Whatever about being that slow as a pro. How did he not get the shit knocked out of himself down the pub when he was starting out
That’s a beautiful retro Wolves jersey Jocky is wearing.
While it’s not the first ever World Championship without the great Tony Green behind the mike (that was in 2011 when the great man was undergoing cancer treatment from which he happily recovered from), it’s the first ever World Championship of the post-Tony Green era.
All thanks go to “the Voice of Darts” for his immeasurable contribution to popularising the game over so many years.
May he enjoy a long and happy retirement, he’ll always be welcome at “the home of darts”.
What a start to the championships today with Duzza’s 167 in his 3-1 win against talented newcomer Nick Kenny.
I’m currently watching a belter of a preliminary round game between Belgium’s Roger Janssen and New Zealand’s Mark McGrath.
Roger has just ruthlessly closed out the second set in 33 darts for a 2-0 lead.
A brilliant fightback by New Zealand’s Mark McGrath there as he wins 3-2 having lost the first two sets to Belgium’s Roger Janssen.
He’s travelled over to the tournament with his family and the pressure of the famous Lakeside stage weighed heavily on him as he fell behind.
But he summoned his reserves of character to bounce back very impressively and advance to a meeting with 2015 champion Scotty Dog Mitchell.
Belgian darts fanatic Jacky will be disappointed at Roger’s defeat but you can be sure he’ll wish Mark well going forward.
Friend of the forum Aileen de Graaf up now in her first round clash against Rachel Brooks.
Aileen is wearing glasses this year in an attempt to gain the extra edge which will be needed to win in a highly competitive ladies’ field.
cc of @Piles_Hussain
Nice handy win for our girl. Big one next.
Aileen safely through to the next round.
Where she will face the Golden Girl, Trina Gulliver in a BOX OFFICE quarter-final clash.
Incredible television from BT Sport as they get Tony O’Shea to play on a dartboard-themed drum kit on the Lakeside stage to Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight”.
The gimmick here is that Tony gets his nickname from the Silverback gorilla, and a gorilla played the drums in the famous Cadbury’s advert of a decade or so ago.
Very clever.
Real television, real people, real darts.
140 to start with from Tony.
You literally can’t do any better than that with your first three darts.
Huge deciding leg here in set 2.
Tony really must win it.
His friend, the famous celebrity Will Mellor, is cheering him on.
Is Fallon Sherrock in with a chance?
Jim wins set 2 to go 2-0 up.
Jim is world class on doubles.
Before the third leg of set 2, he was 66.6% on them, although that declined to 22.22% after he missed 12 doubles in that leg.
But the point stands.
Finalist two years ago but lost out to Anne-Louise Peters in Round 1 last year.
Surprisingly, and disappointingly, Anne-Louise hasn’t qualified this year.
Fallon will be fancied to go deep but the women’s tournament just keeps getting better and better, so who knows.
Stunning darts from Jim Williams.
Tony O’Shea is OUT in a direct repeat of last year’s corresponding first round result between the players.
What class from Tony wishing Jim well, and Jill O’Shea gave Jim’s performance a standing ovation in the audience. Jill has always seemed like a lovely lady and it’s no wonder she’s so popular at Romily Primary School, where she works.
A mixed day for the Stockport contingent with Darryl Fitton impressing in his victory this afternoon.
I’m sure Tony will stick around to support his lifelong friend from The Armoury pub over the course of the next week.
Classic arrers from the 1986 Blackthorn Dry Cider Masters semi-final between Eric Bristow and Cliff Lazarenko on BT Sport now, with commentary from the late, great Dave Lanning.
Please don’t reveal the result, anybody.
Wolfie in a serious battle with Ryan Joyce here.
Joyce has just taken the first leg of set 3, it 1-1 in sets.
The standard is exceptional.
115 outshot from Wolfie.
A-oooooooooo!
OMG. Joycie breaks Wolfie in the deciding leg of set 3 to go 2-1 up.
Joycie throwing first in set 4.
Two breaks of throw to start the set.
But Wolfie hits an 11 darter to go 2-1 up!
Sensational darts from the great man.