In what was probably the seminal scene in Blazing Saddles, the ‘showdown’ between Hedley Le Mar’s gang and the townspeople, Sheriff Bart places all his faith in the Wako Kid to come up with a means of staving off the invading forces.
Even though Gene Wilder’s character hadn’t picked up a gun in God knows how long and, to say he was beholden to a drop of the crator would be the greatest understatement since Victor Meldrew didn’t believe it!
Yet, when the fat was in the fire, the old reliable squeezed off the crucial shot to trip the explosives and send the baddies heading for the hills. In a lot of ways, Phil Taylor’s glory laden career in darts went along similar lines.
If players weren’t mentally defeated going out to take on The Power before a dart was thrown at all, the tempestuous old timer more often than not came up with the killer blow when it was needed most.
Though many might have thought he had done so already, the 16-time champion of the world announced in recent days that he will retire altogether from competitive darts at the end of the 2024 season.
Now, it might have been pure coincidence, but, at nearly exactly the same time as the Stoke thrower was making his announcement, the current big name in the sport – who wears very similar blue shirts to the 63-year-old – Luke Humphries – was banking his latest deposit towards being regarded as the best current tungsten tosser on the planet.
Indeed, whilst not trying to pre-empt anything or jinx the lad, it’s worth nothing that current World No. 1 Michael Smith lifted the Eric Bristow Trophy as his breakthrough success last year and we all know what he ended up going on to do thereafter.
The only difference this time round is that Cool Hand Luke had already given his trophy cabinet its first Major occupant when garnering the most difficult of them all, the World Grand Prix, despite surviving match darts on at least two occasions before getting over the line in Leicester.
He had no such worries in Wolverhampton last week because – if memory serves me correctly – he was one of the very few – if not the only one – to go through the group stages unbeaten. Which meant taking the scalp of a brilliantly rejuvenated Gary Anderson along the way.
Humphries, to his credit, had won has first TV tournament in the most unique one of all, the World Grand Prix – formerly played in Ireland before the City West Hotel was ridiculously hijacked to put up foreign refugees. Akin to Mosney. In the Grand Prix, players must start each leg by hitting a double. Compared to an ‘ordinary’ tournament wherein the arrows can be aimed wherever a player desires.
However, for this observer, the Grand Slam is absolutely the favourite darts tournament of the year. Mostly due to the fact that, once the group stages are concluded, the elongated leg-based format lends itself to an absolute plethora of 180s and/or high checkouts.
And, in this instance, there were a couple of times when the wire was rattled in persuance of a nine dart finish, until Ryan Searle accomplished the feat. But, as often happens in these situations, he still ended up being defeated.
When it came down to the nuts and bolts of winning the tournament it was the consistent brilliance and capability to do the needed when it was required most was, fittingly, what set Humphries apart from his contemporaries over the eight days of action.
Perhaps understandably the odds makers had no hesitation in installing the 28-year-old as the pre-tournament favourite for the forthcoming PDC World Championships at the Alexandra Palace. On current form, he does indeed look the man to beat. Though Gary Anderson and Rob Cross are hitting form nicely too.
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