In all seriousness I think we have all hit a bit of a wall at some point over the last week which is only natural. The feel to this tournament is very much “head down for seventeen days”, and now it’s Day Eight we’re right into the thick of it. The tournament is going very well though and from the officiating point of view it’s all gone fine. It feels as if Alexandra Palace is louder this year than it’s ever been before. Instead of a section of the crowd cheering or getting involved when a player is throwing, it feels like everybody is involved this year. The roof is coming off and it’s made for a sensational atmosphere. It hasn’t mattered whether it’s Game Two in an afternoon session or Game Four at night, there’s not a seat to be had and the tournament just “feels” bigger than it’s ever been before.
It was definitely loud when Christian Kist hit that nine-darter! He didn’t even realise he had won £60,000! Maybe that made it easier to hit in some ways, and I’m so pleased he did it after all the struggles he has had through injury over the years. Christian is a fine player, former World Champion, and to come through and achieve the nine-darter was a fantastic moment for him and thoroughly deserved. £60,000 also went to Prostate Cancer UK, and it was great to see a fan in the crowd walk away with £60,000 too! I was in the PDC Production Office when the double twelve landed and immediately everybody was up to co-ordinate with PaddyPower who the winner was and how they were going to announce it. John McDonald MC went up to the stage during an advert break to announce the winner with a roving camera circling the audience before zooming in on the winner. His face was a picture! Sky Sports ended up showing the moment when they came back from the break and to see first-hand how it was all co-ordinated and put together was brilliant. It was a testament to the organisation and professionalism of the PDC, PaddyPower and Sky Sports. Imagine going for a night at the darts and walking away with £60,000………
I refereed the match after that between Ricky Evans and Gordon Mathers, a great game that Ricky pipped by three sets to two. Ricky is very fast of course but Gordon is also a quick player so it always keeps you on your toes as a referee when darts are flying in left right and centre! Even when a game is fast and you are having to do things quicker than what you normally expect, there is still a rhythm you can adhere to as the referee. One of the most important things you can do in any match, even in a fast game, is to take the extra second. If you need some time to work it out, take it, because it’s better to take a bit of time and get it right the first time round, than panic and guess at the wrong score. Take it from someone who’s also done that before!!
Thursday night and I have the session off so I manage to have dinner in central London with my best friend Ruben who’s just come back from a few months in Australia. I didn’t see any of the darts that night as I think it’s important to unwind and switch off for a while. After saying goodbye to him I tune into Tottenham Hotspur celebrating going 3-0 up on Manchester United which plummets my mood. It was lifted by the threat of a comeback but Spurs run out 4-2 winners and I drown my sorrows in the bar afterwards, although not too much, knowing I’m back at the Palace the following night! That night and the following afternoon session go well before Scott Gibling and I turn into wig-removers as some wigs are thrown onto the stage, not a good thing by the way! We head to Five Guys before myself, Kirk Bevins & Peter Citera (the CEO of the Championship Darts Circuit) head to a nearby pub to watch somebody called Luke Littler, before apparently watching Tyson Fury smash Oleksandr Usyk but lose the fight (I know nothing about boxing, apparently that’s what happened!).
I have tonight’s matches between Martin Schindler and Callan Rydz (I refereed Callan’s first match, he was outstanding) and Gary Anderson against Jeffrey De Graaf. Tomorrow I’m working the final evening session before Christmas and getting straight into the car and heading back to Cardiff. I should be back home by 2am and then Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and heading back up to London Boxing Day night. It feels as if the tournament is just starting to heat up now, and I can’t wait for the rest of it.
I wish all of you a very happy and wonderful Christmas. Take care and see you on the 27th!
