The Random Darts Discussion Thread
This thread made because of the hijack created in the English Premier League thread.
Darts is one of the most popular pub sports in the world, and collects a decent TV audience in the United Kingdom, Europe and around the world. Like snooker, there is some decent money at the top of the game, and the best player in the world, Phil Taylor, made over 1MM pounds this year IIRC, with his prizemoney for winning the last World Championship being a quarter of a million pounds.
Anyway, this weekend is the last day of the newly formed World Cup of Darts, contested in two man teams. Like the world cup of football, it involved a number of countries (24 in this case) a group stage, semi's and a final, and some epic English fail.
In the qualifying rounds the top 8 teams (England, Netherlands, Australia, Scotland, Wales, N.Ireland, USA and Canada) played a weaker team that had won an initial qualifying round in a short, somewhat high variance best of 11 legs match. Spain went on to beat England 6-5 and knock them out before the group stage.
Today is semi-final and final day. In the first semi-final, Netherlands beat Spain 4-0. The second semi is on now, Wales for Australia. The format for the semis and final is 4 singles matches and a doubles match, just like the Davis Cup tennis, but the doubles is played last and worth double. If it ends 3-3 a sudden death leg is played, almost equivilent to a poker flipament. Its good theatre and a decent sport if you have someone to get behind.
Currently Simon Whitlock (AUS) is playing Mark Webster (WAL) the match is locked at 3-3 first to 6 and the tie itself is locked at 1-1 Webster and Whitlock winning their first doubles.
Oh, and LOL darts...
Well, gonna be Luke v. Luke
As long as Humphries doesn't win easily tomorrow it's going to be very entertaining. Littler dominance or a good, close final will be awesome to watch.
Humphries putting on an absolute clinic
not gonna be a coinflip with the bookies after this
Littler 2.20 Humphries 1.66 on bet365
Humphries 8/11
Littler 6/5
Very very happy that Scott Williams was humbled. Congrats to old Luke on becoming world #1.
Gonna be a great final.
Who do you reckon wins tomorrow?
Humphries is better - just. Littler's easily been playing good enough in any timescale you want to look at in the last eight months or shorter that the market says you can't bet Humphries, Littler's been playing better in this tournament, just feel like having binked three majors already this year and a phenomenal display in the semi counts just enough
Well one thing is for certain, i'll be rooting for Luke!
It's going to be an epic.
Going to be 7-4 either way.
(I'm edging Humpries)
Littler is gonna get all the pussy now
TV figures were huge, nearly 50% more than the previous highest of the Anderson/Taylor final
Humphries is better - just. Littler's easily been playing good enough in any timescale you want to look at in the last eight months or shorter that the market says you can't bet Humphries, Littler's been playing better in this tournament, just feel like having binked three majors already this year and a phenomenal display in the semi counts just enough
That's almost exactly what I was thinking initially too. But the more I think about how Littler hadn't lost more than 1 set in the entire tournament until the semi which was 6-2...coupled with how Humphries was nearly out two different times, just makes me think Littler is going to roll to victory again 7-3 or better. Maybe 7-4 since it's Humphries in phenomenal form. He just seems like he can't come close to losing right now and I don't see any reason why that's going to change.
FFS
Not going to predict every match but I think we will have a new champion this year. Out of the former champs the only ones I can see pulling it out are MVG and Price. Wright, Barney and Smith realistically might not win a match, Cross is likely to crumble under pressure, and Gary is playing great this year but probably can't sustain it over a long tournament anymore.
Hate to go chalk but Humphries feels like a huge favorite. His draw looks very favorable and he's the best player in the world r
Going to stick to my guns and say Humphries takes it.
Too many big misses for Littler in that first set
lmao there he is. D15 checkout, 142 checkout, and 4 perfect darts to start the decisive leg.
It's like when the crowd sang the Luke Littler song the last time it turned on his switch for him.
he needed that so badly, game on
Yep, going 2-0 then throwing to not go down 3-0 could have been a real bad spot
this kid is incredible LOL
Humphries even had to laugh at that when he walked off.
Could be an absolute epic this.
He's cooking now!
