Madhouse
Ah, the double 1. Because nothing says “I need therapy” like having to hit double 1 in the final of a tournament to clinch the title. And if you miss? Well, congratulations, you’ve just handed the win to your opponent on a silver platter. It’s enough to drive anyone completely bonkers, unless you’re already there, in which case double 1 is probably your favorite finish.
Major Tournaments
Just like golf has its US Open, Masters Tournament and The Open Championship, darts has its own crown jewels, the so-called Major Tournaments or Majors. In the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation), there are five big ones: the World Championship, Premier League, UK Open, World Matchplay, and World Grand Prix. But wait, some dart nerds argue there are six majors, because the Grand Slam of Darts has the fourth-largest prize pool. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good debate about what counts as a major? These days, it seems like every tournament with a shiny trophy is getting slapped with the “Major” label, like the World Cup of Darts, the Players Championship, European Championship and the World Series of Darts. The newest kid on the block is the Masters, an invitational event (like the Premier League) that only started in 2013. Oh, and Michael van Gerwen has already won it five times, because of course he has.
But here’s the kicker: while everyone’s busy arguing about what’s a major and what’s not, darts makes life simple for us in one way. There are TV tournaments and floor tournaments. Floor tournaments are no joke, but let’s face it, they’re not exactly prime-time material. The TV tournaments are where the real drama happens, the records are broken, and the crowds go wild. So, if you’re looking for glory, aim for the TV lights, because that’s where the history books are watching.
Mardle Cup
An unflattering term dedicated to ex-player Wayne Mardle, now a TV personality, was the famous “Mardle Cup.” This cheeky trophy was handed to the player who landed rock bottom in the Premier League rankings after Judgement Night. Mardle might not have been a top-tier darter, but his showmanship was off the charts. The PDC simply couldn’t resist giving him wild cards for the Premier League, as the crowd practically demanded his presence. Sky Sports didn’t want their ratings to take a nosedive either. But alas, his first two appearances in 2005 and 2006 were, shall we say, less than stellar. Twice finishing dead last, he earned nothing but ridicule and scorn, along with the symbolic cup for the basement dweller of the rankings. Ouch!
Mardle drift
The infamous Mardle Drift, a term coined by the legendary BBC commentator Sid Waddell to describe that special kind of darting chaos. It’s when you’re aiming for the glamorous 20 and the glorious triple 20, but your darts somehow have a mind of their own and end up chilling in the 5 and triple 5 like they’re on vacation. Poor Mardle, it seemed like the darting gods were always conspiring against him. Let’s just say, if darts were a soap opera, Mardle would’ve been the star of Days of Our Missed Doubles.