The Official 2018 PDC World Championship Howlers Thread

[Murphio]

If they had intended do you not think that they would have informed the respective tours and all their players at the beginning, or in fact at any point during their year that there were to be WC spots available?
Which ever answer it's a huge howler to crowbar players into their showcase event at the last minute.

A howler is a mistake. An error. So whether you think it is right or wrong they have crowbarred players into their world championship for whatever reason - it is not a howler, sorry.

Whether it's a howler or not, what's your take on these 'qualifiers'?

I personally don't have any particular beef with them. It is clear the PDC is trying to spread its reach across the globe and that is very likely what lies behind it. The PDC has been shoehorning players into events for commercial reasons for a long time. The two players in question will add quality to the event - one is the current Masters Champion and the other is a former Lakeside finalist. It is probably unfair but it is done for deliberately for the benefit of the organisation.

I can understand Ratajski, seeing as he did well this year on the Euro Tour and showed decent form, but Smith has done fuckall of note this year. They're picking him purely on his popularity, which I think is ridiculous. Might as well roll out O'Shea if that becomes a qualifying criterium.

I would have gone with Dawson Murschell for a Canadian seeing as he did well on TV in the World Series this year.

Problem with that is he actually tried to qualify and didn't make it, so that would have made a farce of the qualifying criteria.

Ideally the criteria should be set in stone at the start of the season. Alternatively they could reserve a couple of spots for international prospects, but I'd like them to at least decide which regions get the spots. Two or three real wild cards if a Cadby or Ratajski somehow doesn't make the cut should be the maximum imo.

Well you are effectively then arguing over the legitimacy of the two wildcards rather than whether they should be allocated at all. I don't have much of a problem with them. They can add to the event. I remember a very famous one winning Wimbledon. The PDC obviously has plans for Canada and eastern Europe and feel these players can help them in that regard. Rightly or wrongly there is a reason they were picked.

[Zeyes]

I would have gone with Dawson Murschell for a Canadian seeing as he did well on TV in the World Series this year.

Problem with that is he actually tried to qualify and didn't make it, so that would have made a farce of the qualifying criteria.

Jeff Smith tried as well and didn't even get as far as Murschell did, though.

Hopefully next year they'll have plans for a merit-based choice of both a US and a Canadian representative from the Las Vegas Darts Masters week, even if it's just something like "player from the other country who progressed the furthest".

[ifm]

Think we need a 'rea'l howlers thread. Skewy is ruling like Des.

Can you start one Chris, it really needs to be done as the BDO one has a "howler" that a player was given a spot in the PDC worlds.

[Little Lonely Garry]

I think wildcards in any ranking event is wrong.
Be it the CiderCan Masters, the bdo players in the Grand Slam or the PDC World champs.

But since both codes are doing it anyway, then do it properly, add past pdc major winners to prelims.
Seems ridiculous and contradictory that Uncle Barry says no to old past pdc majors and says people have to earn their spot. I can understand his point.
But he then goes and gives a spot to Jeff smith, ...how did he earn his spot then ?

[Murphio]

Think we need a 'rea'l howlers thread. Skewy is ruling like Des.

Can you start one Chris, it really needs to be done as the BDO one has a "howler" that a player was given a spot in the PDC worlds.

While I agree it probably doesn't qualify as a 'howler' per se - it is surely pretty damning on the BDO that their Masters champion rejected a spot at Lakeside to play the rival world championship instead.

[ifm]

Think we need a 'rea'l howlers thread. Skewy is ruling like Des.

Can you start one Chris, it really needs to be done as the BDO one has a "howler" that a player was given a spot in the PDC worlds.

While I agree it probably doesn't qualify as a 'howler' per se - it is surely pretty damning on the BDO that their Masters champion rejected a spot at Lakeside to play the rival world championship instead.

So you agree it shouldn't be in there.

[Skewball]

Think we need a 'rea'l howlers thread. Skewy is ruling like Des.

Can you start one Chris, it really needs to be done as the BDO one has a "howler" that a player was given a spot in the PDC worlds.

I am loving this thread , it's provided the entertainment I'd hoped with all the big hitters cought in it's web
Please continue ......

[Murphio]

Think we need a 'rea'l howlers thread. Skewy is ruling like Des.

Can you start one Chris, it really needs to be done as the BDO one has a "howler" that a player was given a spot in the PDC worlds.

While I agree it probably doesn't qualify as a 'howler' per se - it is surely pretty damning on the BDO that their Masters champion rejected a spot at Lakeside to play the rival world championship instead.

So you agree it shouldn't be in there.

Perhaps 'gross incompetence' should be added to the thread title.

[ChrisW]

Think we need a 'rea'l howlers thread. Skewy is ruling like Des.

Can you start one Chris, it really needs to be done as the BDO one has a "howler" that a player was given a spot in the PDC worlds.

Easier option.
Quote the OP and add what you want.
Added bonus it will wind up Skewball.

[ifm]

Think we need a 'rea'l howlers thread. Skewy is ruling like Des.

Can you start one Chris, it really needs to be done as the BDO one has a "howler" that a player was given a spot in the PDC worlds.

Easier option.
Quote the OP and add what you want.
Added bonus it will wind up Skewball.

Good shout

[ifm]

So, so far we have these, anymore?

1/ Draw not done until only a couple of weeks before the event meaning people not knowing what matches they are going to stare at the stands at.
2/ Draw later than advertised, hilarity ensued as a result.
3/ Dave Clark called out a wrong player during the draw
4/ PDC couldn't find anyone good enough through ranking or qualifying, so issued wildcards for its premier event, including one to a player who hadn't even played any PDC ranking events in the whole year
5/ "You need to hit a 110 average to win a game in the PDC"

[Murphio]

6/ Barry Hearn walked in dog shite on his way to the studio.
7/ Dave Chisnall forgot to tie his shoelaces and nearly tipped over in Asda while buying a Christmas pudding.
8/ The elastic on Tommy Gilmour's trousers snapped as he was getting up to the attic to retrieve his Christmas tree.
9/ Matt Porter pissed on the toilet seat of the Hound and Turkey while on his Christmas lunch.

[Little Lonely Garry]

10/ They once ran out of toilet paper in the leisure centre in Barnsley

[ChrisW]

I forgot to say it will cause some seething.

[BlueSpark]

I forgot to say it will cause some seething.

Let us know when it's posted.

[ifm]

I forgot to say it will cause some seething.

[ifm]

Can somebody spellcheck the PDPA and PDC websites please, ta.

[ChrisW]

I forgot to say it will cause some seething.

Let us know when it's posted.

When Skewy logs on.

[devosteve]

Here's one for those straining to see a howler.

on sky sports news the Tottenham manager was asked about the pdc wc. He answered re the football world cup.

what a botch by the pdc!

[oche balboa]

https://alexandrapalaceevents.seeticket ... worlddarts

Still tickets for sale, Despite Ginge having digs at the tickets left at Lakeside