Race for Sid wide open as they head for the third last

“He’s had his little run, now it’s time for the real men to take over”.

Peter Wright on Michael Van Gerwen before MVG won his first World Championship

“Mick Lyons looks towards Robbie O’Malley, Robbie looks back at him, they both look towards Martin O’Connell, is what we’ve just seen real? It is real”

Micheal O’Muirceartaigh, prior to Mickey McQuillan taking the final kick of the four match saga between Meath and Dublin in the GAA football Championship of 1991.

They could have done with my dear, departed media colleague from Co Kerry in the commentary box at the darts in the Alexandra Palace in London on Sunday evening, such was the level of gobsmacked awe among spectators – both at home and on television – at what had just occurred. Namely, the defenestration of the reigning and defending holder of the Sid Waddell Trophy, Luke Humphries.

The shock should not have been so pronounced at the actual result – after all, the arrowsmith doing the evicting was none other than Peter ‘Snakebite’ Wright. Himself a two time winner of the magnificent trophy which affords due homage to he who will forever be voice of darts. Though I do believe there should also be something to commemorate the distinctive dulcet tones of the late John Gwynne.

Anyway, it should be clarified that surprise at the colourful Scot ousting the Leeds United fan stems not from disrespect towards the former, rather an acknowledgement – proffered by the player himself – that his form had dissipated so wildly, he wouldn’t fancy himself to win an exhibition match.

Yet perhaps there is credence in the notion of external factors being at play in certain circumstances. Put simply, that the Ally Pally at Christmas time stirs something in players which may not be seen from one year end to the next. How else to explain things like Wright’s heroics or the emergence of Rob Owen, or his fellow Welshman Gerwyn Price just coming back into form at the most opportune time. The same could be said to differing degrees regarding Ricky Evans, Callan Rydz and Nathan Aspinall.

Poor ‘Rapid’ Ricky had an awful meltdown at possibly the worst possible time. Having produced mesmeric darts against Dave Chisnell, it appeared the most jovial character in sport anywhere was about to do a similar show against Rob Owen, when racing into a two set lead as only he could. However, as is often the case when people operate at the rapidity as does Evans, one minute miscalculation can throw even the most sturdy of ships off course.

Thus it turned out for Evans when a miscount left him inches away from going 3-0 up in sets and, regrettably for those of us who love the colour and entertainment Evans brings to any event in which he partakes, the only thing that came rapidly after the error was has exit. That said, his conqueror, Owen’s compatriot, Price, also produced form that hasn’t been seen possibly since Gezzy reigned supreme himself back in 2021.

Like Evans against Owen, Price, too, broke from the traps like a greyhound after a hare in the derby of the valleys against Jonny Clayton, not only his fellow countryman but the partner with whom he prompted the playing of the Welsh national anthem at the World Cup of Darts after the duo delivered glory to the land of the dragon.

Indeed, such is the closeness of the two – both personally and professionally – that there’s surely little to nothing they don’t know about each other. So it probably should have been no surprise whatever to see The Ferret burrow his way back into contention and level up at 2-2 in sets before the ex rugby player scrummaged his way over the line and onto the third last hurdle from home. In his current vein of form, not many will be queuing up to tackle the former prop forward.

That, however, if my reading of the draw is correct – by no means a guarantee – is now the dubious pleasure of Chris Dobey. At the time of typing, that stands alone as the only confirmed quarter final pairing and, with the way the Championship is playing out, it looks increasingly likely that either Michael Van Gerwen or Littler will bring Sid home.

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