The Darts World Cup is in full swing – but the time of year when this sport takes center stage is overshadowed by unpleasant customs away from the target.
For Tim Gotthardt, his first World Cup game was a sporting success, but the journey there had a lot more stories to tell. One of them isn’t as pretty and not one that you can smile about in retrospect, like the one with his broken arrow. It is the story of the German fans who knew no moderation and tried to upset his opponent Alan Soutar again and again.
“At some point it was too much for me, even with Alan Soutar”said Gotthardt, who had repeatedly tried to calm his compatriots during the game, at the press conference afterwards. “You just have to slow it down a bit so that it doesn’t become unsportsmanlike. I brought it down a little, which worked quite well.”
Pietreczko: “Anyone who disrupts the game should not be part of the event”
There were still images that were reminiscent of last year, when future world champion Luke Humphries was deliberately disturbed by heckling from German fans during the third round match against Ricardo Pietreczko. Pietreczko also had to intervene back then and to this day still does not agree with the spectators trying to influence the game in such a way.
“This whistling and stuff like that – no one likes that. It’s of course difficult to filter out who it is from these crowds. But I say: Anyone who disrupts the game should no longer be part of the event.”said “Pikachu” in a sports show interview before the World Cup in London.
Menzies cries – and is mocked by the fans
But the problem in “Ally Pally” is not just limited to German fans. Monday evening (December 16, 2024) was also overshadowed by the behavior of some spectators, which may be common practice in other sports, but is not welcome in darts.
Cameron Menzies, partner of the most famous darts player Fallon Sherrock, lost his first match primarily because he wasn’t having a good day in terms of sport. But the emotional component is much more historical. Menzies burst into tears on stage, his opponent Leonard Gates even comforted him – but several fans preferred to pick at the wound. They cheered scornfully when throws missed their target.
Cameron Menzies after his defeat at the Darts World Cup
“It’s incredibly difficult to describe what we saw here”said expert Max Hopp at “Sport1”. Gates hoped that “I told him a few things that could help him – both in darts and in his life”. Menzies later posted a photo of himself at his father’s bedside on “X” and wrote: “I didn’t mean to post that. My father, my hero.” He later deleted the post.
No alcohol, no darts
Alcohol plays a very big role in darts. This was recently made clear when PDC association boss Barry Hearn spoke about a possible World Cup in Saudi Arabia. “The Saudis invited me to play darts a few months ago and I asked them a simple question: ‘Can we serve alcohol?’ And they said ‘no’. So I told them, ‘Well then you won’t get the darts.'”said Hearn on Talksport. Darts without alcohol? Apparently not conceivable.
And that is also reflected in the stands. Colorful costumes, great atmosphere, loud singing (“Oooooooooone Phil Taylor”) – but it’s no longer limited to that. With increased popularity, not only are hardcore darts fans attending the World Cup, but also many who are interested in the event and not the customs of the sport. They want to let loose. And that is becoming more and more of a problem in “Ally Pally”.