Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Column HR405
MOVERS and SHAKERS
The headline is not a reference to the ladies on stage at PDC events shaking their bon-bons and other assorted objects. It’s “All About the Base” as the prancing group replaced the classy walk on ladies. Bummer.
Premier League players either moved up or were shaken like “sifted flour” to the bottom of the standings. The bottom three – van Der Bergh, Dobey and Smith – are DOA but still capable of tossing a spanner in someone else’s plans for the playoffs.
After play on night #7, Michael van Gerwyn was safely in first place leading Michael Smith by 8 points. Gerwyn Price was in 4th place, trailing by 8. Since MvG has gone winless he’s seen his lead evaporate and now trails the surging Gerwyn Price by 4.
van Gerwen faces a challenge this week. He’ll face Price to open the night. And then there’s the Michael Smith/Nathen Aspinall winner – both have found their footing, not surging but back on track.
Price has moved to the top thanks to a pair of wins. Last week, Price got denied the victory when “en fuego” Michael Smith played like the world champion he is, getting a 6-1 win shooting 105.58 finishing nearly 50% as Dobey missed 5 of 6 doubles all 5 when falling behind 2-1.
Michael van Gerwen, coming off a weekend ass-kicking by Josh Rock 7-0 (Austrian Darts Open) on the Euro Tour, took a 2-1 lead over Peter Wright in 12 and 14 darts. Wright would level using 12 then lead 3-2. MvG despite failing on 5 doubles, leveled at 3 so don’t count those misses. The next two were ugly (18 and 17 darts) and won by Wright giving him the chance to win 6-3 with a 12-darter.
Gerwyn Price was playing at a different level wiping out a helpless Jonny Clayton 6-2. Clayton’s two legs were in 12 and 16 darts. Too little to late. Once Price was level at 1 he took 5 on the trot with four 11s and a 15. Price averaged 110 as Clayton collected 100.47.
The real Peter Wright showed up against Michael Smith, losing 6-2. Wright did finish 50% at 2 of 4 with an average of 80.41 – the lowest of this year’s Premier League. Price led from the first leg, won in 11, comprised of T40, T80, 99 with an 82 finish of “dead bull” and d16. “Thank you.” Price followed with a 6-3 win over Nathan Aspinall. The Asp only found 3 from 16 doubles.
The final promised to be a high scoring affair that would “tear up the old pea patch”. The averages were 104.86 for Michael Smith and 100.31 for Price. Smith led 2-nil with legs of 13 and 11. Price had a chance to level at 1 but missed a dart at d20. Price got on the board with a win for 1-2. After missing a pair at 40 Price trailed 3-1. Despite missing 3 more at 40 Price narrowed to 2-3. Smith regained his 2-leg advantage when Price grabbed one back in 12 thanks to a 148-check. Smith would collect 2 of the next 3 for the 6-4 victory.
The PDC Euro Tour has emerged as an imported aspect of the PDC as they innovate. All dart organizations talk about innovation. In most instances it’s simply self-masturbation. The PDC doesn’t talk – they do.
The Euro Tour is in full swing as 6 of the 13 events have been completed. Each event has a prize fund of £175,000 with the winner taking home £30,000. Dave Chisnell (£72,000) and Gerwyn Price (£68,000) have each garnered 2 wins with Michael Smith and Jonny Clayton bagging the other two.
When the 32 players Toed the Oche in the Netherlands last weekend the orange-clad fans were out in force and full throat. There were times when the crowd was more interested in seeing how high a person could stack empty beer cups than the darts. A memorable moment was the round of 16 match between Nathan Aspinall and Daryl Gurney. The match was “scruffy” (to be kind) as both averaged 88+ and finishing at 10 for 35. Aspinall won 6-4 so was interviewed.
“Well Nathan, another win?”
“Yes, we both played shit”. The man’s honest.
There should be no argument that Dave Chisnall has the worst looking throw in darts while Luke Humphries has the smoothest. The Dart God, Tungsten Tillie, decried that they meet in the finals. It was a case of ugly prevailing as Chisnall took a 8-5 win. The pair was tied at 1 after each tossed 18-darters. Ugly took over in 15, 11, 16 and 13 darts for a 5-2 lead that became 6-3 in 13. Humphries rallied with a pair to get to 6-5, losing 7-5 as he sat on 8.
The Golden Era dart players congratulate Roger Carter and Jimmy Demore on earing a CDC Tour card – two member from the Golden Era that are still getting it done. Carter won the 1996 North American, losing in 1999 to John Kramer.
The Golden Era dart players sadly bid farewell to Golden Era great Lenny Heard.
Originally from England he became a mainstay of the USA darting scene. He represented the USA in the World Cup, Masters and Pacific Cup. Lenny was part of the 1986 Pacific Cup Team that won the Cup for the first time. The win came when Kathy Karpowich hit d12 for the singles and team title. Among his many titles, Lenny won the 1980 North American.
He played doubles successfully for many years with the late Nicky Virachkul and mixed doubles with Jayne Houser. One year he literally carried Nicky, who had been severely over served, to the doubles title on stage in Atlantic City.
Lenny was a really good person. God bless.
From Mr. John Lowe, MBE: Len Heard, one of America’s finest dart players, has passed away. You that knew Len will know what a great guy he was, and a great competitor. I played with and against him over the years, visited his home city, San Diego, and played at The Sherlock Holmes Bar. Before he emigrated to America, Len worked in the Devonport Dockyard as a plumber. Lennie was 8. Goodbye my friend, thanks for sharing a part of your life.
And finally, a change of pace as there are some things that just can’t be made up…
The news in Las Vegas is reporting that a new non-gaming motel is opening downtown. It’s called The Bent Inn, is owned by a LBGBQ+ company and will be the first LBGBQ+ friendly motel in Las Vegas.
Stay thirsty my friends.
