Charis’ Column

Monday, November 26, 2018
Column CM50
The Grand Slam of Darts – a sad story with wide-ranging consequences

One of the mechanics, Louis Coatalen, worked with at Sunbeam was Tim Barrett. Barrett was born and grew up in Wolverhampton. During his apprentice training he worked among others from Guy Motors which produced motors for airplanes …

Sunday, November 25, 2018
Column CM49
The Grand Slam of Darts – close contests

Not only was it on the third day of the Grand Slam that we saw close contests.

Those happen often enough in car racing as well. Years ago, there existed in Wolverhampton a manufacturer who produced racing cars – Sunbeam. Sunbeam …

Saturday, November 24, 2018
Column CM48
The Grand Slam of Darts – a lot more darts…

On the second day of the tournament I again used the shuttle to the venue. The pick-up stop had changed due to Remembrance Day. The shuttle needs around twenty minutes to get from Wolverhampton to Aldersley which is a …

Friday, November 23, 2018
Column CM47
The Grand Slam of Darts – a new venue

This year the Grand Slam was again played in Wolverhampton but not, as in former years, in the Civic Hall (which is being renovated) but in Aldersleigh Leisure Village. This “village” is not a small town but a big sporting …

Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Column CM46
The Grand Slam of Darts – Preview

I don’t do predictions any longer…

This year, I have been off the mark far too often.

What the hell happened to the dartsplayers? It was rather easy in the past. For years, one could predict Phil Taylor would be the winner …

Monday, September 21, 2018
Column CM45
The Season Begins!

As in football the summer break is over – though there is no real summer break in darts any longer. Since the World Matchplay we could follow three World Series tournaments and three European Tour events by the official PDC stream (which was not always pure …

Monday, August 6, 2018
Column CM44
World Matchplay – the third pier

Blackpool is a seaside resort which offers not one or two but three piers, which is quite unusual. The oldest of the piers is the North Pier, which was built in the 1860s. At first it was not planned as a real pier …

Monday, August 6, 2018
Column CM43
World Matchplay – dancing along…

As we all know, the World Matchplay takes place in the Empress Ballroom of the Winter Gardens in Blackpool – though except for a few darts players no one during the event really dances here. But in fact, for much longer than the World …

Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Column CM42
World Matchplay 2018 – Day 2 (still no 100+ averages)

The second day of the World Matchplay offered the same weather as the first one. The sky was grey and a cold wind blew in from the sea. It was not a day for the beach but perhaps hopeful …

Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Column CM41
World Matchplay 2018 – Day 1 (de Zwaan sends van Gerwen packing!)

“Everybody is here… to have a good time.”

The “here” means Blackpool and it is one of the reasons why the PDC decided in 1994 to organise a darts tournament during the summer season in Blackpool.

The …