmy van Schie, neither has yet managed to truly ignite. Couple that with the extraordinary depth currently operating beneath the tour-card threshold and it quickly becomes apparent just how merciless that environment can be.
Then there is the question of ambition and lifestyle.
Perhaps Duff is perfectly content residing within waters where he knows he can flourish – one of the larger aquatic presences in the pond rather than risking complete submersion in a vastly deeper ocean. Transitioning into the professional sphere would almost certainly bring heightened struggle, volatility and uncertainty. Sometimes, sustained prosperity in familiar surroundings proves far more alluring than jeopardising everything on an unpredictable venture into the unknown.
Of course, one never truly discovers their ceiling without attempting the ascent. Last year, murmurs circulated suggesting Duff had contemplated attending Q School, although nothing ultimately materialised. That avenue would at least have unlocked access to the Challenge Tour and provided a far clearer indication of whether he possessed the week-to-week consistency required to survive at a higher altitude within the darting hierarchy. Ambition is a large aspect of what makes a good player great. Some have it, some don’t.
Now into his fifties though, it perhaps feels marginally belated to begin pursuing that particular rainbow – especially when there remain numerous attainable ones precisely where he currently resides. The opportunity to fully immerse himself within the professional grind may well have drifted into the rear-view mirror.
While Duff unquestionably remains capable of producing scintillating performances and formidable averages, it is the relentless consistency demanded at that echelon which would most likely inhibit prolonged progression on the PDC circuit.
Yet, for the time being at least, he appears entirely content with his current positioning within the darting landscape. Titles continue to accumulate, deep WDF excursions remain commonplace and he is still regarded as a colossal force across the amateur scene.
Professional life is not universally appealing. The PDC doorway may be enormous but stepping through it frequently causes numerous smaller doors to slam shut behind you. For Duff, it appears abundantly clear that he would rather keep those avenues wide open – because that is precisely where he continues to thrive.
Play at the MODUS Super Series is streamed on Pluto TV with highlights and other coverage on the MODUS Super Series YouTube channel, or via various bookmaker’ websites worldwide.
Check out Darts World’s MODUS Super Series Hall of Fame for the personalities and history of this event.
—–ENDS—–
Images: WDF
