The beautiful brutality of darts demands just one thing, absolute perfection and women across the globe are rising to meet this challenge with extraordinary skill, none more relentlessly than the indomitable Gemma Hayter, whose remarkable journey from a 12-year-old dreamer in Gosport to being ranked among the very best players on the planet at 31 stands as testament to what focus and determination (after an 8-year break) can achieve in this gloriously unforgiving sport.

What was the exact moment you looked at a dartboard and thought ‘Yes, this is how I want to spend my life missing the treble 20’?

My family all play darts. My nan and dad both played county darts for Hampshire and I learned a lot from them. They supported me greatly.

Okay, be honest, what’s your favorite part of darts? The thrill of hitting that perfect 180? The sound of the crowd?

I love the friendships I’ve made through darts and of course, everyone loves winning!

Alright, time to brag, what’s your ‘I’ll be boring my grandkids with this story’ darts moment so far?

My proudest moment was probably winning my first PDC Women’s Series event.

At what point did your casual dart-throwing habit become a full-blown addiction?

I started in youth darts, then progressed to county level and eventually moved up to major competitions.

What’s the real hardest part of going pro as a woman? Is it the pressure, the doubters or just constantly being asked ‘So do you, like, actually compete against men?’ like it’s some shocking plot twist?

I wouldn’t class myself as a professional player. To me, a professional is someone who plays darts for a living and I still work 40 hours a week. That’s probably the biggest challenge, juggling a full-time job, day-to-day life and darts.

What’s been the toughest boss battle as a woman in darts?

I was selected to play for England in 2016, but I gave up darts that same year. At the time, I felt there were no real opportunities for women in the sport.

Let’s talk about the hilarious myth that darts is a ‘men’s game’, Have you faced any comments or attitudes suggesting darts is a “men’s game”? How do you respond?

I’ve faced constant comments, sexism is still rampant in women’s darts. For me, it’s a weekly occurrence, if not more frequent.

Let’s play darts or discrimination, do you feel women get equal opportunities in darts… or are we still stuck in the ‘participation trophy’ phase of equality?

Women still don’t receive equal opportunities in darts. While the PDC Women’s Series and WADC have improved things slightly, the PDC barely invests in the women’s game. They don’t advertise events or even post highlights from the Women’s Series and exposure is crucial. On that front, they’re failing us.

Let’s be real, if women’s darts got the media coverage it deserved, would we be trending… or would the internet break from men realizing we don’t actually throw with glittery darts? Do you think women’s darts gets enough media coverage?

The media only cares about women’s darts when a woman beats a man. They ignore phenomenal performances, even when ladies are hitting consistent 90+ averages against each other.

Do women in darts need to hit two 180s back-to-back just to get the same respect as a dude who accidentally checked out on a bounce-out? So do you think women are held to higher standards to prove themselves in darts?

Women in darts are held to ridiculous standards. Most people expect you to either be terrible or as good as Beau Greaves, with no middle ground. Either way, you’re never good enough.

What’s at the top of your equality wishlist, bigger prizes, fewer ‘cute effort’ comments or just a lifetime supply of eye rolls for every ‘women can’t handle pressure’ take?

We need more major tournaments and real exposure for women’s darts. The sport has to start introducing fans to new players, not just the same familiar faces. Something as simple as the PDC streaming their Women’s Series boards and posting highlights would be a great starting point.

Future dart queens, listen up! What advice would you give to young girls wanting to play darts?

Absolutely , I would say, “go for it!”. While things are improving, we need more female players to get involved and help drive women’s darts forward. The more participation we have, the faster the game will grow.

Starved for Gemma’s frosty finishes and straight-fire takes? Follow the queen, where points stick, burns stick better and haters disappear like chalk dust!

Facebook: facebook.com/gemma.hayter – Perfect finishes & real talk
Instagram: instagram.com/gemmahayter180 – Darts mastery & no-filter truth

Gemma, the darting world owes you more than gratitude. Every match you play doesn't just land darts, it shatters ceilings. Your strength at the oche wins games, but your spirit changes the game itself. Where some saw barriers, you built bridges, showing a new generation what's possible. This isn't just thanks, it's a vow. We see you, we honor your fight and we'll keep lighting the way with the fire you sparked. The board may be gender-blind, but history won't forget how you transformed this sport.