In a post pertaining to the ongoing PDC World Championships earlier this week, the point was made that darts was one of the few sports where almost anyone can have a go. It’s also one of the rare examples of a discipline where competitors can keep going as long as they like. Right, so you could legitimately say that applies to any sporting pursuit in that a sportsperson’s retirement decision is their own.
Indeed it is, partially. Because in some cases – especially in sports where physicality is rudimentary, an athlete’s body will make the decision for them. By sending enough signals that it can’t take any more toil. Just this week we have seen Donegal’s ace marksman Paddy McBrearty exit the inter county stage on “Medical advice”. I always take such descriptions with a grain shovel full of salt as most of these ‘experts’ haven’t a bull’s notion about sport and in fact look down their snooty noses at it.
Darts is one area in which – with the exception of Dartitus – equivalent to The Yips in golf – there are no such impingements. As the extraordinary progress of Singapore’s Paul Lim on Saturday night last proved. And, while nowhere near the same as the septuagenarian in age range, both Fermanagh’s Brendan Dolan and Max Hopp of Germany seemed to engage in a bit of time travel that, you suspect. would have even impressed Marty McFly!
Now, I honestly can’t remember when Dolan made history – hence the nickname – by becoming the first Irish player to hit a 9-darter on live television, but, that he did so tells you the class there is within the player. And, even though his form can be up and down like a toilet seat, one cannot but admire his obduracy. In how, seemingly often against woeful odds, he manages to maintain his berth in the elite top 32 in the sport and thereby garners enough prizemoney to keep turning up in the main events.
On this occasion, though the man from Beleek only hit one maximum – prompting the now familiar helicopter celebration – which of I often wonder whether was it in tribute to The Helicopter Song by the Wolfe Tones in homage to the Republican volunteers who staged a daring escape from jail in 1981. However, any difficulty perpetrated by the lack of treble 20 pummelling was easily sidestepped due to the ability of the man from the Erne County to take out big finishes elsewhere around the board.
Having said all of the above, any fair analysis of the action in this one must pay particular credit to Dolan’s opponent, Tavis Dudeney. Yes, that is his name pronounced exactly as it should be. Put the name in your memory bank, you’ll be hearing it again.
That was followed by a match which nobody who witnessed it, either in person or on television, won’t forget it in a hurry. Not only because of the darting ability of young Charlie Manby, but, perhaps even more so, because of an astonishing meltdown on stage by the defeated Cameron Menzies of Scotland.
Cam is an emotional guy, always has been. But Fallon Sherrock’s other half completely blew a gasket. Having a punch up with his water table.
To the extent that match referee Kurt Bevans approached the player to either (a) comfort and calm him down or (b) reprimand him for his conduct.
The great pity, of course, is that Charlie Manby’s barnstorming brilliance may end up overshadowed by what transpired after the match.
The final match of that afternoon session was another snore fest as Peter Wright advanced past Noah Linn Van Louven. But thankfully, the opening game of Monday’s evening session more than made up for it as Max Hopp of Germany took another huge step back towards where he should be in the world rankings compared to where he should be. An achievement in itself when one considers that he had actually dropped off to such a level that he had actually lost his tour card.
On the evidence of his dispatch of a surprisingly off colour Martin Lukeman, such problems appear to be well behind him. Jonny Clayton is another who most certainly came into form at just the right time of the year. To underline as much, The Ferret looked his brilliant best when getting the better of Adam Lipscombe while the burgeoning Conor Scutt eventually overcame the great Simon Whitlock.
We can but hope that the Beard To Be Feared will grace a big stage in the sport once again. He certainly still has the class to do so. The same can absolutely be said of the unique Dutchman and my favourite darts player of the whole lot of the, Dirk Van Duivenbode who needed. and produced, his best form in a long time to edge past Andy Baetens. The aubergines are ripening!
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