Players Championship Finals Preview: Wide Open, Unpredictable, and Packed With Early Blockbusters

 The Players Championship Finals returns this weekend, and once again, it lands at the same venue as the UK Open. That’s quite appropriate, because this event has a similar sense of unpredictability about it.

Due to players entering different numbers of Players Championship events throughout the year, the seedings can end up all over the place. And this year is no different.

To give you an idea:

• Luke Humphries is seeded 58

• Luke Littler is seeded 36

Two of the most in-form players on the planet… barely inside the top 40 seeds.
Yet despite those low seedings, the draw means Humphries and Littler can only meet in the final, should they both make it that far.

How the Draw Works

The format is simple:
Seed 1 plays seed 64.
Seed 2 plays seed 63.
Seed 3 plays seed 62… and so on.

This system creates absolute chaos every year — and some mouth-watering first-round ties.

First Round Matches to Watch

Gian van Veen vs Luke Humphries

One of the standout ties of the opening round. Van Veen is dangerous on any day and Humphries can’t afford a slow start.

Martin Schindler vs Michael Smith

Two heavy scorers who play at a great pace so could be a classic.

Joe Cullen vs Peter Wright

A TV-level matchup in round one. Cullen has shown flashes of form recently; Wright is trying to rediscover his.

Danny Noppert vs Ricky Evans

Both coming off a strong Grand Slam, especially Evans who had one of the best weeks of his career.

Quarter-by-Quarter Outlook

Quarter 1 – Gerwyn Price’s Chance?

If anyone can take advantage of a friendly-looking section, it’s Gerwyn Price.
He may need to get past Rob Cross and Stephen Bunting, but the momentum is firmly with him after a strong Grand Slam. A second TV semi-final in a row is very realistic.

Quarter 2 – Littler’s to Lose… But Keep an Eye on Springer

Luke Littler lands in quarter two.
On current form, his biggest threat could be Niko Springer, who has been quietly excellent in recent months.

Quarter 3 – The Group of Death

This is the brutal one. It includes:
Josh Rock, Wessel Nijman, Nathan Aspinall, Danny Noppert, and Luke Humphries.

Whoever comes out of this quarter will have absolutely earned their prize money.
Humphries must beat Gian van Veen first,  and that alone is a real test.

Quarter 4 – The Wildcard Section

This one feels wide open.

Possible surprises?:
Dom Taylor and Justin Hood are both local players with strong support behind them.
And don’t forget Ryan Searle, who will be hoping to finish his season strongly.

Final Thoughts

This year’s Players Championship Finals has all the ingredients of a classic:

• Big names with low seedings

• Unpredictable early matchups

• A brutal third quarter

• Local heroes in quarter four

• Littler and Humphries only meeting in the final

If the draw plays out the way it looks on paper, we could be in for one of the most entertaining weekends of the season.

Another brilliant retailer to share their discounts with you!

 Doubletop Darts have kindly sent me details of their current discount offers, which you can find on the ‘Darts Deals and Special Offers’ section of this site. Definitely worth keeping an eye on, especially if you’re after some fresh equipment going into the new season.

After having a proper look through their website, I was pleasantly surprised at the range. They’re stockists of some of the biggest and most trusted brands in darts, including:

• Target

• Winmau

• Harrows

• Unicorn

They also carry a large stock of darts, flights, stems, cases and accessories, so  plenty of choice whether you're upgrading your setup or just trying something new.

One thing that really caught my eye was the Target Star Wars merchandise. If you haven’t seen it already, it genuinely needs checking out. Some very cool designs in that range.

You can visit their shop directly by using this link:
👉Double Top Darts

More discount updates coming soon as I hear about them.

Back to Basics: Tonight’s Darts Routine

 I’m going right back to basics tonight.

For months now my darts have been going into the board at a slight angle to the right, and I’ve never properly taken the time to figure out why. So tonight is all about slowing things down and looking at the fundamentals, ie stance, balance, throw and follow-through.

I’m going to start by videoing a few throws from different angles.
It’s something I’ve never actually done, but a lot of players say it helps you spot tiny things you don’t notice in real time, such as shoulder position, foot placement, arm path, release point, all the little habits that creep in.

Once I’ve had a look at the footage, I’m going to move onto my Target practice game, which focuses on four main scoring/finishing areas. The plan is simple:

• Identify anything in the throw that feels 'off'

• Make one small correction at a time

• Repeat it until the muscle memory starts to settle

• Use the Target game to reinforce the cleaner throw

Nothing fancy, nothing overcomplicated, just pure basics and consistency.

I’ll report back with how it goes and whether the adjustments make any difference. Even a small improvement in dart angle would be a big win

Red Dragon Darts Review 2025 – Are They Still the Best Value in Darts?

For years now, Red Dragon have been one of the most trusted names in darts. From big TV players to club throwers trying to improve their averages, their gear shows up everywhere  and for good reason.

As someone based in Bristol, it’s great having a top darts manufacturer practically on my doorstep. Red Dragon have always felt like a local neighbour in the darts world.

With Beau Greaves, Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright, Jonny Clayton and dozens of emerging tour players throwing their equipment, you can’t really ignore them.

But the big question is:

Are Red Dragon still the best value brand in 2025?

I’ve taken a deeper look based on my own experience, other players I know, and what people are actually using in leagues and open tournaments.

Why Red Dragon Stand Out

Red Dragon have built a strong reputation for three simple reasons:

1. Quality without the premium price tag

Their machining is consistently good, even on their lower-budget darts.

The Amberjacks, for example, punch well above their price bracket.

2. Something for every grip and playing style

Light, heavy, front-loaded, scalloped, smooth, aggressive grip, they cover everything.

3. Constant innovation

New grips, new coatings, new bbarres, they always have something fresh.

That keeps them relevant in a competitive market.

My Honest Thoughts on Their Ranges

Amberjacks – Best for Improvers and Budget Players

Under £30, durable, clean grip, and surprisingly consistent.

I genuinely think they’re the best “next step” for anyone moving up from their first set of darts.

Gerwyn Price Blue Ice / Ice Series – Mid-Range Quality

A great option if you want a professional-style barrel without spending £80+.

Nice grip that isn’t too harsh and a shape that suits a lot of everyday players.

Peter Wright Signature Range – Unique but Worth Trying

Expensive, yes,but the machining is on another level.

These are for players who want something special and don’t mind standing out on the oche!

Razor Edge – For Players Who Love Grip

If you like a sharp, aggressive grip that doesn’t slip, Razor Edge are perfect.

Flights, Stems & Accessories

Red Dragon’s flights last longer than most.

Their stems are dependable, and the cases are well-built.

I’ve never had a bad accessory from them.

Are They Good for the Average Club Player?

Yes, this is where they’re strongest.

You don’t need a tour card to appreciate well-made barrels.

Most club players want:

A comfortable grip

Steady balance

A bit of confidence when they’re having a bad leg

And Red Dragon deliver exactly that, especially in the mid-range price bracket.

Where Red Dragon Offer the Best Value

If you want great darts without spending the earth:

Amberjack Series

Blue Ice Series

Razor Edge

Jonny Clayton Originals

Gerwyn Price Originals

These ranges consistently offer the best mix of price and quality for improving players.

Final Thoughts

Red Dragon remain one of the best-value manufacturers in 2025.

Whether you throw a 55 average or an 85 average, there will be a barrel that suits you without costing a fortune.

And with so many pros trusting them on the big stage, you know you’re getting equipment that’s been tested under pressure.

If you enjoy trying new setups or simply want a reliable upgrade, Red Dragon should definitely be on your list.

Support the Blog ❤️ (Affiliate)

If you’d like to check out the full Red Dragon range, you can use the banner on the right-hand side of my site — or the link can be flind here: Red Dragon Darts

It really helps support the blog and keeps these posts coming.

What Is the Real Standard of the PDC Pro Tour? And Who Else Might Be Good Enough?

 This whole idea started with a simple question:

If Beau Greaves can now play on the PDC Pro Tour… could any other player ,men or women, realistically maintain the level needed to survive there?

But once I started digging, the question became a lot bigger.

What about the Challenge Tour?
What about the Asian Tour, CDC (North America), DPNZ, Australia, South America?
How many players outside the main PDC system actually throw at a standard high enough to belong on the Pro Tour?

The truth is we only ever see the very top names from these regions on TV. Beneath them could be dozens of players who never get the chance due to:

• financial pressure

• travel costs

• lack of sponsorship

• work and family commitments

• or living thousands of miles from European darts

For non-Europeans, especially African or South American players, playing a full Pro Tour season is almost impossible without significant backing.

So,ignoring money, ignoring travel, ignoring logistics and looking only at ability, what standard does a player need to survive on the PDC Pro Tour for two years?

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Looking at the Pro Tour Standard (Players Championship Events)

I analysed the median averages from Players Championship events over the last three seasons.

Why median? Because:

• mean averages get skewed by a handful of very low or very high outliers

• median gives a clearer 'middle of the pack' picture

• on a tour with 128 players, it’s the fairest gauge of what 'survival level' actually looks like

Here’s the median for each year:

• 2025: 90.21

• 2024: 90.30

• 2023: 90.71

Take the mean of those medians and you get:

📌 A rough Pro Tour benchmark of ≈ 90.4 average

This doesn’t mean averages = everything. But for scoring consistency across a season, it’s the best indicator we have.

To “be Tour standard”, a player should realistically be able to hold 90+ in floor events over long periods, not just occasionally.

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🌍 So… who outside the Pro Tour actually hits this level?

Using 2025 data from each major PDC-affiliated tour:

(❗Note: Beau Greaves is excluded because she’s the benchmark we’re comparing against.)

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PDC Challenge Tour (2025)

• Beau Greaves — 91.5 (only player above the benchmark)

• Daniel Ayres — 90.3 (just below)

✔ Only 1 qualifier

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PDC Women’s Series (2025)

• Top: Noa-Lynn van Leuven — 81.1

❌ No qualifiers

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PDC Asian Tour (2025)

• Top: Seigo Asada — 87.7

❌ No qualifiers

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DPNZ (New Zealand)

• Top: Jonny Tata — 86.01

❌ No qualifiers

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Australian Tour (2025)

• Top: Brody Klinge — 86.5

❌ No qualifiers

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CDC – North America (2025)

• Top: David Cameron — 85.1

❌ No qualifiers

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South American Tour (2025)

• Top: Jesús Salate — 82.6

❌ No qualifiers

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🧠 What surprised me most…

I expected at least a handful of Challenge Tour players to be above 90.
I expected the Asian Tour to have several around 92–94.
I thought North America might have one or two in the 90s as well.

But they didn't appear:

⭐ Only one player outside the Pro Tour averaged over 90+ in 2025: Beau Greaves.

This doesn’t mean the others aren’t capable.
Some could easily raise their game on the Pro Tour.
Some may never get the financial chance to try.

But as things stand, real Tour-ready consistency is rare.

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Final Thoughts: Who Is Truly 'Tour Ready'?

This analysis isn’t about predicting potential, it’s about identifying the level needed to survive the grind of the Pro Tour.

Many players could:

• beat tour players

• have hot runs

• hit the odd 100+ average

• win qualifiers

But a season-long 90+ average?
That’s a different world — a world only a small percentage of global players can enter.

That’s what makes Beau Greaves’ numbers so extraordinary.
And it will be fascinating to see:

• how she adapts,

• whether any other players can join her in that >90 group,

• and which regions — if any — start to close the gap.

The door to the Pro Tour is wider than ever… but holding that standard once inside?
That’s still one of the hardest challenges in darts.

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High Stakes Under-55 at Browns Bar : A Tough Day but Plenty of Positives

 Yesterday was the High Stakes Under-55 Average tournament at Browns Bar, and the standard was absolutely brutal. A lot of players there were right on the fringe of the 55 cap, the sort of field where every leg feels like a mini-final.

I ended up in a three-player group, but don’t let that fool you ,all three of us were throwing mid-50 averages and pushing each other hard. I actually played some of my best stuff for a while, finishing the group stage with a 55.22 overall average and a 59.22 first-nine, plus a handful of 100+ scores.

In my final group match I started brilliantly with a 20-dart leg, but after that I just seemed to run out of steam. Whether it was concentration, blood sugar, or simply mental fatigue, the second leg just wasn’t there. It cost me the match, and with that, my shot at progressing.

That meant dropping into the Second Chance competition ,but honestly, by then I had nothing left. My throw completely deserted me. It felt like I’d forgotten how to play the game I’d been doing so well with only an hour earlier.

So yes, disappointing in the end… but there were positives:

• A tournament average over 55

• Strong grouping in the early legs

• Good 100+ scoring

• A reminder that the throw is improving

• And a better first nine than I’ve had in months

The big battle, as always, is the head game. Staying calm between darts. Not overthinking. Not letting one bad visit spiral into three. It’s something I’m still researching, learning about, and  slowly., getting better at.

I’ll keep building on the positives and keep searching for that consistent mindset. Something is moving in the right direction, even if I need a bit of help unlocking the mental side.

Onwards.

Just a footnote, I used some new K-Flex flights today which felt really good. Could be my head, but I'll take any positives!