2011 BDO World Darts Championship

Bandage · January 2, 2011, 5:31pm

What the fuck are you talking about?

Now, die.

Sidney · January 2, 2011, 5:44pm

Stuart Kellett v Daryl Fitton just starting now, this promises to be a fantastic tie. Barcelona and the darts on at the same time, it’s a big dilemma as to what to watch.

What banter and camaraderie between the two players, a friendly chest bump between them at the end of the Dazzler’s fantastic walk on. The duo play on the same pub team in Stockport and are best mates off the oche too.

Sidney · January 2, 2011, 5:45pm

Kellett starts with an 11 darter.

Spidey · January 2, 2011, 5:50pm

The walk ons by Kellett and Fitton were comedy gold. Two lads and best friends from the Armoury in Stockport playing against each other and showing mutual respect on the biggest stage of them all, the Lakeside.

BDO Darts - darts by the people for the people.

fenwaypark · January 2, 2011, 5:51pm

sid would it be fair to say that kellet is most improved player on bdo circuit

Flano · January 2, 2011, 5:53pm

I think another key difference between BDO and PDC crowds is that we are always willing to stick with somebody if they are unable to produce their best performances immediately.

As has already been well documented, the famous stage at Lakeside can inspire some and destroy others, especially newcomers. Even Martin Adams took time to find his feet and become comfortable with the pressure of playing at the home of darts. His first round exits in the 1990s show it can affect even the very best.
However in the BDO we pride ourselves on loyalty. Newcomers who are undone by the pressure are always given sympathetic applause and encouragement that they will come back stronger for the experience. They say you have to lose one to win one, and how true that usually is at Lakeside.

As much as this applies to players, it equally applies to presenters and commentators. Broadcasting for the BBC on the most famous darts championship in the World brings huge pressure. Vassos is a case in point. But as you say Bandage, he should look to the example of Colin last year and indeed David Croft some years ago when he started.

He should have no doubt that he’ll be encouraged and mentored by his colleagues and new friends at Lakeside at every opportunity. Because we at the BDO are the antithesis of the cheap, throwaway, instant gratification culture of the PDC. We don’t throw casually people on the scrapheap like the PDC and Sky did to Dave Lanning. We know the value of good people.

Who was it that Adams was knocked out by in the 1990’s and even right up to 2006:

1994 Magnus Caris
1995 Raymond van Barneveld
1996 Steve Beaton
1997 Roger Carter
1998 Robbie Widdows
1999 Chris Mason
2000 Steve Coote
2001 Ronnie Baxter
2002 Tony David
2003 Bob Taylor
2004 Richie Davies
2005 Raymond van Barneveld
2006 Raymond van Barneveld

Mostly PDC players and a couple of no marks. Now the most interesting thing about this Adams no mark is that he turned professional in 1982. I’ve asked this before on here but where the fuck was he in the 80’s? He had to wait for the top 16 to form a proper Darts organization before stepping in to fill the void in the BDO. A second rate player in a pub league is all he is.

Sidney · January 2, 2011, 5:59pm

Playing serious darts here so he is. Two sets up, winning six legs in a row. He looks like a real contender.

Bandage · January 2, 2011, 6:00pm

No Flano, he’s the world champion. Some players, great though they undoubtedly are, take decades, never mind years, to feel at home on the Lakeside stage. This is the pinnacle of darts as opposed to the quasi-night club scene that’s prevalent at venues where Phil’s Darts Club hold their events.

Flano · January 2, 2011, 6:01pm

Bro, you’d want to get rid of that maroon blazer.

Sidney · January 2, 2011, 6:05pm

I feel sorry for Daryl Fitton. Every year he seems to run into a really serious opponent in the first round. Adams, Chizzy, and now Kellett.

Sidney · January 2, 2011, 6:07pm

Thankfully the Dazzler doesn’t have to suffer the indignity of a complete whitewash. A player of his class and charisma doesn’t deserve that.

Sidney · January 2, 2011, 6:10pm

That is how you finish. Bullseye to win for Kellett. Stockport’s big two out on the same afternoon but a huge new talent from the area has exploded on the Lakeside scene, as I flagged in my preview.

Thrawneen · January 2, 2011, 6:12pm

Kellett seems an alright sort

The_Dunph · January 2, 2011, 6:50pm

:lol:

Manuel_Zelaya · January 2, 2011, 7:06pm

Is Martin Fleet competing this year?

The_Dunph · January 2, 2011, 7:13pm

No. He declined the BDO’s invitation to play this year citing the heckles and boo’s he received on stage last year while trying to play…

Also, it’s Tony Fleet, not Martin Fleet.

Sidney · January 2, 2011, 7:54pm

Martin Fleet has gone to join Tony Adams as his assistant in Azerbaijan.

RaymondCrotty · January 2, 2011, 8:38pm

I’m new to all this darts malarky but have a couple of questions

Which tournament gets higher viewing figures - The BDO at Lakeside or the PDC World Championships?
Are both groups as active in the grassroots of the game?
Which group of fans are more respectful towards the players?

Bandage · January 2, 2011, 8:39pm

The BDO at the Lakeside by far.
The BDO is darts.
BDO supporters always display the very best of order.

The_Dunph · January 2, 2011, 8:41pm

PDC.
Yes.
PDC. Tony Fleet being a case in point. The man was humiliated last year on the BDO stage, subjected to boos and heckles from the louts in the audience. In comparison, the PDC worship their big name darts players and cheer them on stage, look at the likes of Terry Jenkins and Vincent Van der Voort etc.