The World Darts Championship

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