Darts has long been seen as a man's world, but the women of the sport are rewriting that story with every throw. Women are redefining this sport, not just participating in it and their influence grows with every tournament. Marie Fitton’s journey began a decade ago when a casual invite to a ladies’ pub league in Norden, Rochdale, unexpectedly ignited her passion. Like so many women in darts, she’s proof that opportunity, once given, leads to excellence.

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’?

Playing in local pub leagues, I really enjoyed the social side of the sport. I’m naturally competitive, so I never gave up, always fighting for that winning point for the team

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 social side, the travel and the challenge every game brings.

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

Definitely winning the Czech Open Pairs with Deta Hedman in Prague 2024 stands out. It was my first WDF international, first stage final and getting to partner with one of darts’ most incredible female players. Certainly a weekend I’ll never forget.

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

I began competitive darts after moving to Yorkshire. I’m fortunate to have incredibly supportive teammates around me. While I only started competing seriously in the last 12 months, I’ve already gained valuable experience at PDC Women’s Series and WADC events last year, which only made me hungrier for more. This year, I’m focused on competing as much as possible to keep progressing.

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?

Finances remain my biggest barrier, they limit when and where I can compete at higher levels. To fund my PDC Women’s Series entries this year, I’ve been grinding local tournaments to earn prize money wherever possible. Every small win helps me take another step forward in this sport I love.

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

Women’s darts still faces real challenges, fewer competitive opportunities and limited sponsorship options compared to the men’s game. But progress is happening. Every new tournament, every new supporter shows we’re moving in the right direction, even if change comes slowly.

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?

Absolutely. Some male opponents assume an easy win when they see a woman enter the competition. I just smile and let my darts do the talking, they usually get the message.

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 in darts face fewer opportunities, tournaments and smaller prize money, real challenges that make persistence difficult. Yet despite these barriers, I remain determined to compete at every chance I get. The sport is progressing and I intend to be part of that growth.

What can everyday fans do right now to support women’s darts beyond just watching?

View counts matter, but social media’s real power is amplification. By sharing and engaging with women players’ content, we boost visibility for achievements that often go unseen on traditional platforms. Most of our milestones aren’t televised, this is how we rewrite the narrative.

Darts is a ‘pub sport’, but pubs aren’t always welcoming to women. Have you experienced this?

I’ve been lucky not to have personally experienced this. However, I have found pub leagues not very welcoming if you’re a county player.

What changes would you like to see for women in darts?

We need more televised events, they’d create opportunities and give us something bigger to aim for. So many talented women players deserve that stage, myself included. But it’s not just about TV, we need equal prize money, more tournaments, better coverage and consistent streaming too.

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

Never give up. There will be tough times and hard lessons, but push through, you’ll find the rewards at the end. Most importantly? Always have fun. Enjoy the game and keep the banter flying off the oche.

Want more of Marie’s ruthless checkouts and straight-talk? Follow her on socials, where darts fly true, the banter bites back and haters get booted quicker than a busted score!

Facebook: facebook.com/marie.fitton – Max outs & truth bombs
Instagram: instagram.com/marieefittonn – Style meets steel

Marie, your darts speak louder than words. Every throw chips away at old barriers, every victory writes a new chapter for women in this sport. Thank you for being the kind of player who doesn’t just break ceilings, you build new floors for others to stand on. The game needs this fire.