There is a massive divide between the standard of play from the PDC players to the BDO players, most of us accept that. The top players from the BDO can compete with most of the players from the PDC, but most players from the PDC can't cope with the top players either. When players leave the BDO to join the PDC they usually do themselves justice, this doesn't always mean they have a chance of winning the PDC World Championship.
When Mervyn King moved to the PDC nobody predicted he would win their World Championship and he hasn't. He does well and earns a good living but he won't win it. When Raymond van Barneveld moved across we all knew his class - he was expected to win it and he has.
The 2 biggest moves this year were Ted Hankey moving back to the BDO and Stephen Bunting moving to the PDC.
Ted coming back was not much of a shock as he used to be one of the best in the BDO but was never near the top with the PDC. Ted wants to win so gave up with the PDC. It will be interesting to see how gets on.
Stephen is a great player and quite young, he has a chance to make it in the PDC.
Is it right to move freely between the two sides? I don't think so.Ted decides he won't win anything with the PDC so is allowed back into the BDO system. There should be an 18 month period where he can't enter major competitions. He should try to get back in through the county system to prove he is back for the BDO not just himself.
The way Stephen moved makes a mockery of the whole sport of darts. He won the BDO World Championship and then moved across to the PDC, leaving the BDO without a World Champion. I bet Barry Hearn loved that - he is the winner, darts is the loser.
Any player who enters either World Championship should sign a contract to stay with that side for 12 months.
We all love watching the Darts on Sky. Sky and the PDC made the sport interesting to lots of new fans, flashing lights, fireworks and commentators with personality along with usually excellent darts. The BDO competitions on Eurosport and especially the BBC are awful to watch for ardent darts fans like myself. There are some good games but many more awful ones backed up with mundane commentary. The one advantage the BDO has is they have a Women's World Championship but they cock that up by only showing it begrudgingly and not much of it.
Until the sides make up and become one darts will remain a laughing stock. It should be run like football with the best teams getting promoted to the Premier Division and teams automatically getting relegated. The top plays move to the PDC and the underperforming players relegated back down to the BDO. All could then enter one World Championship. This would stop the situation we have now where the PDC have 2 World Champions and the the BDO none
Friday, 7 February 2014
Sunday, 5 January 2014
One world championship is over, the other is in full swing
PDC Champion - Michael van Gerwin.
Once Phil Taylor was knocked out, many darts fans, myself included said the tournament was over - MVG was the champion. I put it on Facebook the next morning. MVG is currently playing the best, most consistent darts on the planet but Taylor's experience and on his day he can still beat anybody, is sometimes too much for MVG.
To lose to somebody else, MVG has to have a bad day.
My congratulations go to Peter Wright. This time last year he was the world number 32, he entered this years event as the number 16. He knocked out Taylor's conqueror, Mike Smith, before making it to the final. He lost the final but had a good game after a slow start.
The event was notable for 2 people getting 9 dart finishes on the same day and both losing!
The BDO event is still in the first round.
We don't expect the darts to be as good in the BDO event but it is the original World Championship and has a lot of followers. Most of the top players are in the PDC event but this year to make it more "Worldwide" the were more qualifiers. Most of these players would not get into a county team. There are also players in the BDO event who would do well in the PDC but have either chosen to stay with the BDO or not moved yet.
The reigning champion, Scot Waites was knocked out in the first game by Alan Norris. Scot had a back injury (sustained whilst playing dominoes) and the lack of practice showed. Also out in the first round was one of last years semi-finalists, Richie George. Bobbie's son was thoroughly beaten by Robbie "Kong" Green in a display that would scare some of the PDC players.
We are still to see Stephen Bunting the number 1 seed, another player who could beat anybody on his day.
In the ladies championship, the favourites have not showed what they can do yet. Anastasia Dobromyslova won her first round game without impressing, I expect her to improve as she progresses. Trina Gulliver had a nightmare going out in one of her worst TV displays. A notable performance came last night from Fallon Sherrock. The 19 year old, Norfolk Youth player won her match 2 sets to nil.
Once Phil Taylor was knocked out, many darts fans, myself included said the tournament was over - MVG was the champion. I put it on Facebook the next morning. MVG is currently playing the best, most consistent darts on the planet but Taylor's experience and on his day he can still beat anybody, is sometimes too much for MVG.
To lose to somebody else, MVG has to have a bad day.
My congratulations go to Peter Wright. This time last year he was the world number 32, he entered this years event as the number 16. He knocked out Taylor's conqueror, Mike Smith, before making it to the final. He lost the final but had a good game after a slow start.
The event was notable for 2 people getting 9 dart finishes on the same day and both losing!
The BDO event is still in the first round.
We don't expect the darts to be as good in the BDO event but it is the original World Championship and has a lot of followers. Most of the top players are in the PDC event but this year to make it more "Worldwide" the were more qualifiers. Most of these players would not get into a county team. There are also players in the BDO event who would do well in the PDC but have either chosen to stay with the BDO or not moved yet.
The reigning champion, Scot Waites was knocked out in the first game by Alan Norris. Scot had a back injury (sustained whilst playing dominoes) and the lack of practice showed. Also out in the first round was one of last years semi-finalists, Richie George. Bobbie's son was thoroughly beaten by Robbie "Kong" Green in a display that would scare some of the PDC players.
We are still to see Stephen Bunting the number 1 seed, another player who could beat anybody on his day.
 |
| Fallon Sherrock |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)