From Local Leagues to Ally Pally: Vicky Pruim’s Unconventional Journey and Bold Vision for Women’s Darts
Darts sensation Vicky Pruim is poised for her Alexandra Palace debut, an unexpected turn for the Chester-based player whose original goal was merely the Women’s World Matchplay. As the first Swedish woman to compete at this prestigious event, Pruim is determined to make every match a battle, dismissing opponent reputations and focusing on her own calm, focused game. She also shares a nuanced perspective on the future of the Women’s Series, believing that while the game is growing rapidly, direct Tour Cards should only be introduced once player consistency and averages reach an even higher standard across the board.
Vicky Pruim’s Unexpected Path to the World Championship
Vicky Pruim, a familiar face in Chester’s local darts leagues, is preparing for her biggest stage yet: a debut at the World Darts Championship held at Alexandra Palace. This journey was largely unforeseen, even by Pruim herself.
- Unexpected Qualification: Pruim secured her spot by finishing fifth in the Women’s Series rankings. The qualification criteria extended to her after series winner Beau Greaves qualified through the ProTour.
- A Historic First: Her appearance marks a significant milestone, as she will be the first Swedish woman ever to compete at Alexandra Palace.
- Original Ambition: “The goal was to make Blackpool, and I managed that. Ally Pally wasn’t really in my mind,” Pruim revealed. Her success on the Women’s Series exceeded her initial expectations.
- Nerves and Focus: The qualification process was intense. “I was very nervous in the last competition, and I tried not to look at what was happening with everyone else,” she explained. Her manager’s congratulatory message was the first confirmation she had secured her spot.
Embracing the Ally Pally Experience
While Pruim has experience on big stages, including a BDO World Championship semi-final in 2002, Alexandra Palace presents an entirely new challenge.
- A New Arena: “It feels very different. I’ve never experienced Ally Pally, and I’ve never even been there before,” she stated, emphasizing that even her Lakeside experience doesn’t prepare her for this.
- Crowd Pressure: Pruim anticipates the crowd will be a bigger source of nerves than the game itself. “The crowd is probably going to feel more nerve-racking than the actual game. I need to stay calm and focus on what I’m doing.”
A ‘Cool Swede’ on the Oche
Pruim’s approach to competition is straightforward: respect everyone, fear no one, and make every leg count.
- No Easy Games: She dismisses the idea of worrying about her opponent’s identity or reputation. “If someone has qualified for the World Championship, they can play decent darts, so any game is going to be hard.”
- Pressure on the Top Names: In fact, she relishes the thought of playing a top-ranked player, noting, “It could be more fun to play one of the top names. There would be more pressure on them, as they would be expected to win.”
- A Formidable Opponent: Despite her friendly demeanor off the board, Pruim is ruthless on it. “I’m a nice person, but I’m not so nice on the dartboard,” she declared. “I’m trying to win every game. You don’t have friends on the oche when it comes to darts.”
- Defying Expectations: Aware that some viewers may not know her as well as established stars like Fallon Sherrock or Lisa Ashton, Pruim aims to prove any assumptions of an “easy draw” wrong by remaining a “cool Swede” and playing her best.
The Future of Women’s Darts: Tour Cards and Growth
Pruim’s qualification comes amidst ongoing discussions about the future structure of the Women’s Series and whether it should offer direct routes onto the professional circuit, similar to the Challenge and Development Tours.
Vicky Pruim’s Stance on Tour Cards:
While acknowledging the desire for progression, Pruim believes direct Tour Cards for the Women’s Series might be premature:
- “A Little Bit Too Early”: She argues that for direct Tour Cards to be truly effective, the overall consistency and average scores across the women’s field need to improve further. “We need to see players getting the results, producing better averages and doing it more consistently. Then you can start talking about giving out Tour Cards.”
- Aspirational Goal: She suggests waiting “another one or two years” to allow players to develop, noting that the prospect of earning a Tour Card in the future would be a powerful motivator.
- Balancing Act: Pruim highlights the significant challenges faced by many female players who juggle darts with employment and family commitments. “You’re not a professional; you’re playing part-time,” she points out, emphasizing the tough decision between career security and pursuing a darts dream.
Positive Developments and Future Hopes:
Despite her cautious view on immediate Tour Cards, Pruim is optimistic about the growth and increasing depth in women’s darts.
- Improved Depth: She notes a significant improvement in the quality of play compared to earlier years. “Now you look at the Women’s Series and there are so many more players who can play well. You’re seeing averages in the mid-60s and into the 70s from players who weren’t doing that a few years ago.”
- Inspiration and Participation: Pruim credits players like Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock, alongside the broader impact of stars like Luke Littler, for inspiring more women to take up the sport. She actively encourages local players she meets to “put your foot in the door” and try competitive events.
- More Tournaments: To further foster growth and confidence, Pruim advocates for more dedicated PDC tournaments for women, believing a few additional events could make a real difference.
A Swedish Anthem for Ally Pally
As her Alexandra Palace debut approaches, Pruim’s focus is firmly on the present, with a memorable walk-on planned to connect with the crowd.
- ABBA’s “Waterloo”: Her chosen walk-on song, ABBA’s iconic hit “Waterloo,” offers a chance for the Swedish representative to engage the audience and create a lively atmosphere.
- Connecting with the Crowd: She hopes a singalong chorus will help ease her nerves and create a special moment. While listed as a 2,000/1 outsider, Pruim aims to have plenty of voices cheering her on before she throws her first dart.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
