Issue 31 (August 5, 2016)

Friday 5 August 2016

Darts Weekly

“Time to move move up to 601” John Lowe calls for changes in light of the new standard P2-3 GOING DOWN UNDER

RACE TO THE EUROS

DELIGHT FOR DUZZA

MVG eyes first Australia title after win in Dusseldorf Page 4

Sean McCormick analyses the new qualifying format Page 5

Durrant wins the inaugural European Open Pages 6-7

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Friday 5 August 2016 Darts Weekly

SPECIAL REPORT

“If we had the dartboards manufactured today in the 80s, we would be scoring 10-20 more each throw”

John Lowe discusses with Mark Airey how the advances in technology have propelled the sport to its best ever standard

verages, averages, averages. We hear about them a lot. Despite our love of it, darts is relatively one dimensional compared to many other sports or pastimes.

As the nature of darts is about hitting big or specific numbers and adding and subtracting to achieve totals, then it’s only natural that there is a significant focus on stats, such as the three dart average, by pundits and fans alike.

The facts show that there has been a steady incline in the three dart average as a whole over the past few decades. But why?

Certain folks with vested interests in the modern game would like you to believe that it’s simply down to one thing: professionalism.

The players play more. They practise better. They are pushed harder and treat the game as a career rather than a hobby that pays well.

But there are plenty of onlookers who believe that other influences have pushed this ‘advancement’ in the game. None more so than three-time world champion John Lowe.

“The increased size of the target area is without doubt the biggest contributing factor,” he tells me.

“If we’d had the dartboards manufactured today in the 80s, we would be averaging at least 10 to 20 points more per throw.”

It’s hard to argue with Lowe’s suggestion there. Particularly if you compare the video of his landmark first televised nine

“Improved standard is down to the increase in size of the scoring areas”

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darter back in 1984, against any of the seemingly endless parade of perfect legs that happen in the current era.

“It still takes nine perfect darts,” Lowe concedes. “But it was harder to see the nine darts hit the target and stay there in 1984.

“Back then we accepted bounce outs as the norm. Today there is an outcry if a player gets more than two in a leg.”

So can we accept that advances in dartboard technology have had a significant impact on three dart averages and other stats over the years? Perhaps understanding the science behind the manufacturing of the dartboards will help.

“In the 70s, 80s and 90s the wires were rounder and staples were used to keep the ‘spider’ in place on the board.

“Since the introduction of razor thin wires, the wires are placed directly into the board’s sisal without the need for staples and as a result the scoring areas became significantly bigger.”

It sounds more than plausible, but what about all this increased professionalism in the game, which we hear so much about on Sky’s coverage in particular?

“It is said that the players practise more today, but it is in a different context to yesteryear,” states Lowe.

“I used to practise up to six hours a day. Not to be a professional, but to be good at the pastime I enjoyed.

“I still believe that the improved standard in play is down to the

Darts Weekly Friday 5 August 2016

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“x x x x” dartboards and increase in size of the scoring areas.”

So, if using dartboards that differ across generations makes comparisons unreliable, what can be said about using dartboards that differ between organisations?

The board of choice in the BDO/WDF system is Winmau, while the PDC use Unicorn in all of its tournaments.

The former is bound by regulations, which have stated that scoring areas of boards cannot exceed a maximum size, currently 10mm, for doubles and trebles.

The PDC choose not to adopt such a rule. This does not mean that scoring areas on the Unicorn boards are automatically bigger, as some studies on this vary depending on the author.

But it does open up a can of worms as to why this rule does not

exist, given that the PDC rulebook is essentially the BDO rulebook, minus the rule on scoring area sizes.

“The PDC I am sure do not feel the need to state the size of the scoring areas,” Lowe said. “They prefer the spectator to believe it is the standard of the PDC that

“The PDC I am sure do not feel the need to state the size of the scoring areas” makes them better players, not the larger scoring area.

“There is certainly a culture that has developed regarding averages achieved in the separate bodies.

“I myself compare them regularly. For me, the Unicorn Eclipse HD2 is without doubt the

finest, clearest and biggest target area in the sport today.”

So, if averages are increasing all the time because of all this, where does it stop?

Hypothetically, a player throwing first, putting in a 12 dart leg, requires a perfect nine darter to beat him.

If things continue the way they are, is there a risk that this becomes the accepted standard and the game becomes monotonous and predictable due to less and less missing?

“While I do not see the 12 dart leg becoming the norm, I accept the standard of play has increased,” Lowe said.

“My answer to this would be simple, move up from 501 to 601.

“There is a robotic feel about the players but that is down to loss of characters in the sport. But I do believe the sport is in good shape.”

The loss of characters is a problem that another sport, snooker, has faced and led to Barry Hearn taking control of the sport to reignite casual interest.

“Snooker opened up the entrance to pockets a few years ago,” says Lowe. “I am sure this made the 147 easier to achieve.”

Speaking purely from a commercial point of view, no one can dispute that the direction taken in darts, particularly by the PDC, have helped gain widespread interest in what is still probably a minority sport.

But perhaps it’s worth remembering that combinations of history and politics have muddied the waters on what defines the ‘standard.’

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Friday 5 August 2016 Darts Weekly

Van Gerwen eyes first title in Australia after Euro Tour win

PDC EUROPE

Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Michael van Gerwen has already set his sights on a first World Series of Darts victory in Australia after continuing his winning run in the HappyBet European Darts Open in Dusseldorf on Sunday.

The Dutchman secured his 13th title of the year, and fourth on the European Tour in 2016, by edging out Peter Wright 6-5 in a thrilling final at the Maritim Hotel.

Van Gerwen also missed two attempts at double 12 for a nine darter during the final day of the £115,000 tournament, but now heads into a World Series double header in Australia later this month determined to end his wait for a first title in Sydney and Perth.

“I think it gives me great confidence for Australia,” the world number one said.

“I didn’t do too well in the last couple of years there so I want to do something really special.

“But first I need to make sure I’m

enjoying my holiday. I think it’s a well-deserved one, but I’ll make sure I’m prepared for Australia.”

The 27-year-old has not entered the Players Championship double header in Barnsley this weekend, a decision which was also made by fellow World Series stars Adrian Lewis, Phil Taylor, Dave Chisnall and Raymond van Barneveld.

“I think the tour is very busy,”

stores.ebay.co.uk/Mojo-DARTS

van Gerwen said. “You can’t afford any mistakes on the tour and you need to perform well constantly.

“I’m trying 200 per cent all the time and I’m glad it’s paying out.”

In Sunday’s final against Wright, van Gerwen marched into a 3-1 lead before missing two darts to go within two of victory.

Wright fought back to level the match at 3-3, with the Dutch ace responding with back-to-back legs to break again and throw for the match at 5-3 up.

Another two leg burst from Snakebite forced a deciding leg, which his opponent kicked off with by hitting a 140 and a 180, followed by a 98 checkout for an 11 darter to claim the title.

“You always have to play well against Peter,” van Gerwen said. “I was starting with good scores every time and on the really important moments like at 3-1 and 5-3 I couldn’t get going for some reason, but I won and that’s the most important thing.”

Wright, whose sole victory on the European Tour came in Dusseldorf back in 2014, said: “Sometimes you need a bit of luck and I got that against Steve West in the second round.

“I got five legs against the world number one, I’m proud of myself.”

Darts Weekly Friday 5 August 2016

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SEAN McCORMICK TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE DART

New qualifying format for the Euros proving to be a mixed bag so far The European Championship qualifying race is entering its final stages and due largely to the new qualifying criteria, the line-up is looking like being a mixture of bright new talents and notable omissions.

It was announced in December that the European Championship was changing its qualifying criteria to being solely on accumulated prize money won in the 10 European Tour events.

The move provoked much debate, but it was a move that I personally thought was an innovative step in the right direction.

With qualification coming solely from the European Tour Order of Merit, the tournament finally has an identity.

Players are rewarded for their form on the European stage, which could offer some players a rare chance of playing on a TV stage, while there will be different seeded players, meaning there will be more variety in the latter stages of a TV tournament.

After Michael van Gerwen’s European Darts Open triumph in Dusseldorf at the weekend, players like Kim Huybrechts and Mensur Suljovic hold spots in the top eight seeded players, which breaks the regular status quo of the world’s top eight players.

Moreover, Bedlington’s emerging youngster Chris Dobey is one of the potential beneficiaries of the new qualification criteria, with his run to the quarter finals of the German Darts Masters helping

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him provisionally nail down one of the 32 qualifying spots.

Dobey is joined by the likes of Devon Petersen, Steve West and James Richardson, who rarely qualify for TV events, but are also among the provisional qualifiers.

Yet on the flipside the new format could prove to be to the detriment of the tournament.

World champions Adrian Lewis (above) and Raymond van

‘Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld both look set to miss out’ Barneveld both look to be missing out on the £400,000 showpiece event. Lewis currently occupies one of the 32 qualifying spots, but having opted not to enter the final four European Tour events of the year, it looks certain that the Stoke ace will be missing out.

On the other hand, van Barneveld has won no prize money at all on the European circuit,

LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

having failed to qualify for the opening two European Tour events, before not entering the next four events.

The Dutchman has a potential reprieve as he can still attempt to qualify for the remaining four European Tour events.

Yet when you consider he has not played in a single ranking tour event since March, the likelihood of him entering the qualifiers seems slim.

Many would argue they only have themselves to blame, but fans, the European Championship, and arguably the PDC as a brand, are going to suffer for the loss of two of the game’s great players in the tournament.

On the other hand, both men are aware of the qualification criteria and with negatives there also comes positives.

The tournament’s new format could provide the chance for one of the game’s so called ‘lesser lights’ to make a name for themselves, which makes it a fresh change to the PDC calendar.

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Friday 5 August 2016 Darts Weekly

Durrant feels ‘on top of the world’ after adding European Open to trophy haul in 2016 Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Glen Durrant admits he feels ‘on top of the world again’ following his victory in the first staging of the Shownights Winmau European Open on Sunday.

The BDO number one edged past fellow England international Mark McGeeney 6-5 in the final to scoop the £2,000 prize at Blackpool’s Norbreck Castle.

Durrant’s European Open triumph at the weekend follows recent wins in the England Open and Gold Cup and now the Middlesbrough-based thrower is full of confidence heading into the latter stages of the season.

“I think the England Open was a real turning point for me,” Durrant said. “I was beginning to question myself a little bit and why I wasn’t as successful as I was for the past 12 months.

“And then I won the England Open, the Gold Cup and now the European Open and I feel on top of the world again.”

Durrant lost 4-3 to Wouter Vaes in the last 32 of the European Classic which was held on Saturday, and was won by reigning Lakeside champion Scott Waites.

It was a first tournament victory for Waites since winning his second World Championship in January, with a 6-1 triumph over Wesley Harms in the final handing him his first title of the season.

Although the double header in Blackpool did not attract the number of entries it had predicted, Durrant hopes it will be on the calendar again in 2017 and will draw in bigger numbers.

“It was a good venue,” he said. “It was definitely a couple hundred short of what they should have had I think.

“They were anticipating 400 to 500 entries. I can’t work out why two Category A tournaments had

Glen Durrant (right) and Lisa Ashton (far right) were the winners on Sunday; Dave Parletti in action (bottom far right); WDDA winner Rob Williams with Andy Fordham, Sarah Smale and Paul Gelder (bottom right). such a poor turnout compared to Selsey a few weeks back, which had too many people at the venue.

“There’s been a few disappointments in the BDO this year, a few competitions have been cancelled and maybe it was a lack of confidence from people wanting to commit to it.

“The guy who was running it, Wayne Dobinson, is a terrific bloke and we were all gutted for him.

“The feedback was that it was run terrifically well and having a tournament in the middle of summer in Blackpool deserves a bit better. I hope it has all the success in the future because it was well run.”

Durrant will be among those competing in the Belgium Open this weekend, a tournament which has had 12 different winners in the last 12 years.

Looking further ahead and Durrant is thinking about his upcoming defence of the Winmau World Masters, which he won for the first time last year.

This year’s staging of the World Masters is shrouded in doubt, with no venue still booked to host the event as we went to press.

“I asked the BDO directly at Blackpool and they said they did not have a venue at this moment,” Durrant said. “That’s incredibly disappointing.

“Their other words to me were that it will definitely be going ahead, but people need to book hotels and need to book flights for it.

“It’s hugely disappointing that our second biggest tournament of the year hasn’t got a venue yet.”

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Darts Weekly Friday 5 August 2016

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Friday 5 August 2016 Darts Weekly

EVERY MATCH. EVERY TABLE. EVERY STAT BRITISH DARTS CORPORATION SHOWNIGHTS WINMAU EUROPEAN CLASSIC

Men’s last 32 - G Durrant 3-4 W Vaes, A Fordham 3-4 A Bell, W Harms 4-1 K Burness, D Harbour 2-4 Dean Reynolds, D Noppert 4-2 R Rickwood, R Hogarth 4-0 M Phillips, B Dawson 4-1 P Harvey, B Suckley 4-3 J Hughes, M Adams 41 R Griffin, J Sparidaans 1-4 T Hankey, D Labanauskas 4-0 G Vos, G Cressey 1-4 D Fitton, R Joyce 4-1 K McKinstry, B Lynn 4-3 M McGeeney, R Veenstra 4-0 R Montgomery, T Gregory 2-4 S Waites. Last 16 - W Vaes 4-3 A Bell, W Harms 4-1 D Reynolds, D Noppert 4-3 R Hogarth, B Dawson 2-4 B Suckley, M Adams 4-1 T Hankey, D Labanauskas 4-1 D Fitton, R Joyce 3-4 B Lynn, R Veenstra 2-4 S Waites. Quarter finals - W Vaes 1-4 W Harms, D Noppert 3-4 B Suckley, M Adams 4-1 D Labanauskas, B Lynn 2-4 S Waites. Semi finals - W Harms 5-2 B Suckley, M Adams 2-5 S Waites. Final - W Harms 1-6 S Waites.

Ladies last 16 - D Bateman 4-1 M Sutton, S Prins 0-4 C Hammond, F Sherrock 4-0 A M Potts, C Savvery 0-4 A Dobromyslova, G Crane 4-3 R Griffiths, A Zijlstra 0-4 L Winstanley, T Gulliver 4-3 R Byrne, T Wright 1-4 L Ashton.

Quarter finals - D Bateman 2-4 C Hammond, F Sherrock 0-4 A Dobromyslova, G Crane 2-4 L Winstanley, T Gulliver 1-4 L Ashton. Semi finals - C Hammond 1-5 A Dobromyslova, L Winstanley 5-3 L Ashton. Final A Dobromyslova 5-4 L Winstanley.

SHOWNIGHTS WINMAU EUROPEAN OPEN Men’s last 32 - G Durrant 4-3 B Lynn, G Robson 3-4 G de Vos, W Harms 3-4 R Joyce, R Hogarth 3-4 D Reynolds, D Noppert 4-0 S

Brown, R Rickwood 4-3 J Hurrell, B Dawson 4-1 G Vos, D Bird 2-4 J Hughes, B Suckley 4-2 M Padgett, P Blackwell 4-1 S Carroll, K McKinstry 4-3 C Whitehead, C Dennel 4-2 T Hankey, B Kirk 2-4 A Bell, S Lennon 2-4 M McGeeney, R Veenstra 3-4 G Thompson, A Fordham 4-2 K Burness. Last 16 G Durrant 4-1 G de Vos, R Joyce 14 D Reynolds, D Noppert 4-2 R Rickwood, B Dawson 4-2 J Hughes, B Suckley 2-4 P Blackwell, K McKinstry 4-1 C Dennel, A Bell 3-4 M McGeeney, G Thompson 1-4 A Fordham.

Quarter finals - G Durrant 4-2 D Reynolds, D Noppert 1-4 B Dawson, P Blackwell 4-2 K McKinstry, M McGeeney 4-1 A Fordham. Semi finals - G Durrant (88.41) 5-4 B Dawson (91.71), P Blackwell (74.70) 4-5 M McGeeney (76.89). Final - G Durrant (87.72) 6-5 M McGeeney (83.94).

Ladies last 16 - D Hedman 4-2 J Thompson, D Ashton 0-4 C Hammond, F Sherrock 4-2 D Ijpelaar, R Griffiths 2-4 A Dobromyslova, A de Graaf 4-0 M Liiri, R Brooks 3-4 L Winstanley, S Roberts 4-1 A Cox, M Noijens 0-4 L Ashton. Quarter finals - D Hedman 4-3 C Hammond, F Sherrock 3-4 A Dobromyslova, A de Graaf 0-4 L Winstanley, S Roberts 2-4 L Ashton. Semi finals - D Hedman (70.11) 5-3 A Dobromyslova (68.97), L Winstanley (69.87) 1-5 L Ashton (79.71). Final - D Hedman (75.48) 4-5 L Ashton (78.72).

Youth quarter finals - B Storey 1-3 J Singh, R Gilder 1-3 F Francis, D Birks 2-3 R Colley, L McMahon 0-3 B Brooks. Semi finals - J Singh 4-0 F Francis, R Colley 2-3 B Brooks. Final - J Singh (71.97) 4-3 B Brooks (75.96).

WDDA final - R Williams (60.51) 3-2 P Gelder (57.48).

MEN’S INVITATIONAL TABLE (SEASONAL)

1 Glen Durrant 375 pts 2 Scott Mitchell 321 pts 3 Danny Noppert 310 pts 4 Martin Adams 289 pts 5 Jamie Hughes 262 pts 6 Scott Waites 258 pts 7 Darius Labanauskas 247 pts 8 Wesley Harms 244 pts 9 Darryl Fitton 243 pts 10 Dean Reynolds 220 pts 11 Brian Dawson 214 pts = Geert de Vos 214 pts 13 Jim Williams 211 pts 14 Martin Phillips 198 pts 15 Tony O’Shea 192 pts 16 Mark McGeeney 189 pts 17 Richard Veenstra 181 pts 18 Madars Razma 158 pts 19 Pip Blackwell 152 pts = Wouter Vaes 152 pts 21 James Hurrell 148 pts 22 Ryan Joyce 144 pts = Sven Verdonck 144 pts 24 Dennis Harbour 139 pts 25 Shaun Carroll 135 pts 26 Jeffrey Sparidaans 133 pts 27 Martin C Atkins 129 pts 28 Jeff Smith 128 pts 29 Dave Parletti 125 pts = Jimmy Hendriks 125 pts 31 Bradley Kirk 123 pts = David Cameron 123 pts 33 Gary Robson 122 pts 34 Andy Fordham 121 pts 35 Ross Montgomery 118 pts  Table above is correct as of August 3, 2016.

FIXTURES TODAY Belgium Open (Warm Up tournament) TOMORROW Belgium Open (Pairs) USA Classic SUNDAY Belgium Open (Singles) BDO AGM (Walsall)

Darts Weekly Friday 5 August 2016

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EVERY STAT HERE. darts

firsts

PROFESSIONAL DARTS CORPORATION HAPPYBET EUROPEAN DARTS OPEN First round - J Caven (89.20) 63 C Kist (83.07), C Reyes (88.62) 5-6 K Anderson (92.35), R Edhouse (87.06) 6-4 H Ward (81.78), M Hopp (81.62) 5-6 A Boulton (80.36), D van den Bergh (93.57) 6-2 J de Graaf (85.31), W Newton (87.93) 6-5 S Griffiths (83.71), J Henderson (86.47) 4-6 J Dekker (84.59), K Viljanen (85.56) 6-1 M Schindler (79.83), H Rettig (75.48) 3-6 S West (89.02), G Price (84.57) 6-3 T Newell (79.82), R Green (96.32) 5-6 D Gurney (92.48), J Michael (85.89) 6-0 F Herz (70.41), A Jenkins (85.58) 56 D Petersen (87.12), J Clayton (96.53) 6-3 A Hamilton (89.89), J Richardson (89.43) 6-3 D Petri (83.27), M Frost (76.73) 4-6 S Stoyke (78.19).

Second round - M van Gerwen (104.86) 6-0 J Caven (87.96), A Norris (101.25) 2-6 K Anderson (98.84), J Klaasen (98.98) 6-3 R Edhouse (94.02), J Wade (88.16) 6-5 A Boulton (89.67), K Huybrechts (98.11) 6-3 D van den Bergh (88.48), R Thornton (86.65) 2-6 W Newton (86.60), D Chisnall (90.62) 3-6 J Dekker (86.23), G Anderson (107.11) 6-1 K Viljanen (89.72), P Wright (97.29) 6-5 S West (92.10), S Whitlock (92.72) 1YOUTH FESTIVAL 6 G Price (100.59), B van de Pas (91.84) 4-6OF D Gurney (94.10), M DARTS Suljovic (103.41) 6-1 J Michael (94.36), I White (96.00) 6-2 D Petersen (84.42), T Jenkins (91.28) 6-3 J Clayton (94.48), M Smith (97.39) 6-4 J Richardson (87.95), S Bunting (93.74) 6-1 S Stoyke (80.06).

Third round - M van Gerwen (99.38) 6-2 K Anderson (91.72), J Klaasen (91.29) 6-3 J Wade (96.40), K Huybrechts (104.32) 63 W Newton (93.89), J Dekker (94.37) 0-6 G Anderson (104.86), P Wright (103.25) 6-2 G Price

(88.57), D Gurney (96.20) 3-6 M Suljovic (93.53), I White (97.89) 56 T Jenkins (92.06), M Smith (93.61) 3-6 S Bunting (95.98).

Quarter finals - M van Gerwen (102.95) 6-4 J Klaasen (93.33), K Huybrechts (91.48) 6-4 G Anderson (85.49), P Wright (100.20) 6-0 M Suljovic (94.68), T Jenkins (92.88) 4-6 S Bunting (88.42).

Semi finals - M van Gerwen (103.63) 6-3 K Huybrechts (94.85), P Wright (100.34) 6-4 S Bunting (93.06).

Final - M van Gerwen (104.06) 65 P Wright (100.44).

HARROWS FESTIVAL OF DARTS Russell Stewart Classic final R Matthewson 6-5 J Fagg.

DPA Australian Matchplay final - C Harris 6-5 W Parry.

Harrows NSW Masters final D Platt 6-4 H Kemp.

FIXTURES TODAY European Darts Grand Prix UK Qualifier (Barnsley) German Darts Championship UK Qualifier (Barnsley) TOMORROW Players Championship 12 (Barnsley) SUNDAY Players Championship 13 (Barnsley) To find out more about advertising in our magazine please send an email to dartsweekly@gmail.com

Lakeside semi-finalist, Richard Veenstra, talks us through his darts memories First darts memory?

My first memory of darts is when Barney won the Lakeside against Richie Burnett in 1998.

First darts hero?

I can’t choose between Barney and Phil Taylor.

First set of darts?

The first set of darts I threw with were from my wife Monique. I played with them for a couple of years, but now I have my own darts from d’art9.

First darts team?

My first darts team was at the Café de Karre in Tukseweg in the Netherlands.

First game on TV? It was in the Zuiderduin Masters in 2014. I was drawn in a group with Ted Hankey and Gary Robson. My TV debut was against Ted which I lost 5-3 and then Gary beat me in a decider 5-4.

First nine darter?

I hit my first nine darter in practise at the Dutch Open last year.

First professional tournament win?

The first tournament I won on the BDO circuit was the Luxembourg Open back in 2014. I beat Mark Oosterhuis 6-4 in the final after earlier beating Steven Noster, Jeffrey van de Ven and Wilco Vermeulen. My most recent tournament win was the World Cup Pairs in October last year.

Who would you like to see reveal their Darts Firsts next?

Tweet us at @darts_weekly with your suggested players!

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DOUBLETREE BY HILTON