<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" >

<channel>
	<title>Columnists Archives | Darts World Magazine</title>
	<atom:link href="https://dartsworld.com/category/columnists/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>https://dartsworld.com/category/columnists/</link>
	<description>Darts World Magazine: The Official Voice of Darts.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:58:39 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en-GB</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>
	hourly	</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>
	1	</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4</generator>
	<item>
		<title>Bit of Bully: Our Game&#8217;s Most Famous Mascot Takes a DartsWorld Bow</title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/bit-of-bully-our-games-most-famous-mascot-takes-a-dartsworld-bow/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/bit-of-bully-our-games-most-famous-mascot-takes-a-dartsworld-bow/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[dweditorial]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:54:24 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Media Matters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bit of Bully]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bullseye TV Gameshow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bully]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts World Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Freddie Flintoff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luke Littler]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Richard Ashdown]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=44875</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>WELCOME to the darts world’s most famous mascot who joins us with news and updates from all Bully&#8217;s activities and those of his friends on the world famous TV Show: I’m hitting the ground running in 2026 with Bullseye, and it’s a genuine privilege to be launching my own column in DartsWorld Magazine. After a [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/bit-of-bully-our-games-most-famous-mascot-takes-a-dartsworld-bow/">Bit of Bully: Our Game&#8217;s Most Famous Mascot Takes a DartsWorld Bow</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/bit-of-bully-our-games-most-famous-mascot-takes-a-dartsworld-bow/">Bit of Bully: Our Game&#8217;s Most Famous Mascot Takes a DartsWorld Bow</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><em>WELCOME to the darts world’s most famous mascot who joins us with news and updates from all Bully&#8217;s activities and those of his friends on the world famous TV Show:</em></p>



<p>I’m hitting the ground running in 2026 with Bullseye, and it’s a genuine privilege to be launching my own column in DartsWorld Magazine.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="988" height="1024" src="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-Cropped-1-988x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-44882" srcset="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-Cropped-1-988x1024.png 988w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-Cropped-1-289x300.png 289w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-Cropped-1-768x796.png 768w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-Cropped-1-1482x1536.png 1482w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-Cropped-1-696x721.png 696w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-Cropped-1-1068x1107.png 1068w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-Cropped-1-600x622.png 600w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-Cropped-1.png 1540w" sizes="(max-width: 988px) 100vw, 988px" /></figure>



<p>After a hugely busy close to 2025, highlighted by the first full <em>Bullseye</em> series commission in almost 20 years on ITV, I’m delighted to begin the new year with more exciting news. <em>Bullseye</em> Series 1 (2025) has now been acquired by New Zealand broadcaster TVNZ1, where it will air through to 21 March, bringing the show to a brand new audience.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.bullseyetvgameshow.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Check Out Bully&#8217;s Official Online Home </strong></a></h2>



<p>This marks a major milestone for <em>Bullseye</em>, for the first time in our 44-year history, a <em>Bullseye</em> series will air outside the UK. Expanding the brand overseas is incredibly exciting, so if you have friends or family in New Zealand, be sure to spread the word. And who knows, perhaps a trip to New Zealand and Australia may be on the cards for myself and Brand Director Laura Wood later this year. Watch this space…</p>



<div data-wp-interactive="core/file" class="wp-block-file"><object data-wp-bind--hidden="!state.hasPdfPreview" hidden class="wp-block-file__embed" data="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Operation-bullseye-Poster.pdf" type="application/pdf" style="width:100%;height:600px" aria-label="Embed of Operation bullseye (Poster)."></object><a id="wp-block-file--media-68a1d9e6-5263-42b9-be56-31e4540ee406" href="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Operation-bullseye-Poster.pdf">Operation bullseye (Poster)</a><a href="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Operation-bullseye-Poster.pdf" class="wp-block-file__button wp-element-button" aria-describedby="wp-block-file--media-68a1d9e6-5263-42b9-be56-31e4540ee406" download>Download</a></div>



<p>Looking ahead, 2026 also promises to be a standout year for <em>Bullseye</em>’s continued association with Military Darts. I have the pleasure of attending the Navy Darts Championship, the RAF Darts Championship, and of course Operation Bullseye, a truly unique event that pairs 16 professional players with 16 serving personnel and veterans in a one of a kind knockout tournament, all while raising vital funds for forces charities.</p>



<p>Having been involved with Operation Bullseye since its inaugural year in 2024, it’s an honour to return and see who will lift the Andrew Wood Memorial Trophy. The trophy was kindly and fittingly renamed following the passing of Andrew Wood, the creator of <em>Bullseye</em>, in November 2025, creating a lasting tribute to a man whose legacy continues to impact both the sport and the show he brought to life.</p>



<p><em>Bullseye</em> also starts the year strongly off the oche, with a growing number of new licensing partners joining the merchandise portfolio. I’m looking forward to treating readers to competitions and giveaways throughout the year, so be sure to keep an eye on my column, miss it and it’ll be a real <em>“look at what you could have won”</em> moment!</p>



<p>Until the next issue…</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="779" src="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-1024x779.jpg" alt="Bully, Signature, Column, DartsWorld, Bullseye TV Show, Mascot" class="wp-image-44876" srcset="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-1024x779.jpg 1024w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-300x228.jpg 300w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-768x584.jpg 768w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-1536x1168.jpg 1536w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-2048x1558.jpg 2048w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-696x529.jpg 696w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-1068x812.jpg 1068w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-1920x1460.jpg 1920w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Bully-600x456.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p></p>



<p>&#8212;&#8211;ENDS&#8212;&#8211;</p>



<p><strong><em>Photo Credit: Rachel Joseph Photography</em></strong></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/bit-of-bully-our-games-most-famous-mascot-takes-a-dartsworld-bow/">Bit of Bully: Our Game&#8217;s Most Famous Mascot Takes a DartsWorld Bow</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/bit-of-bully-our-games-most-famous-mascot-takes-a-dartsworld-bow/">Bit of Bully: Our Game&#8217;s Most Famous Mascot Takes a DartsWorld Bow</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/bit-of-bully-our-games-most-famous-mascot-takes-a-dartsworld-bow/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">44875</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>London Pride: Cracking The Northampton Nut</title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/london-pride-cracking-the-northampton-nut/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/london-pride-cracking-the-northampton-nut/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[dweditorial]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 2026 13:11:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London Pride]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National League 2025/26]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UKDA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts GB]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[London Darts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mandy Solomons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nick Cocks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Northamptonshire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ricky Evans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Horseshoe Pub]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Pearly King]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UKDA National League]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=44443</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>However the visitors are always a tough nut to crack so London needed to be at their best in order to come away victorious.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/london-pride-cracking-the-northampton-nut/">London Pride: Cracking The Northampton Nut</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/london-pride-cracking-the-northampton-nut/">London Pride: Cracking The Northampton Nut</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>With London darts National League side were perilously close to being sucked into a relegation dogfight, a home win against Northamptonshire was imperative.&nbsp; However the visitors are always a tough nut to crack so London needed to be at their best in order to come away victorious.</p>



<p>As always, the festivities began with the Ladies B. London got off to the best possible start as Kelly Livett shrugged off the loss of the opening leg to take the next three on the spin in a dominant display, not giving her opponent a chance at the double and also claiming the match award in the process. Two defeats followed before Su Holt drew the sides level. But as before, Northants took the last two points of the session to take a 4-2 sectional win.</p>



<p>The Men’s B were tasked to ensure that parity was the bare minimum at the end of day 1, and to their credit that target was achieved. The hosts started well, with Dean Buckland and John Walters snaring the first two points of the session. Northants quickly restored their two point advantage. Rob Herbert reduced the arrears in a seven leg thriller but that seemed to be a temporary respite as another two points were swiftly collected by Northants.&nbsp;</p>



<p>London now had to dig deep with their opposition three points clear. Match award winner Pat Scurfield, Charlie Little and James Malcher only dropped three legs between them and swung the pendulum of momentum back in London’s favour. The last two points were shared, with Dave Cook having the last word to leave it all to play for on day two.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" width="640" height="594" src="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/UKDA-Union-Jack-Logo.webp" alt="Darts, UKDA, Union Jack Flight Logo, London Pride" class="wp-image-21893" srcset="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/UKDA-Union-Jack-Logo.webp 640w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/UKDA-Union-Jack-Logo-600x557.webp 600w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/UKDA-Union-Jack-Logo-300x278.webp 300w" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></figure>



<p><a href="https://dartsworld.com/category/ukda/">Check Out Our UKDA Dedicated Web Area</a></p>



<p>Jo Deamer and Mandy Solomons gave London a flying start, with Deamer taking the match award after a fine display. The third match went to the visitors, but Debs Watling and Kath Meneer came back victorious in the second half of the session to give the men a vital two point cushion.</p>



<p>The Men’s A made full use of the advantage which the Ladies had done so well to provide. Jamie Tilley set the tone for what was to follow. He won in five and his defeated opponent, “Rapid” Ricky Evans later bade farewell to the County scene.&nbsp; Although London couldn’t take the next point on offer, they promptly reeled off the next four to put themselves well in command. Tommy Sanwell, Lewis McGurn, Wayne Clark and Freddie Box all left the oche with the spoils. With six matches left, London only need to get one more win and the full compliment of bonus points were theirs.</p>



<p>They couldn’t get it in the seventh match but didn&#8217;t have to wait much longer as Alan Slater took the match award and ensured the Capital arrowsmiths would end the weekend on top. Nick Cocks soon deposited another point in the London win column, but in the last three games only one more was added, courtesy of Graham Rackstraw with a straight legs stroll.</p>



<p>The 21-15 win pushed London up to eighth, ten points clear of the dreaded drop zone. Next up sees London travel to Gwent.&nbsp; Another ten points separates London from Northamptonshire, who have played a game more so another good result should put them in good heart for the season’s run in.</p>



<p>London’s youth put up their best performance in quite some time with a narrow 9-8 loss at Essex. Alfie McNelis, Henry Meheux, Freddie Herbert and Josh Morris all came away with a point in the Under 18s. Lilly Cook prevented a whitewash in the Ladies, before the Under 21s took the sectional win courtesy of Alfie Jenner, Alfie Beattie and Harvey Harris.</p>



<p>DARTSDATABASE:<a href="https://dartsdatabase.co.uk/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ALL THE DARTS STATS AND FACTS IN ONE PLACE</a></p>



<p>Welling B have clocked up a century of points and have only tasted defeat once in their first 15 games in the Men’s Super League. They hold a 16 point lead over Footscray Eagles, who themselves are 7 clear of Footscray Falcons who sit in third place. There is clear daylight between them and Bellingham who are a further 19 points back in fourth. Footscray Phoenixs and Footscray Hawks occupy fifth and sixth, with Greenwich, Viking Arrows and Vauxhall rounding out the table.</p>



<p>Armed and Hammered are currently at the summit in the Ladies Super League, with their nearest challengers Buzzballs 7 points in arrears. Boozy Booshes (39) round out the top three. Wonky Booshes are fourth, Motley Crew occupy fifth spot and Thirsty Booshes look to be in fairly secure possession of the dreaded wooden spoon.</p>



<p>&#8212;&#8211;ENDS&#8212;&#8211;</p>



<p><strong>“The Pearly King”</strong></p>



<p><strong>Supported by The Horseshoe Pub, Clerkenwell and Darts GB</strong></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/london-pride-cracking-the-northampton-nut/">London Pride: Cracking The Northampton Nut</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/london-pride-cracking-the-northampton-nut/">London Pride: Cracking The Northampton Nut</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2026/03/london-pride-cracking-the-northampton-nut/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">44443</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ware Pays Tribute To Inspirational Noble</title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/ware-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-noble/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/ware-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-noble/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[dweditorial]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:07:43 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[The Winmau World Masters (PDC)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BLADE X]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Noble]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Huw Ware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PDC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Winmau]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=43748</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Huw Ware, a familiar presence on darts’ biggest nights and someone who has shared the sharpest stages of the sport alongside Noble for more than a decade ....</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/ware-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-noble/">Ware Pays Tribute To Inspirational Noble</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/ware-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-noble/">Ware Pays Tribute To Inspirational Noble</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>The 2026 World Championship final crowned a champion, but its deeper resonance travelled in a different direction. As the final leg echoed into silence, darts quietly turned a page. Recently retired PDC referee, George Noble stepped away from the oche for the last time, closing a chapter that has shaped how the modern game sounds, feels, and presents itself to the world.</p>



<p>For those inside the referee team, the moment carried gravity far heavier than the result on stage. Among them was Darts World columnist and fellow referee, Huw Ware, a familiar presence on darts’ biggest nights and someone who has shared the sharpest stages of the sport alongside Noble for more than a decade.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Speaking to Online Darts in London during the launch of Winmau’s new Blade X dartboard, Ware reflected on a farewell that felt both emotional and immaculately judged. </p>



<p><em>“He went out on top, which felt absolutely fitting,”</em> Ware said.</p>



<p>Noble’s final appearance came under the brightest possible lights – a World Championship final watched by millions. For Ware, it was impossible not to measure that moment against Noble’s influence. </p>



<p><em>“George was a huge inspiration for me growing up as a referee,”</em> he said. <em>“His voice, rhythm, authority, and timing were exceptional.”</em> </p>



<p>Those qualities did not just define Noble’s career; they set the benchmark for those who followed. <em>“Sharing the stage with him for the last ten years has been an honour,”</em> Ware added, capturing the weight of standing alongside a figure who helped define televised darts.</p>



<p>What lingered most was the manner of the exit. No easing away. No gradual fade. Noble chose the summit. <em>“He went out on top, which felt absolutely fitting,”</em> Ware repeated, reinforcing the symmetry of the moment.</p>



<p>For decades, Noble’s cadence gave darts its spine. Alongside Russ Bray, he embodied an era where authority and clarity were inseparable from spectacle. Ware sees that lineage clearly and hopes, one day, to follow it. </p>



<p><em>“When my time comes, I’d love for it to be the same,”</em> he added.</p>



<p>The Welsh referee’s reflections came amid the unveiling of Winmau’s Blade X, itself framed as a statement of continuity and evolution. <em>“A ten year extension just shows how strong the relationship is between the PDC and Winmau, and hopefully that continues for a long time yet,”</em> he said. On stage, detail matters. </p>



<p><em>“The wires are so thin it’s almost like they aren’t there at all,”</em> Ware noted, before stressing longevity. </p>



<p><em>“Durability is another key factor as well. A lot of work has gone into making sure it lasts.”</em> And the reach extends beyond the elite. <em>“I think both amateur and professional players are going to get a lot of enjoyment from it.”</em></p>



<p>Noble’s departure sharpens a broader transition. <em>“It’s quite strange to suddenly feel like one of the senior ones,”</em> Ware admitted. The pathway has changed too. <em>“Young people are now growing up wanting to become darts referees, rather than just falling into it like many of us did.”</em> His own journey underlines that contrast. <em>“I was only 17 when I made my television debut and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.”</em></p>



<p>For Ware, the trajectory is clear. <em>“The standard will only continue to rise, and that’s great for the game.”</em></p>



<p>&#8212;&#8211;ENDS&#8212;&#8211;</p>



<p>Images:PDC</p>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/ware-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-noble/">Ware Pays Tribute To Inspirational Noble</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/ware-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-noble/">Ware Pays Tribute To Inspirational Noble</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/ware-pays-tribute-to-inspirational-noble/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">43748</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Injury, Escape and Queen: Ware and Woody Do Tops and Tales</title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/injury-escape-and-queen-ware-and-woody-do-tops-and-tales/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/injury-escape-and-queen-ware-and-woody-do-tops-and-tales/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[dweditorial]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2026 15:45:42 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PDC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Podcasts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts World Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Huw Ware]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luke Woodhouse]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tops and Tales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Winmau]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=43583</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Huw Ware exists in near-perpetual motion...on the latest episode of Tops &#038; Tales, the conversation slowed just enough to reveal something quietly absorbing.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/injury-escape-and-queen-ware-and-woody-do-tops-and-tales/">Injury, Escape and Queen: Ware and Woody Do Tops and Tales</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/injury-escape-and-queen-ware-and-woody-do-tops-and-tales/">Injury, Escape and Queen: Ware and Woody Do Tops and Tales</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Between boarding gates and bright stages, Darts World columnist Huw Ware exists in near-perpetual motion. As one of the Professional Darts Corporation’s globetrotting referees, his life is measured in airports and arenas. Somewhere in the gaps between continents, he also finds time to run a podcast – and </p>



<p>His guest was Luke Woodhouse, a man who has climbed to the highest-ranking position of his career while learning, almost belatedly, the value of stillness. A Pro Tour fixture for years, Woodhouse spoke with an unforced candour about balance, friendship, and the mental quiet that now underpins his performances.</p>



<p>Away from tungsten and television lights, his sanctuary is fairway and green. <em>“I’m a massive golf fan,”</em> he says. <em>“I play as much as I can. For me it’s completely separate from darts.”</em> Based at Beaulieu Pines Golf Club as a summer member, Woodhouse often plays alongside familiar faces from the circuit – PDC official Daz Rollings chief among them, with Damon Heta a regular presence too.</p>



<p>What matters is not the scorecard. <em>“The great thing about golf is that it completely switches my mind off from darts,”</em> Woodhouse explains. <em>“I put my phone in my bag and don’t look at it for hours. You walk, you talk, you’re outside. Sometimes the golf is almost secondary.”</em> Even with darts colleagues alongside him, the game remains a refuge rather than a continuation. <em>“You don’t talk all the time about form or results,”</em> he says. <em>“Especially with Daz, who works within the PDC, you just want to keep it light. It’s general chat, not work-related.”</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="epyt-video-wrapper"><div  id="_ytid_79860"  width="696" height="391"  data-origwidth="696" data-origheight="391"  data-relstop="1" data-facadesrc="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TtwBxsn_PO8?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;rel=0&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;" class="__youtube_prefs__ epyt-facade epyt-is-override  no-lazyload" data-epautoplay="1" ><img decoding="async" data-spai-excluded="true" class="epyt-facade-poster skip-lazy" loading="lazy"  alt="YouTube player"  src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TtwBxsn_PO8/maxresdefault.jpg"  /><button class="epyt-facade-play" aria-label="Play"><svg data-no-lazy="1" height="100%" version="1.1" viewBox="0 0 68 48" width="100%"><path class="ytp-large-play-button-bg" d="M66.52,7.74c-0.78-2.93-2.49-5.41-5.42-6.19C55.79,.13,34,0,34,0S12.21,.13,6.9,1.55 C3.97,2.33,2.27,4.81,1.48,7.74C0.06,13.05,0,24,0,24s0.06,10.95,1.48,16.26c0.78,2.93,2.49,5.41,5.42,6.19 C12.21,47.87,34,48,34,48s21.79-0.13,27.1-1.55c2.93-0.78,4.64-3.26,5.42-6.19C67.94,34.95,68,24,68,24S67.94,13.05,66.52,7.74z" fill="#f00"></path><path d="M 45,24 27,14 27,34" fill="#fff"></path></svg></button></div></div>
</div></figure>



<p>The conversation takes a sharper turn when illness and injury surface. Ware notes how remarkable it was that PDC World Darts Championship passed with so few falling sick. Woodhouse is blunt about the reality beneath the glamour. <em>“If you get ill and you don’t turn up for the next round, you don’t get the prize money for that round. So unless you really can’t stand, you carry on.”</em></p>



<p>He knows this terrain intimately. During a European Tour event in Graz, back pain shadowed every movement. <em>“Throwing was fine, but even that little step up to the oche, you could feel it.”</em> Yet adversity can sharpen focus. <em>“Sometimes it actually helps,”</em> he says. <em>“You’re less obsessed with doing everything perfectly. You’re focused on surviving, on protecting yourself. And because of that, you sometimes actually play better.”</em></p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2024WCR1_Woodhouse06-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-40776" srcset="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2024WCR1_Woodhouse06-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2024WCR1_Woodhouse06-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2024WCR1_Woodhouse06-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2024WCR1_Woodhouse06-696x464.jpg 696w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2024WCR1_Woodhouse06-1068x712.jpg 1068w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2024WCR1_Woodhouse06-600x400.jpg 600w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2024WCR1_Woodhouse06.jpg 1200w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<p>Few moments better illustrate the emotional complexity of elite darts than Woodhouse’s World Championship clash with Heta, where his close friend landed a nine-darter. Woodhouse celebrated instinctively. <em>“People immediately suggested I was celebrating because of the prize money,”</em> he says. <em>“But that wasn’t it at all. I was just so happy for him.”</em> He recalls a missed chance earlier in the event. <em>“Then you see your mate do it on the biggest stage. That’s pure emotion.”</em> Reflection followed. <em>“Afterwards I did think for a moment: did I take his moment a bit? But everything worked out. It was genuine.”</em></p>



<p>Sentiment, however, has limits. Woodhouse went on to win the match. <em>“On that stage, there are no friends,”</em> he says calmly. <em>“He wants to win, I want to win. That’s it.”</em></p>



<p>As the discussion drifts to music, a shared reverence emerges. Both men are devoted Queen fans, united by admiration for Freddie Mercury. <em>“My dad always listened to Queen,”</em> Woodhouse says. <em>“In the car, on cassette tapes. That’s where it started.”</em> What fascinates him most is contrast. <em>“He was quiet, even shy. And then he stepped on stage and became someone else. That fascinated me.”</em> The lesson lingers. <em>“You don’t always have to be extrovert. He showed you can still be great.”</em></p>



<p>Asked for favourites, he doesn’t hesitate. <em>“Yeah, I love it. My favourite Queen song is ‘Now I’m Here.’”</em> He admires Adam Lambert’s interpretation but draws a personal line. <em>“I’m a bit of a stick in the mud. For me, Queen is Freddie Mercury, so I don’t watch too much of Queen without Freddie.”</em> Still, respect remains. <em>“From what I’ve heard, he’s just being him. He’s not trying to be Freddie. He brings his own twist, he’s not copying what Freddie used to do.”</em></p>



<p>In a sport defined by noise and pressure, the episode offered something rarer – a portrait of calm, control, and a career shaped as much by what happens away from the oche as upon it.</p>



<p>&#8212;&#8211;ENDS&#8212;&#8211;</p>



<p>Images: PDC</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/injury-escape-and-queen-ware-and-woody-do-tops-and-tales/">Injury, Escape and Queen: Ware and Woody Do Tops and Tales</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/injury-escape-and-queen-ware-and-woody-do-tops-and-tales/">Injury, Escape and Queen: Ware and Woody Do Tops and Tales</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2026/01/injury-escape-and-queen-ware-and-woody-do-tops-and-tales/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">43583</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Taylor Suspension Sparks Darts&#8217; Great Replacement Debate</title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2025/12/taylor-suspension-sparks-darts-great-replacement-debate/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2025/12/taylor-suspension-sparks-darts-great-replacement-debate/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[charrishulme]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sun, 21 Dec 2025 15:43:26 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[PDC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The 501 Debate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World Championship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ally Pally 2026]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dom Taylor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jonny Clayton]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Oskar Lukasiak]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=42834</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Why? What many demanded, was it not Oskar Lukasiak – the man beaten by Taylor in the opening round – who should advance...</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/12/taylor-suspension-sparks-darts-great-replacement-debate/">Taylor Suspension Sparks Darts&#8217; Great Replacement Debate</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/12/taylor-suspension-sparks-darts-great-replacement-debate/">Taylor Suspension Sparks Darts&#8217; Great Replacement Debate</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>The fallout from Dom Taylor’s expulsion from the PDC World Championship has ignited a familiar Ally Pally firestorm. With Taylor removed from the equation, Jonny Clayton was handed immediate, no-questions-asked passage into round three. </p>



<p>And almost instantly, darts social media did what it does best – asked one simple question &#8230;Why? What many demanded, was it not Oskar Lukasiak – the man beaten by Taylor in the opening round – who should advance to face the Welshman instead?</p>



<p> It is a fair question. A reasonable one. And one that the Swede and his camp were entirely entitled to raise. The answer, however, lives not in emotion or morality, but in the cold, unyielding print of the rulebook. </p>



<p>The relevant scripture is Section 9.4 of the PDC regulations. Impact on Opponent’s Results</p>



<p><strong><em>There will be no adjustment of results, medals, points, prizes or other consequences for the opponent of a Player (or the team of a Player) subsequently found to have committed a Doping Offence, save as may be specifically set out in the rules or regulations of the organiser of the tournament or competiton of which the relevant event forms part including in relation to the winner, runner-up or other players.</em></strong></p>



<p>Dense. Legalistic. Not exactly bedtime reading. But clear in intent. And crucially, it does not permit a defeated opponent to be reinstated when a player is later removed following a positive test. In short: Lukasiak does not inherit Taylor’s place. </p>



<p>That settles the &#8216;what&#8217;. But it does not silence the &#8220;should&#8217;. </p>



<p>On social media, the verdict was swift and emphatic. Yes. Absolutely. Without hesitation. From a moral standpoint, the argument is powerful. Lukasiak lost to a player later found to have taken a banned substance – one that, by definition, would hardly be ingested unless it conferred some form of advantage. </p>



<p>The specifics of the substance remain unclear, but the principle is uncomfortable enough.History offers precedent. In 1988, Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson crossed the line first in the Olympic 100 metres, only to be stripped of gold following a positive doping test.</p>



<p>The medal did not vanish into thin air. It was reallocated – passed to the man who finished second, Carl Lewis. The podium shifted. Justice, as sport defines it, was recalibrated. </p>



<p>But darts is not athletics. The PDC is not the IOC. Different organisation. Different statutes. Different consequences. And so, while Jonny Clayton becomes the principal beneficiary – a bye, a clear diary, no need to return to Alexandra Palace until after Christmas – it is difficult to imagine he takes any pleasure from it.</p>



<p>Clayton’s reputation precedes him. A competitor of integrity. A champion who would far rather earn his progress with tungsten in hand than accept it by administrative decree. Yet he has no say in the matter. </p>



<p>The message from above is blunt: stay at home, Jonny. You’re through.We have seen withdrawals and absences countless times before, particularly on the European Tour, where late dropouts result in reserve call-ups or byes depending on timing. </p>



<p>But, those are voluntary exits. Choices made by players themselves. This is different. This was enforced. And that distinction matters under the current framework. So here we are. Lukasiak likely back in Sweden, replaying what-ifs. Clayton at home in Wales, turkey dinner pencilled in, darts safely back in the case until round three. </p>



<p>Morally, it feels wrong to many. Administratively, it is entirely correct. Rules exist precisely for moments like this. They were applied. Case closed. The debate, of course, will rumble on. It always does. And perhaps, in time, it will spark a rewrite of the regulations. But for now, the 2026 PDC World Championship marches on.</p>



<p>Clayton will return in round three to face Niels Zonneveld in the opening match of the Sunday 28 December session. No drama required. Decision delivered.</p>



<p>&#8212;-Ends&#8212;</p>



<p>Images: PDC / Darts World</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/12/taylor-suspension-sparks-darts-great-replacement-debate/">Taylor Suspension Sparks Darts&#8217; Great Replacement Debate</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/12/taylor-suspension-sparks-darts-great-replacement-debate/">Taylor Suspension Sparks Darts&#8217; Great Replacement Debate</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2025/12/taylor-suspension-sparks-darts-great-replacement-debate/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">42834</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Darts World 591 &#8211; On The Oche</title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/darts-world-591-on-the-oche/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/darts-world-591-on-the-oche/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[charrishulme]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Nov 2025 15:52:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magazines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts World Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DW 591]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eric Bristow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[EVOLUTION]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MODUS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phil Taylor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Red Dragon Darts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Winmau]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=41779</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>You may have noticed that over the past two or three years there has been regular referral to what the DW team have dubbed the generational battles within the game. ...</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/darts-world-591-on-the-oche/">Darts World 591 &#8211; On The Oche</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/darts-world-591-on-the-oche/">Darts World 591 &#8211; On The Oche</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>The traditional opening piece of Darts World&#8217;s print magazine is known as ‘<strong>On The Oche</strong>‘ and is usually a general introduction to an issue. Darst World 591&#8217;s is replicated below, get your copy, or a fabulous value subscription,<a href="https://dartsworld.com/magazines/"> here:</a></p>



<p><strong>EVOLUTION</strong> is the thread that continues to run through the game of darts and so it is through this issue of Darts World. </p>



<p>You may have noticed that over the past two or three years there has been regular referral to what the DW team have dubbed the generational battles within the game.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Despite a positively superhuman effort &#8211; by what we have termed the ‘old guard’ &#8211; to hold back the tide it seems safe to conclude that a combination of ‘The Midults’ and the ‘Latest Generation’ have now assumed full command of the trophy and title collecting arena. </p>



<p>While James Wade and Gary Anderson have kept the flame alive recently the volume of stories, both on camera and off, at every event has clearly switched.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The middle generation has been hit and miss for a few years as first Phil Taylor and the MVG’s dominance faded. Wright, Smith and Price bagged world titles and Clayton joined the major winners before Humphries finally moved the game forward again after a plateau around the Covid-19 times.</p>



<p>Luke Littler then lit the blue touch paper again and his explosive efforts were backed up by others such as Josh Rock and Gian Van Veen. While the latter two* are yet to collect big trophies they have already made their presence felt in major events this year. </p>



<p>The achievements of Beau Greaves have already gained her attention far and wide and the female factor, begun by Fallon Sherrock in 2020, may yet add another layer to the popularity of our game in all corners of the word and to its financial potential.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="704" height="1024" src="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Darts-World-591-Evolution-Front-Cover-704x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41771" srcset="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Darts-World-591-Evolution-Front-Cover-704x1024.jpg 704w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Darts-World-591-Evolution-Front-Cover-206x300.jpg 206w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Darts-World-591-Evolution-Front-Cover-768x1117.jpg 768w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Darts-World-591-Evolution-Front-Cover-696x1012.jpg 696w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Darts-World-591-Evolution-Front-Cover-600x873.jpg 600w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Darts-World-591-Evolution-Front-Cover.jpg 880w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 704px) 100vw, 704px" /></figure>



<p>The game of elite darts has been a six decade long series of evolutions mainly fronted by the four horsemen of the ApOCHElypse &#8211; Bristow, Taylor, MVG, with Littler set to complete the quad.</p>



<p>Evolution may be clearly seen in the playing arena, it is not exclusively to be found on the oche itself. Business, economics, technology, management, media and even supporters being subject to the struggle of the ages. It is a unique and riveting time for darts!</p>



<p>Get your DW 591 copy, or a fabulous value subscription,<a href="https://dartsworld.com/shop/"> here:</a></p>



<p>*Amazing how quickly you can be up out of date!</p>



<p>&#8212;&#8211;ENDS&#8212;&#8211;</p>



<p></p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/darts-world-591-on-the-oche/">Darts World 591 &#8211; On The Oche</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/darts-world-591-on-the-oche/">Darts World 591 &#8211; On The Oche</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/darts-world-591-on-the-oche/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">41779</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Jose De Sousa – The (Not So) Special One </title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/jose-de-sousa-the-not-so-special-one/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/jose-de-sousa-the-not-so-special-one/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[dweditorial]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:30:48 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Decline and Fall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grand Slam of Darts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PDC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jose de Sousa]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trinidad]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=41744</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Not too long ago, Jose De Sousa was spoken of as one of the very best players on the planet. The Portuguese thrower had the swagger, the scoring power, and the nickname The Special One to match. But fast-forward a few years and the sparkle has dulled, his form has nose-dived, and what was once [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/jose-de-sousa-the-not-so-special-one/">Jose De Sousa – The (Not So) Special One </a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/jose-de-sousa-the-not-so-special-one/">Jose De Sousa – The (Not So) Special One </a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Not too long ago, Jose De Sousa was spoken of as one of the very best players on the planet. The Portuguese thrower had the swagger, the scoring power, and the nickname <em>The Special One</em> to match. But fast-forward a few years and the sparkle has dulled, his form has nose-dived, and what was once a rapid ascent has turned into an almighty fall from grace.</p>



<p>Rewind to late 2020. De Sousa was flying – Grand Slam Champion, European tour event winner, and hitting maximums as if he was on commission. By 2021, he’d climbed to world number seven and capped it off with a Premier League campaign that saw him reach the final, losing only to Jonny Clayton. Life was good, and Jose looked set to sit at darts’ top table for a long time.<br><br>But in darts, form is fragile. One moment the treble 20 looks like a barn door, the next it’s a pinhole on the horizon. For De Sousa, the victories dried up, confidence slipped away, and the excuses began. In his case, the Portuguese pointed towards the COVID jab he was required to take in order to keep competing.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Whether that really was the true cause or just a convenient excuse, even Jose might not be entirely sure.<br><br>The truth is simple: form comes and goes. When you’re winning, life feels golden. When you’re losing, you start questioning everything – even that shiny new sports car you splashed six figures on when the trophies were rolling in. And once defeats start piling up, the route back to the mountain top only seems steeper.<br><br>By 2023, De Sousa’s major appearances had become fleeting, and when they did come, they ended early. His ranking inevitably slipped, and by last season, his only TV outing outside the obligatory UK Open was the World Cup – by default, since he’s the only Portuguese player with a tour card. Not exactly a high bar to clear.<br><br>Meanwhile, social media filled up with pictures of Jose proudly holding giant fish rather than practicing on the dartboard. Lovely for his soul, less useful for his scoring average. His supporters may smile politely at the catches, but they’d much rather see him catching trebles than trout.<br><br>And that’s the problem. This isn’t just a dip in form anymore – it looks suspiciously like a dip in motivation. His body language screams disinterest, his interviews ooze self-pity, and the determination that once made him dangerous seems to have evaporated.&nbsp;</p>



<p>That lovable smile and infectious grin turned into frowns, moans and shrugs.&nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="786" src="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021-1024x786.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41746" srcset="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021-1024x786.jpg 1024w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021-300x230.jpg 300w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021-768x590.jpg 768w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021-1536x1180.jpg 1536w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021-696x535.jpg 696w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021-1068x820.jpg 1068w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021-1920x1475.jpg 1920w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021-600x461.jpg 600w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WLDMTCHPLAY-RD2-DE-SOUSA-2021.jpg 2000w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">WORLD MATCHPLAY 2021, WINTER GARDENS, BLACKPOOL (PIC;LAWRENCE LUSTIG  )JOSE DE SOUSA IN ACTION</figcaption></figure>



<p>Of course, de Sousa is far from the only player to point the finger at external forces to explain a torrid spell. </p>



<p>Excuses in darts are almost as common as Luke Littler 180s, and considerably more creative. But when you’ve been one of the world’s best, blaming jabs, bad luck, or fate only goes so far. At some point, you either get back on the board and grind, or you watch your career slip away.</p>



<p>It’s looking increasingly likely that the Iberian thrower could be the first PDC major champion of this decade to lose his professional status. Of course, 2020 Premier League winner, Glen Durrant no longer competes on the circuit. But while Duzza stepped away from the Pro Tour on his own terms, De Sousa’s exit would be less retirement plan and more eviction notice.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Coming into the final lap of the PDC season – and what is likely to be The Portuguese’s farewell race – José de Sousa’s tour card status will all come down to one day in Wigan. With De Sousa having failed to qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts – the very major he famously won – and was miles off the pace for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, it’s last-chance saloon time. If José doesn’t secure one of the qualifying spots on offer for the World Championship, he will fall off the tour.</p>



<p>Should he fail, the Q-School route awaits – and beyond that, the Challenge Tour would still offer him opportunities. The ladder is there. But it’s no good if you don’t want to climb it.<br><br>Make no mistake – De Sousa’s ability is almost certainly still there. Ask his peers, and they’ll tell you that for 18 golden months between 2020 and 2021, he was almost unplayable. The stats back that up too.&nbsp;</p>



<p>But talent doesn’t last forever if it isn’t worked on. Right now, it’s buried under layers of something: Frustration? Laziness? Arrogance? Or, perhaps, simply disinterest?<br><br>If he wants it badly enough, De Sousa could still save his skin – even if he has just one day in Lancashire to do it. The question is whether he actually does.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Ultimately, it all comes down to whether Jose is prepared to dig deep. The only question is: does <em>The Special One </em>actually fancy doing the heavy tungsten spadework required?&nbsp;I guess we will find out on the 24<sup>th</sup> November.&nbsp;</p>



<p>&#8212;&#8211;ENDS&#8212;&#8211;</p>



<p>Images: PDC</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/jose-de-sousa-the-not-so-special-one/">Jose De Sousa – The (Not So) Special One </a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/jose-de-sousa-the-not-so-special-one/">Jose De Sousa – The (Not So) Special One </a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2025/11/jose-de-sousa-the-not-so-special-one/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">41744</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Gabriel Clemens: From German Hope To Sliding Slope</title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/decline-and-fall-clemens-from-german-hope-to-sliding-slope/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/decline-and-fall-clemens-from-german-hope-to-sliding-slope/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[dweditorial]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Oct 2025 13:39:04 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[European Darts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Decline and Fall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Global]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PDC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gabriel Clemens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[German darts]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=41300</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Gabriel Clemens almost became the first German to reach a PDC World Championship final ...Fast forward to the build-up for 2026 and Clemens has dropped down the rankings faster than a Kardashian marriage. Right now, the 42-year-old isn’t even </p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/decline-and-fall-clemens-from-german-hope-to-sliding-slope/">Gabriel Clemens: From German Hope To Sliding Slope</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/decline-and-fall-clemens-from-german-hope-to-sliding-slope/">Gabriel Clemens: From German Hope To Sliding Slope</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>It’s mad to think it’s been less than three years since Gabriel Clemens almost became the first German to reach a PDC World Championship final – only stopped in the semis by eventual champ Michael Smith. Still, history made: the German Giant remains the only man from his nation to make it that far.<br><br>That was the 2023 tournament. Fast forward to the build-up for 2026 and Clemens has dropped down the rankings faster than a Kardashian marriage. Right now, the 42-year-old isn’t even set to feature at Ally Pally this Christmas, sitting seven places outside the cut-off.<br><br>The one crumb of comfort? His tour card’s safe – for now. The cruel side of darts is simple: you win a big chunk of cash, enjoy the glory, then two years later it’s back on the line. Fail to defend it, and your ranking falls off a cliff. Just ask Gerwyn Price or Michael Smith, who know that pain all too well.<br><br>For years Clemens was Germany’s top dog, World Cup captain and the benchmark for his countrymen. His World Cup record is tidy too – two quarter-finals and two semis in just five appearances. But the darting world moves quickly, and now Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko have leapfrogged him in the rankings and subsequently taken over World Cup duties. The event isn’t ranked, so Clemens won’t lose sleep – though his national pride might need a stiff drink.<br><br>So how does he climb back up the ladder? There’s only one answer, and yes, it sounds patronising: win more matches. Pretty averages don’t cut it – victories do. As M-People once sang: Movin’ On Up. It’s the only way to ascend.<br><br>No one doubts Clemens’ ability. On his day, he’s brilliant. The issue is everyone else on tour is brilliant too – and more consistent. Too many early Players Championship exits, too few major TV appearances. He’ll be at Minehead, but beyond that his calendar looks pretty bare.<br><br>If Clemens wants another crack at the Ally Pally big time, he needs to rediscover the spark that took him to the 2023 semis. Otherwise, he risks becoming another classy operator forever filed under “nearly man.”</p>



<p>&#8212;&#8211;ENDS&#8212;&#8211;</p>



<p>Images: PDC</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/decline-and-fall-clemens-from-german-hope-to-sliding-slope/">Gabriel Clemens: From German Hope To Sliding Slope</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/decline-and-fall-clemens-from-german-hope-to-sliding-slope/">Gabriel Clemens: From German Hope To Sliding Slope</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/decline-and-fall-clemens-from-german-hope-to-sliding-slope/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">41300</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>The 501 Debate: The Luke Littler Dilemma</title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/the-501-debate-the-luke-littler-dilemma/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/the-501-debate-the-luke-littler-dilemma/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[dweditorial]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Oct 2025 16:09:15 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[The 501 Debate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Next Gen Darts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PDC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[PDC World Youth Championship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts World Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luke Littler]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=41268</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>At 18, he’s perfectly entitled to enter the qualifiers... But Littler’s decision to show up... still drew criticism from some corners. It got us thinking – this is worth looking at from both sides.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/the-501-debate-the-luke-littler-dilemma/">The 501 Debate: The Luke Littler Dilemma</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/the-501-debate-the-luke-littler-dilemma/">The 501 Debate: The Luke Littler Dilemma</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>Our recently launched feature gives contributors 501 words, including the title, to sum up a current darting debate, controversy or talking point. Unsurprisingly, Luke Littler features strongly in this one!</p>



<p><strong>The Luke Littler Dilemma: When Success Sparks Controversy</strong></p>



<p>Reigning World Champion Luke Littler proudly walked out of Leicester on Sunday evening with the Grand Prix trophy – the latest addition to the teenage wonderkid’s ever-growing collection.</p>



<p>Instead of enjoying a well-earned lie-in – and let’s face it, Luke does love a snooze – he was up early in Wigan competing in the World Youth Championship qualifiers, a title he first claimed back in 2023. Last year, for reasons known only to Luke and those close to him, he gave it a miss despite crashing out in Leicester in the opening round. This time, having gone all the way at the Mattioli Arena, he fancied giving it another go.</p>



<p>At 18, he’s perfectly entitled to enter the qualifiers, and he never once announced that he wouldn’t. But Littler’s decision to show up at Robin Park still drew criticism from some corners. It got us thinking – this is worth looking at from both sides.</p>



<p><a href="https://dartsworld.com/shop-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SIGN UP FOR A DARTS WORLD MEMBERSHIP TODAY!</a></p>



<p>The general consensus isn’t about Littler’s age but his extraordinary achievements. Yet perhaps some are confusing the World Youth Championship qualifiers with the Development Tour – and that’s a completely different argument.</p>



<p>Most who voiced disapproval said it was unfair for the World Champion to compete. In other words, he’s simply too good and would stroll to the final at Minehead – so why not give someone else a chance?</p>



<p>But if that’s the case, and if The Nuke were prevented from entering purely for being too successful, you’re punishing him for excelling. Just because you’re outstanding at something shouldn’t exclude you from competing. If that logic applied elsewhere, the Scottish FA would’ve told Celtic and Rangers to take a few years off and relax on a Caribbean island until everyone else caught up.</p>



<p>And let’s be honest – when Phil Taylor was sweeping up every trophy in sight, nobody ever suggested banning him. Littler might be world-class, but he’s playing under the same rules as every other kid at Robin Park. The only difference is that he’s much better at darts. Not his fault – just a fact.</p>



<p>So if an 18-year-old wants to try and reclaim a prestigious piece of silverware, why should anyone criticise him? Littler loves chasing records – only Dimitri Van den Bergh has ever won the PDC World Youth Championship twice – so maybe he’s aiming to equal or even surpass that. Or perhaps he simply fancies becoming the first in history to hold both the senior and youth world titles at the same time.</p>



<p>As it turned out, after one of the highest-quality youth matches you’ll ever see, Beau Greaves edged out Littler in an epic semi-final. That means it’s her, not Luke, who’ll go on to face reigning champion Gian van Veen in the final. Next year, the Warringtonian might roll the dice again. And if he does, people should recognise he’s every bit entitled to. Success shouldn’t disqualify someone from taking part – especially a kid who just wants to throw darts with his mates without scrutiny, criticism or disdain.</p>



<p><strong>Editors Note</strong>: <em>If you have a darts related issue you feel strongly about but can be clear and concise enough to speak to both sides, in exactly 501 words, then send it to us at editor@dartsworld.com</em></p>



<p>&#8212;&#8211;ENDS&#8212;&#8211;</p>



<p>Images: N/A</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/the-501-debate-the-luke-littler-dilemma/">The 501 Debate: The Luke Littler Dilemma</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/the-501-debate-the-luke-littler-dilemma/">The 501 Debate: The Luke Littler Dilemma</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/the-501-debate-the-luke-littler-dilemma/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">41268</post-id>	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Darts World Extra 22: Out Now!</title>
		<link>https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/darts-world-extra-22-out-now/</link>
					<comments>https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/darts-world-extra-22-out-now/#respond</comments>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[dweditorial]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Oct 2025 17:22:07 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Darts World Extra]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ADC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bullseyes and Bounceouts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Columnists]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MODUS]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WDF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darts World Magazine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DWExtra22]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Talking Points]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dartsworld.com/?p=41166</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>DW Extra 22 is the 4th EXTRA for 2025 following Triple Crowned (DWE21) and Two 'Supplementals', and is, perhaps, the most forward looking issue this year.</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/darts-world-extra-22-out-now/">Darts World Extra 22: Out Now!</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/darts-world-extra-22-out-now/">Darts World Extra 22: Out Now!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>FOLLOWING the phenomenal success of Darts World’s special, one-off, digital publications, such as our annual Souvenir Edition, we were delighted to announce the launch of<a href="https://dartsworld.com/darts-world-extra/#"> Darts World <strong><em>Extra</em></strong> (22)</a></p>



<p>DWExtra is now a frequent publication, usually between our regular print issues and for specific occasions in the Darts World year including the PDC’s annual Ally Pally party.<a href="https://dartsworld.com/darts-world-extra/#"> </a></p>



<p><a href="https://dartsworld.com/darts-world-extra/#">DW Extra 22</a> is the 4th EXTRA for 2025 following Triple Crowned (DWE21) and Two &#8216;Supplementals&#8217;, and is, perhaps, the most forward looking issue this year.</p>



<p>The 22nd edition of DW Extra– our digital supplementary publication – features interviews and additional catch ups with the biggest names in our game. Inside we review recent majors, look at the and all the recent tungsten activity from the recent 2025 Season of darting delights as well as offering tasters for the superb Darts World Print issue (591) which has just been released.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🟢⚫️ | Darts World Extra 22 |⚫️🟢<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DWExtra22?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#DWExtra22</a> Out Now! <br><br>⚡️Exc. Phil Taylor Teaser<br>🎯 Bullseyes &amp; Bounceouts<br>🟡 MODUS Maximises Talent<br>🥶 The Freeze Factor 🎤<br>🟠 ADC Accelerating<br>➕️ More<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheOfficialVoiceOfDarts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#TheOfficialVoiceOfDarts</a> <br>FREE thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/reddragondarts?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@reddragondarts</a><br><br>Read: <a href="https://t.co/UHH6BWRxcF">https://t.co/UHH6BWRxcF</a> <a href="https://t.co/KOIDzSHmhr">pic.twitter.com/KOIDzSHmhr</a></p>&mdash; Darts World Magazine (@Darts_World) <a href="https://twitter.com/Darts_World/status/1975862321772900720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">October 8, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<p>We give some of our regular contributors and columnists a break and feature pieces reviewing ADC, UKDA, MSS and WSD Results.</p>



<p>As always there are Darts Reviews, Practice and coaching tips and much more besides.</p>



<p>Thanks to our friends at Red Dragon Darts Extra&nbsp;free to&nbsp;download or read.</p>



<p>Don’t forget our brand new digital archive at darsworld.com where you can find a selection of more than<a href="https://dartsworld.com/darts-world-extra/">&nbsp;50 digital copies of Darts World&nbsp;</a>publications from the last decade and selected issues from as far back as 1972!</p>



<p>Packed full of reviews of recent action, previews of upcoming events and articles as well as unique content not available elsewhere:</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Darts World<em> Extra</em> – Look Who&#8217;s Back (In Black)</strong></h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="Read: http://bit.ly/4nMFrGa"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DARTS-WORLD-EXTRA-22-OCTOBER-2025-cover--1024x768.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41103" srcset="https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DARTS-WORLD-EXTRA-22-OCTOBER-2025-cover--1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DARTS-WORLD-EXTRA-22-OCTOBER-2025-cover--300x225.jpg 300w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DARTS-WORLD-EXTRA-22-OCTOBER-2025-cover--768x576.jpg 768w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DARTS-WORLD-EXTRA-22-OCTOBER-2025-cover--1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DARTS-WORLD-EXTRA-22-OCTOBER-2025-cover--696x522.jpg 696w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DARTS-WORLD-EXTRA-22-OCTOBER-2025-cover--1068x801.jpg 1068w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DARTS-WORLD-EXTRA-22-OCTOBER-2025-cover--600x450.jpg 600w, https://dartsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/DARTS-WORLD-EXTRA-22-OCTOBER-2025-cover-.jpg 1920w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><a href="Read: http://bit.ly/4nMFrGa">Read Free Here </a></figcaption></figure>



<p>September / October 2025</p>



<p>—–ENDS—–</p>



<p>Images: Cover: Darts World Group Ltd., Photography: PDC</p>
<p>The post <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/darts-world-extra-22-out-now/">Darts World Extra 22: Out Now!</a> appeared first on <a rel="nofollow" href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/darts-world-extra-22-out-now/">Darts World Extra 22: Out Now!</a> appeared first on <a href="https://dartsworld.com">Darts World Magazine</a>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
					
					<wfw:commentRss>https://dartsworld.com/2025/10/darts-world-extra-22-out-now/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
			<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		
		
		<post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">41166</post-id>	</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
