The fifth Players Championship event of the season in Leicester delivered an unprecedented shockwave through the darts world: for the first time in recent memory, not a single current Premier League star survived past the first round. While some elite players opted to skip the event due to fatigue or prior commitments, others faced surprising and swift defeats, clearing the path for emerging talent and creating a truly open field. This rare statistical anomaly has left fans and statisticians alike buzzing, with many wondering if this marks a significant shift in the competitive landscape of professional darts.
An Unprecedented Exodus: Premier League Stars Vanish
The Mattioli Arena in Leicester was the stage for the fifth Players Championship event, and what unfolded was nothing short of extraordinary. After the dust settled on the first round, a startling fact emerged: not a single player currently competing in the prestigious Premier League remained in the draw. The sport’s top tier had, quite literally, disappeared from the competition.
To understand this rare occurrence, context is key. Several Premier League participants were already absent from the Leicester doubleheader:
- Luke Littler
- Luke Humphries
- Gian van Veen
- Stephen Bunting
These players had strategically opted to skip the event, likely managing their grueling schedules and avoiding the intense demands of the Premier League roadshow, which is known to be incredibly draining. Adding to these planned absences, Michael van Gerwen also withdrew late from the tournament, further depleting the elite ranks.
Shock Early Exits for the Remaining Elite
Despite these absences, three prominent Premier League gladiators did turn up to compete. However, their visits were remarkably brief and utterly unsentimental. They all fell victim to shocking early defeats:
- Jonny Clayton, the current Premier League pacesetter, was dramatically ousted by Conor Scutt, known as “The Sniper,” in a nail-biting last-leg decider.
- Gerwyn Price suffered a cruel sense of déjà vu, losing to Adam Lipscombe. This was particularly stinging as Lipscombe had already defeated “The Iceman” just a week prior in Wigan, repeating his ambush with ruthless efficiency.
- Josh Rock’s campaign was cut short after he crashed into a formidable James Hurrell-shaped barricade, succumbing in a high-stakes shootout.
With all Premier League representatives eliminated, Round 2 of Players Championship 5 was utterly devoid of the sport’s most gilded names. This historical anomaly meant that before lunchtime had even properly settled, the elite had been reduced to mere footnotes.
Opportunity Knocks, But Struggles Persist for Some
The unexpected evacuation of eight elite figures — five who skipped and three who were eliminated — flung the tournament draw wide open. An undeniable buzz of opportunity crackled in the air, offering a golden chance for other players to make their mark.
However, this vacuum didn’t alleviate the ongoing struggles for some other well-known names. For multiple major winners Dimitri Van den Bergh and Raymond van Barneveld, their campaigns continued to be exercises in frustration. It wasn’t just the defeats, but the underlying numbers that painted a concerning picture:
- Dimitri Van den Bergh once again languished with a sub-80 average, a performance well below his capabilities. He ultimately succumbed to Martin Dragt, a competitor who doesn’t even possess a professional tour card.
- Raymond van Barneveld’s performance was marginally more respectable, with a slightly sub-90 average. However, this was still not enough, as Richard Veenstra proved just that little bit more clinical when it truly mattered, securing the win.
A Glimmer of Hope: Michael Smith’s Resurgence
Amidst the chaos and continued struggles, there was a discernible tremor of encouragement radiating from the Michael Smith camp. The former World Champion appears to be painstakingly rebuilding his once-fearsome artillery, bolt by bolt, treble by treble.
A late summons to the Poland Darts Open last weekend provided a crucial confidence boost, bringing about a couple of significant wins. Smith seamlessly translated that revived conviction onto the Pro Tour stage in Leicester, carving through Tavis Dudeney and Andy Boulton by identical 6-1 scorelines.
His demolition of Andy Boulton was particularly impressive, underpinned by a ton-plus average that throbbed with echoes of his most incendiary pomp. While “Bully Boy” did experience a minor setback against Ross Smith, the context is important: Ross Smith was operating at a stratospheric altitude, uncorking a magnificent 106.38 average that tolerated neither dissent nor negotiation.
What Lies Ahead? A Potentially Unprecedented Week
The intrigue now shifts to Wednesday’s Players Championship action. Should the three remaining Premier League representatives (who were not in Leicester, but might participate in other Players Championship events) decide to skip the Pro Tour and head to Belfast early for the next Premier League fixture, we could be staring at an even greater slice of absurdity: a Players Championship day completely devoid of any current Premier League players.
That possibility alone may have darts statisticians rummaging through dusty archives once more, desperate to establish whether such a curious and unprecedented anomaly has ever previously occurred in the history of professional darts.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
