The World Darts Championship

I was a John Lowe fan back in the day, and found his late-80s renaissance (after all those losing finals) a tremendously moving event. He was the Goran Ivanisevic of the oche. But a lot calmer, natch.

Never liked Bristow - he, Steve Davis, Jahanghir Khan, John McEnroe and Liverpool FC spoiled much of the early-mid 80s for me, with their strutting dominance.

Bobby George put up quite a fight but Barneveld deserves his favourite tag.

John Lowe, owned a pub in Chesterfield, can't remember the name, possibly the albatross. It had two championship standard boards. They were ace, I played him once (he'd take on all comers) he thrashed me, quite comprehensively.

His goings-on seem to fuel many a gossip session amongst the ladies of Upper Walton and Greenways.

I just spoke to my sister, she's going to take a digital piccy of his house for me so we'll all be able to see the wonder of old stoneface's campanile!

I have once played football with the captain of Partick Thistle and the Rangers right back. Is that any good?

Only figuratively, mind. Or is it metaphorically? I always get those mixed up. "I have once played football with the captain of Partick Thistle and the Rangers right back. Is that any good?"

Only if you can pronounce 'Partick Thistle' in precisely the same way as that chap from Chievo on Footy Focus t'other week.

CB: a scan of Lowe's garage would be a wonderful thing. This is a bit like a friend of mine deliberately making a trip to 17-19 Alma Road, SW18 in the early 90s to furnish me with a photo of 4AD's offices. Rather than some vaporous portal of, er, gleaming titanium it was a rather dull Victorian corner-terrace with the blinds down and a big military-looking jeep parked outside (Ivo's assault vehicle, presumably).

OK, back to your darts, boys...

I haven't been able to get engrossed in the darts this year, which has been a great disappointment to me. It's an emotional rollercoaster of a game.

Self-antonyms: isn't "sanction" another? To prohibit something, but also to endorse something. It's arguable whether there are any true self-antonyms (or true antonyms, I suppose), because these aren't true opposites (just as the opposite of "cleave" in the separate sense would be something like "re-unite", not "cleave" in the adhere sense).

I saw them support Enantiodromic at the Princess Charlotte in Leicester in 1997. They were managed by Fred Housego. Two Lim-Ed cassingles on Leaf, then nothing. I think I saw the singer eating crisps on the DLR last spring.

Not quite opposites, but I find two dictionary definitions of bathos somewhat contradictory:

ba·thos
n.
1.
a. An abrupt, unintended transition in style from the exalted to the commonplace, producing a ludicrous effect.

2.
a. Insincere or grossly sentimental pathos: “a richly textured man who... can be... sentimental to the brink of bathos” (Kenneth L. Woodward).

I wish the second definition didn't exist - there are other words one could use and it's often not evident from the context which of them someone intends. Whereas the primary (?) meaning is very useful, describing, for example, Woody Allen's entire joke book.

Anyway Mrs Welthorpe whats your views on whether Erik Clarys -red haired Belgium with the idiosyncratic tactics- be a match for Dutch darting legend Raymond van Barneveld in the low-lands clash this evening?

Still my first game of the year is next Thursday, so I'll soon be on the oche myself. "Dr. C you require 7"

You surviving the work-trip Dr.C?

I’d like Monk (the fish) to win but if King can keep his current form my money would be on him.

I hate that Wolfie guy, I've always fuckin hated him.

David reaching the final is a colossal sporting achievement by any standard. The man is registered disabled with a rare blood-clot disorder. He spent a large chunk of his childhood in hospital where he was not expected to live, walks with a limp, and is unable to straighten his throwing arm. Not withstanding he's come from nowhere to be the first Australian to ever reach the final.

All a bit lost on the self-styled 'Wolfman' who reckoned "he'll find out what it's like to lose tomorrow because Mervyn will do him". I hope, hope, hope he's wrong.

Even after fluffing game-shots on his beloved double-tops David, not once, looked like he thought he was going to loose. He kept his concentration, kept his nerve, and didn’t dwell on lost opportunities.

Unfortunately for him Australia is wise enough to ban all sports on TV sponsored by tobacco and thus his heroics will probably go largely unnoticed in his homeland. Yes, Darts has an image problem, often looking tacky and cheap, and damaged by a split it cannot afford, but forget the gallons of lager, crap jewellery, DJ Ötzi et al, this was gripping stuff and as heart-warming a victory as I’ve seen in any game.

A highly personable Australian haemophiliac, limping to the oché, fulfilled his dream of becoming world champion, won 20 years worth of his disability pension.

Boomeran g back to win final battle

Good article on the darts by Bob Stanley in the back of time out this week, only thing is, it's as if he's read the darts threads on this here thing and precied (sp?) them to make the article.

Still, more Tony David heartwarmingness - in the interview yesterday he said he'd finally been able to buy his own house, so everytime he drove down the street he could see what winning the world title had done for him. Bless.

And as regards PDC - the coverage yesterday started by claiming that the Embassy had been won by all the greats of the game. Phil Taylor not mentioned once.

He swirled up to the ockie/ockey/ochre/ochy (the noo) in a HUGE CAPE with darts shirt underneath.

His opponent looked like his girlfriend had forced him into a shiny shirt and he was UNIMPRESSED.

Then the real actual darts started and I think I went to eat potato waffles. Ah well.

Bob Taylor (Sco) 0-3 Paul Hogan (Eng)
Raymond van Barneveld (Ned, 1) 3-0 Peter Hunt (NZ)
Robert Wagner (Nor) 3-2 Co Stompe (Ned)
John Walton (Eng, 8) 3-2 Tony Eccles (Eng)
Brian Derbyshire (Eng) 0-3 Andy Fordham (Eng)
Tony West (Eng, 5) 3-1 Mick Reed (Eng)
James Wade (Eng) 3-0 Shaun Greatbatch (Eng)
Tony David (Aus, 4) 2-3 Darryl Fitton (Eng)
Vincent van der Voort (Ned) 2-3 Stephen Bunting (Eng)
Ted Hankey (Eng, 2) 3-2 Colin Monk (Eng)
Gary Robson (Eng) 3-2 Steve Coote (Eng)
Gary Anderson (Sco, 7) 0-3 Tony O'Shea (Eng)

Today:

Albertino Essers (Ned) v Steve Duke (Aus)
Martin Adams (Eng, 6) v Ritchie Davies (Wal)
Paul Hanvidge (Sco) v Jarkko Komula (Fin)
Mervyn King (Eng, 3) v Rick Hofstra (Ned)

haha but his name is "Mr Hankey"! he must be crap.

I didn't see Bob Taylor lose (again) but I assume he has a heart of gold, maybe next year, well liked on the circuit, lives in Finland, lovely fella etc

John Part is very good though.

i watched about 5 hours of darts yesterday...

is it some osrt of "it's not a sport, it's a parlour game" thing?

http://www.bdodarts.com/

The BDO version does seem flaky in any case. It's odd how most of the players that leave for the PDC seem to be good ones but not the champions. Kevin Painter, for instance, never seemed to do that well at the Lakeside. Is it cos Barney, Walton, David etc. seem to know they're onto a good thing? Do the Dutch audiences have something to do with it (only Dutch player I can think of that 'crossed over' is Scholten)?

You don't want Tony Green commentating on your life either. "A fridge, there. Keeping things cool, calm and collected."

Those who cannot see it on the telly - BBC is streaming the matches they show live on telly (i.e. the semis and the final) on the internet.

let go of the dart!

it's like the yips.

The whole Essers-Duke match was a right chore to watch, but I sat through it, which knackered me too much to stay awake during Komula-Hanvidge.

I wondered if he was going to announce his retirement on stage after he won on sunday, but he was talking about going to the gym to get fit for next year. he obviously had a change of heart.

It will be interesting to watch the battle now, and see if there's anyone to take his mantle.

Taylors odd, in darts terms I think he's an absolute genius (not a patch on how he was five or so years ago though, but as a person I ain't so sure, on Soccer AM he comes over as a bit of a tit.

back to the BDO, i've said it before and i'll say it again, bobby george is the funniest man in sport, "mervyn king was BANG AAAHT of order" for having the oche checked apparently. also he appears to be sporting a motorcycle chain around his neck this year...

Magnificent. Truly magnificent. The man has a greater sense of the absurdly comic than any number of half-arsed wise asses.

Last night - Steve Duke got my vote cos he looked nice and avuncular. Though Esses was hilarious; dartitis with the look of a slightly camp bouncer.

Mervyn King - the Gods of Dutch darts will make you pay for your gamesmanship against Rick Hofstra. Last year I said I was bored with Bobby George but he was on good form last night; good analysis of the problems with the laws of darts, nice punditry then classic about Ted hankiey, who according to the dazzler is 'a proper darts player'. Magic.

Taylor - didn't he get found guilty of some sexual assault a year or so back?

Paul Hogan (Eng) v Raymond van Barneveld (Ned, 1)
Robert Wagner (Nor) v John Walton (Eng, 8)
Andy Fordham (Eng) v Tony West (Eng, 5)
James Wade (Eng) v Darryl Fitton (Eng)
Stephen Bunting (Eng) v Ted Hankey (Eng, 2)
Gary Robson (Eng) v Tony O'Shea (Eng)
Steve Duke (Aus) v Ritchie Davies (Wal)
Jarkko Komula (Fin) v Mervyn King (Eng, 3)

Second half of the draw significantly easier to pick than the top half too - based on what I saw last night, King and Davies have no problems, and O'Shea and Hankey ought to get through too.

The top half is much more intriguing, Walton and Barney look probable, but as for the other two it's anyone's guess...

I scored 107 on Saturday.

phil taylor is upset when he scores 107, you see the difference :)

my hand listens not until it's far far too late.

Maybe I have alien hand syndrome.

- Wives and girlfriends of the players not able to watch, preferably being held tight by some other family member
- Foxy female Dutch fans
- Foxy female non-dutch fans
- Krazy and zany male Dutch fans
- Non wanky student high jinks - ie genuine darts fans getting into the Lakeside groove
- Lots of pints of lager being carried on trays with baskets of chips

Things I do not want:

- Aaron Monk (thank you Mr Hankey, the Lakeside poo)
- Talking by anyone in audience except female Dutch fans admitting how they go krazy for English guys who like their darts, yeah for sure, and especially those not actually at the Lakeside OK.
- Stubbsy and the dazzler leaning over a snooker table. NO!!!. April is the Snooker month. Tchoh!
- Aaron Monk

I was quite sad to see "The Matchstick" lose.

Wagner's match tonight against should be very good too.

Also - Stevem = Les 'McDanger' wallace:

haha i liked the sympathetic patronising of bobby george re: the merv the swerv situation ('merv's bang aht of order, lad's just a young boy, just in the country, 'is english ain't too good...'); how's yr dutch, bobby?

The Dazzler for BDO Commissioner in WWF Stylee.

don't spoil the result!

yesterday I caught a bit of the highlights. Godd to see the fans giving mervyn king a hard time.

I can't get into theis tournament at all though, not like the PDC one.

Paul Hogan (Eng) 1-3 Raymond van Barneveld (Ned, 1)
Robert Wagner (Nor) 1-3 John Walton (Eng, 8)
Andy Fordham (Eng) 3-0 Tony West (Eng, 5)
James Wade (Eng) 0-3 Darryl Fitton (Eng)

Barney looked like he was starting to hit stride against Hogan, and is probably favourite - he should certainly get past Walton, who can't hit doubles for love nor money at present.

However, Fordham and particularly Fitton looked to be in top form last night too - their match on Thursday looks like being the match of the tournament thus far.

Barney had double trouble too last night - not as bad as Walton, mind. I'm still thinking you're going to have to beat Barney to win (ie, the winner is going to be Barney or the person who beats him)

I want O'Shea to do well cos he looks like one of the characters from Tintin.

For atmosphere, the King-Komula match was probably the biggest of the tournament thus far. The Dutch contingent, along with several others by the sound of it, are still deeply pissed off with King's conduct in his first-round match. Bobby still reckons he was bang out of order. King's decision to call his detractors 'small-minded people' probably hasn't helped matters very much either.

However - Komula played the part of cult hero to perfection. Looking like Paul Calf's miserable Finnish cousin, he found himself two sets down before swinging it round in an interminable leg where King missed a string of doubles, letting him in for a finish that he hadn't imagined he'd have the opportunity to take. He was so taken aback by this that, for the first time anyone at all could remember, Jarkko Komula smiled. The hall erupted, Komula was suddenly on form, took the leg, then the set, then the set after that... but it couldn't last. King got his rhythm back just as Jarkko lost his and took the final set fairly easily.

Like it or not, King is probably the player who has the most attention now due to his controversial actions. Any match of his is going to have a fair degree of needle to it. Stubbsy and Bobby are dreaming of a Barney-King final... but King's got to get past Davies first, and he's in superb form at the moment. Then, if he does that, he'll have to get through the even-more-in-form Ted Hankey or Tony O'Shea.

The quarter-finals are thus:

Raymond van Barneveld (Ned, 1) v John Walton (Eng, 8)
Andy Fordham (Eng) v Darryl Fitton (Eng)
Ted Hankey (Eng, 2) v Tony O'Shea (Eng)
Ritchie Davies (Wal) v Mervyn King (Eng, 3)

It's hard to see Barney losing to Walton, but other than that this is wide open. Fordham and Fitton are pretty much impossible to separate at present. Hankey won more comfortably than O'Shea this evening, but he really had to work to get through the first round against Colin Monk. O'Shea was also regularly getting in treble 20, and would most likely fancy his chances against anyone. As for King and Davies - both have looked quite solid thus far, but the crowd for their match will be something else...

Last night's action - good matches I thought. Stephen 'future of darts' Bunting blew it when he had double 8 for the second set; as Bobby George might say - he's got the ability to waste, but ain't a proper darter in 'is 'ead yet.

O'Shea - Robson was a good match - both would have been worthy winners, but O'Shea progressed with excellent scoring. I like O'Shea. he falls into my 'looks like a nice guy so i'll support him strategy'. He takes over this mantle from Steve 'The' Duke.

I liked Steve a lot and he was my dark horse in Tony David stylee. I also like his celebration when getting a leg, which mirrors my own (apart from my own being rarely seen obv). His game against Davies was really interesting; all three sets went down to the odd leg in 5. Good ding-dong stuff, which also showed the ups and downs of the game. For example, Steve Duke broke to go 2-2 in the second with a great 144 checkout, and so had the darts for the decider; a wayward first dart upped the pressure and so he didn't punish. Davies had a chance to punish and took it, and so the second slipped away. The two players were very evenly matched in terms of averages and even checkouts, but the crucial difference was in timing. Davies just did what he had to do when had to do it, as opposed to doing it when he should or could have done it - ie, when getting 2-1 up in a set, he won the decider each time, but seemed sanguine about losing the 4th leg for example. Also, when he needed to pressurise Steve, he did. Steve dug out some great legs but his initial waywardness cost him and he was always playing catch up from the start, and Davies was too consistent to get rattled by Steve's dogged pursuit.

No comment on King - Komula as WBS v. OTM.

when they first showed bunter, sorry bunting last night, me and meg both said in unison "he's never bloody eighteen".

also looooooooooook:

http://www.barney.nl

They have proper magazines in Holland! Look! All you could ever need to know about Steve Coote - ever!

Co Stompe

i was trying not to think about whether that was a love bite on hankey's neck (it could be a heat spot caused by excessive nylon shirt wearing or a boil or anything).

also note that gun looks small in andy fordham's hand because he is a GIANT OF A MAN.

also also FAP here: http://www.andythevikingfordham.com/index.php?pageval=biography.php (scroll right to the bottom)

Faints

The rest as they say is history and the story of how The Whippet became The Viking.

Seriously though - given our utter and abject failure to get a trip sorted, we must do this. We could stop off at the Angerstein Arms (near Westcombe Park station) first, to see where it all began, then back onto the train to Woolwich. I am also pleased to support this FAP as it is 10 minutes from my house. Rar!

(William, give us another run-down of the events of yesterday evening if you like, I've really enjoyed them so far!)

My. GOD. Barneveld was, in a word, unbelievable. He was knocking in 180's like there was no tomorrow, almost every dart seemed to be hitting the treble twenty, he was regularly getting checkouts in triple figures and just as you thought he wouldn't get them, he did. He was throwing scoring darts almost perfectly, and hardly ever missed doubles - but the really amazing thing was that Walton was having his best game of the tournament as well. His finishing troubles from the Wagner match looked dead and buried, and he was getting the treble twenties fairly regularly - in other words, he was playing just like when he won the title in 2001. Only problem - Barney didn't let him get a dart in edgeways. His mistakes were small, but crucial - he only seemed to be able to get legs and sets when Barney gave him the opportunity, and if he missed his chance, he never got a second one. Incredible.

The prospects aren't that great for The Viking in the semi-final then - Walton's 3-dart average was better than both his and Fitton's. Then again, they went the full slog, and it was just as good as anticipated - two players near or at the top of their respective games trading back and forth, back and forth. Fordham looked sweaty, probably because he is, but he was holding his nerve. So was Fitton. The end of set eight was nailbiting. Fordham had bull for the match - threw, the tip hit the wire and glanced into outer bull. Fitton nailed double top first time out, 4-4 - had Andy blown it? no. Came back strong, and won the match with - bullseye.The amazing thing was how relaxed they both were, laughing and joking with each other between legs - like Bobby George said, "Proper darts".

If he wasn't before, Barney has to be the red-hot favourite now. You can't see Fordham stopping him, unless he's really right on top of his game, and to do that you have to finish with no margin for error. Fordham's finishing wasn't bad last night, but whether it'll be good enough to beat Barney... doubt it. Oddly enough, the one player who's been finishing that well that it might trouble Barney is the feller he beat last year, Richie Davies. Still, he has to get through tonight's "Welcome To Hell" encounter first...

referring to the eerie pictures upthread, here's two lines from OutKast's "Happy Valentine's Day" (just happened to be listening to it)

Now when arrows don't penetrate, see
Cupid grabs the pistol

maybe there aren't as many women players around, not the ones who really want to take up darts professionally (less viewers, smaller price money i'd imagine). and less players = less chance of there being someone sad enough to practice darts day in day out, which you'd have to to be any good.

I am only speculating though.

we want barney vs the power!!!

wasn't trina in the main competition a few years back? i'm sure there was a woman in the first round once...

Worried that barney might have peaked too soon...

barneveld was awesome yesterday but can he produce that kind of form for another two rounds?

Tony O'Shea 5-1 Ted Hankey
Mervyn King 5-4 Richie Davies

And in the women's competition

Francis Hoenselaar 2-1 Clare Bywaters

I missed the main highlights programme, tuning in just in time to catch the last couple of legs of Davies-King - looks like I missed an utter classic, seeing as how my heart was in my mouth for the duration of the five or six minutes I saw... really felt for the wee ginger feller, he just could not finish it off, and as such Gitto capitalised and got through. The crowd were all applauding him too, so it looks like the controversy has blown over thanks to MAGIC DARTS, or something.

The only match I saw all the way through was the women's one, which was really good - Hoenselaar seemed a bit shaky on scoring but lethal on doubles, with Bywaters the exact opposite. Very good match but the crowd wasn't into it, and the fact it was only three sets long meant it couldn't build up any momentum - a longer contest between the two could've been fantastic.

Then there was Hankey-O'Shea, which had the misfortune to start rather poorly and coincide with South Park, so I watched that instead. It was great. Turned back after the end, and I'd sort of lost interest. O'Shea-King is hard to pick therefore. Go for O'Shea, he has a better nickname (i.e. one that isn't his surname).

If O'Shea keeps hitting the doubles like he did in the last two matches then he has a good chance against King.

hope andy wins.

I didn't even see most of it due to bastard brothers, bastard washing up, bastard picking up of bastard brothers from down the bastard hill... just the last few darts. When I left it Andy was 4-2 down. I saw he was throwing for the match and leapt in the air, screamed. Brother says "uhhh" and turns over to Channel 5 for Jamie Theakston Narrates Stunt Horses or something. Not now he fucking doesn't. Turn over in time to see Barney fuck his double up, and The Viking NAIL the double 2. And I just stood there shivering while turns back to people in flames suits in Spawn or something. I'm still all a-quiver now too... have to watch it tonight, no bloody question.

Also - It was Mervyn King was "bang out of order." I like Stubbsy.

Also - who was it won Walk Of The Week? It had to be The Duke, surely...

On the subject of commentary - it's difficult to think of many analysts on British terrestrial that are as good as Part. Today, though, Tony Green came into his own during the O'Shea-King match. He was really, really feeling for O'Shea, as was everyone in the room. "Come on Tony. Don't give it away." Looking back on it, it's perfect. O'Shea's game was just falling apart in front of everyone, the form he had earlier in the week all gone. There was hardly any atmosphere in the match, it seemed that easy for King. and in that one line, Tony Green just got it absolutely spot on.

And that's why darts is different to the other sports. They do all know each other. It's not snooker, because the darts players come off as people, as opposed to Mark Williams. It also doesn't feature half-hour long sessions of nestle-the-ball-behind-the-brown. It certainly isn't bowls, with all it's "We're modern now, the players wear teal and turquoise." Plus which most of the bowls players seem to be boring sods. In no other sport do you see Ray Stubbs being really enthusiastic about Tom Jones, or being mobbed by Andy Fordham fans. In no other sport would they dare conduct analysis from the lounge bar of the venue. In no other sport would you get Steve Duke, this man who emigrated from Manchester to Australia in 1969 and still hasn't lost the accent, dancing to "I Can't Get No Satisfaction". In no other sport could you get Andy Fordham, though admittedly he does bear something of a resemblance to a fatter, hairier Mick Foley (Mankind-era). In no other sport is there such obvious camaraderie and respect between all the players. It's... darts, magic, magic darts. And one week just ain't enough.

(yeah i know extreme pain in the arms blah blah)

I'd rather not if it's all the same

But yesterday was not the best day for NTL to go tits up, and it's still down :o(

HE HAS FRIGGING WELL DONE IT!!!

Who's with me?

Anyone notice Mervyn say he might not be back? I reckon he's off to the PDC, using the argument that there's more cashthe abuse he took was bang out of order.

Andy supports Rangers and Millwall. Must restrain own prejudices here...

Have to say, this stuff about a fitness trainer I find hard to believe...from the BBC:

But the burly thrower, whose bulky forearms provided an early television highlight of 2004, boasts his own fitness trainer. While Fordham walks along, his trainer offers encouragement from a bicycle...He may not be the archetypal sportsman, but he does at least wear trainers on stage... "My trainers aren't for show - I'm an athlete". The popular Londoner even claims to have been a track and field athlete in his youth, when he allegedly had the nickname 'Whippet.'

I suspect someone might be 'aving a larf...

Co Stompé (who was in the studio) mentioned that Andy had said he was going to do something about his weightproblem & beer intake this year.

http://hem.passagen.se/pluver/viking.gif
COOOME OOON!!!

Luvverly. He deserved it too - definitely better than King was, and his performance after Barney went 2-0 up in the eighth set of their match... magic.

The Showdown! Tonight! Taylor vs Fordham! I've only just found out about it, my sister's fiancee texted to remind me, and now I'm WELL EXCITED!

Except, ARGH! It's only on sky box office! And I don't have that. So I've got two hugely important and urgent questions:

A) Where can I find a pub in central london that's going to be showing it?

and

B) Anyone want to come with me?

My brother has been out for a curry with Andy Fordham, so I want him to win.

Thought of getting mum and dad to video it for me, then post me the tape while I studously avoided the result...but I rang, and their sky box is broken! BOO!

YAY! Mum was wrong, Sky is actually working at the folks' house. So they're taping it for me. Which leaves me free to go to a pub quiz of my own.

Course it also means that, having revived this thread, I now need to avoid reading it for the rest of the week. Humm.

Jeez. I'm very suspicious. It suddenly feels too much like, I dunno, WWF or something. I'm unconvinced, and disappointed.

(tomorrow it's Barney vs. the Power!!)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/darts/7096290.stm

He looks like he has AIDS

his face lost disproportionally more weight than his arms and legs!

PHIL TAYLOR WITH A LATE AND ENTIRELY WORTHY CANDIDATE FOR QUOTE OF THE YEAR

I mean, even the Bishop of Southwark is under threat from this moment of wonder. Apart from the fact that he thinks a nuclear scientist will also be a ballistics expert, the sheer outrageous bombast of the man is astounding.

link doesn't work for me, but seeing as it's to the Sun website I'm glad as it saved me a moments revulsion as the wankers masthead appeared on my computer.

Mardle was .....tremendous last night, from throwing junk dart after junk dart and beating himself up about it to holding his nerve on a fair few single chance doubles.

Taylor was pretty garbage in places too. I think Painter will win now, unfortunately, I can't stand him.

Painter has the kind of face that I can't even look at for too long. I would like Mardle to win, he was great last night once he turned it on, and he's not Painter.

John Part WINS

Classic Sidism tonight was "he's turning the screw, this is Henry James darts". Crap final, mind.

i just cried watching ted hankey hit the bull

Anyone watching this year? I'm sort of taking to this weirdly-haired Australian! Power's quarter and semi got boring from mad dominance, and although I suspect Whitlock may fare similarly, I have somewhat higher hopes for him than for Lewis or Webster (mainly based on facial expression).

I want chisnall to win; tuned in last night for his match and turned over dejected when he went 4-1 down, channel surfing 45 mins later and he was throwing for the match! great stuff

he is a man of refreshingly few words and yeah i am supporting him too. down with old ppl

astounding that he won - unbelievable stuff

i felt bad for hankey the hutt though; he is and will probably remain my all-time favorite darts thrower

as a relative neophyte, can someone explain to me why you have to hit a double in order to check out? somebody's got 18 to go, hits the single 9 instead of the double with their second dart - i always wonder why they don't just throw another 9.

because it's the rules! i can't expand any more than that. makes it more skillful and fair as well

27 darts and 155 left, reckon I could beat that.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/darts/8440534.stm

highlight of the tournament so far (other than the chisnall and wagner matches) was bobby george laughing at poor tony fleet after his collapse against adams: "came for a showcase, left with his suitcase."

I did feel sorry for the guy but he was talking himself up something rotten prior to the match

I thought the poor guy was going to fall over.

Chizzy likes his half time cuppa eh? Unbelievable second half once again. I think he won something like 12 out of 13 legs there.

oooh Taylor with a 107 checkout to go 2-0 up

cdn't face the pub tonight, thank fuck for streams

Barney pulls a set back, here we go

Fuckin' hell.

5-3 now.

quality match that, only hope the final can live up to it

http://i1142.photobucket.com/albums/n601/gamalielratsey/C07F0EF6-8464-4BA9-BBC4-CA2A7F7FFB16-8851-0000066941468F47.jpg

Hi Fizzles,

Hi Fizzles,

Thank you for your enquiry.

Unfortunately MSC do not release their schedule of entertainment whilst on board prior to sailing. The ship do a daily programme of events the day prior and put this in your cabin the night before but I was aboard for a couple of nights in October and there were a variety of things going on in different areas of the ship to suit a variety of tastes.

The single supplement is 80% of the cabin price component, so depending on which grade of cabin you were interested in, it would vary and I can confirm once I know which grade you would be interested in.

I am currently offering a small discount for a group booking, but please be aware that we have priced this initial cruise very low as this is the first of what we hope to become an annual event.

Really not fond of the score announcers voice.

He's not even saying numbers, he's just making noises. Utterly brilliant final though.

Yeah, glad Anderson won as well.

They should play the BDO final first though, cannae stick turning over to watch that pish now.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/14/gary-anderson-pdc-world-darts-championship-interview

Good interview.

Can anyone tell me where I can stream this?

bump

Only match I've seen has been Barney v MVG. Which wasn't a bad one to start with.

Bump. Cheerio then Taylor, you oafish classless dick. Coldplay fan an' all.

Lol didn't know that and yes, good riddance.

Never saw a more subdued darts crowd as when Cross won last night

Sounds great, I'll have to watch the highlights.

Cross destroyed him!

So Taylor was being a bit of a clown in his final defeat? Tried to get a stream but they all sucked. Shame, would have loved to see this nobhead lose one last time

really dislike Taylor. always came across as an unpleasant dick, and delighted to hear this even though i haven’t followed the darts properly for a few years.

he was always so petty and churlish in defeat as well.

And, y'know, a convicted sex offender.

jesus lol I always forget about that

Gary Anderson denying farting on stage is probs the best post-match interview you’ll ever see. pic.twitter.com/4cufh2rGK1

— Nozza_ (@Nozza_) November 17, 2018

lol

like how it's framed -ARTS there.

generally i abide by the widely accepted standard that whoever smelt it, dealt it. but in this case, given that he was so forthcoming about how he shits his pants if he farts on stage, i believe him when he says it was the other guy.

I suspect some suspiciously quiet turd party, situated close to the oche was involved in this incident, and they might not be feeling like talking about it. I thought that was a pretty erm.. solid testimony from Anderson!

did espn do much coverage?

https://nypost.com/2018/11/17/dart-championship-descends-into-madness-as-players-accuse-each-other-of-farting/