I’m just getting my breath back after a magic week of darts at the World Grand Prix at City West in Dublin.
Looking back, here are my highlight memories…
Phil Taylor looked menacing from the get-go, hitting a 98 average with a double in against Brendan Dolan. The Power came to the Emerald Isle with a Gargantuan appetite: the Grand Slam, the nine-darter and the aim of crushing ‘pretenders’ like Adie Lewis as well as old rivals like Barney. Other round one stars were Kevin Painter and the ever-improving Andy Hamilton.
Barney looked out of sorts early doors. He’s had ten weeks out of the game and has found out he’s diabetic. He seemed to lose self-confidence completely at times. He was totally confused when the 2000-plus Irish fans who had cheered him to the echo switched allegiance when he played local hero Jacko Barry.
What can I say about the classic match between Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson? It had the lot. Lewis showed that he’s become Daddy Cool quickly, shaking off the big and daft persona and hitting 126, 140 and 167 finishes. Anderson showed his flair with superb 180 shooting. Add the spice of a bit of argy-bargy over alleged treading on a loose board behind the oche, and you have the needle that Jocky, Evans, and Brissy brought to the oche in days of yore. Adie won and we all agreed it was the best match ever in the Grand Prix. Surely these two will grace the Premier League in the new year.
The Taylor versus Lewis clash was a belter. Again there was a bit of verbal banter, and Phil showed total class in reeling off a 14-, 12- and 13- darter to take three sets by a whisker. A 4-0 score-line did not do Adie justice; the Stokie should be proud of his week.
On the personal side it was great to see Jamie Harvey at the event. He has had surgery for throat cancer and was in good spirits. He was wearing matching tartan waistcoat and CHUKKA BOOTS! Jamie was not the only one dressed up; all the fancy dress shops in Dublin must have sold out of wigs, hats and animal skins.
We had a superb Sky film of darts’ very own ‘odd couple.’ Andy Smith the Pieman and Terry Jenkins shared a flat for the week and their domestic patter about pink washing-up gloves and the pros and cons of using hairspray was a right giggle. How many other pro darters would have sent themselves up so mightily and so gamely?
The final set the tone for a great World Championship starting in mid-December. Taylor lost his deadly accuracy for the first two sets and Barney hit real form. It was great to see the appreciation by each player of good shots by the other. My best line of the match: ‘Taylor looks like Mister Micawber reading his gas bill.’ Mind you, that was when he was two sets down and was looking like thunder at the red bit.
And for once Sidney was not the Black Spot on prediction. I got the 6-3 score line right.
Can’t wait to get to Glasgow on 5th December for the Jocky Wilson Cup. Hope the Wee Man himself swans in, has a swally with the boys and holds his false teeth aloft for the crowd. Great darting days are these!