The 2022/23 Cazoo PDC World Darts Championship

boomdocker

Reminds me of Prices winning final

Took a major wobble when in touching distance and fell over the line

Hopefully bully boy can do the same

mdwexford

Standard has gone through the floor, pressure is really getting to both of them.

MVG averaged 91 in that set and it was enough to keep him in the match.

Anything could happen from here.

LowOdour

If MVG wins next set, then the championship is his. Smith can be so careless when he throws a bad first dart. Nerves could really be at him

waynescales1

Smith is rattled, MvG starting to throw good darts, Smith might blow this.

edit: 4 minutes later and he’s won it, haha!

sligeach

Thoroughly deserved win for Michael Smith. And he won it in style. Congratulations!

unkel

Delighted for Smith, proper champion, 100% deserved

sligeach

Nice from MVG, applauding Smith. I think he knows he's been part of an amazing final.

Dillonb3

What a 12 months for Smith. After the way he lost the final last year and the uk open he's come back amazingly

Tauriel

Delighted for Smith. Thoroughly deserves this.

ShamoBuc

Fantastic final. Delighted for Smith- thoroughly deserved!!

rolling boh

Well deserved win after all the heartaches just shows it can happen .

Degag

They'd want to cop on with the best final ever talk now. Very good of course but not sure if it'd be top 5 even.

castletownman

Maybe it's recency bias but today's standard is like a different sport compared to Taylor's era.

Imagine lads like Manley, Painter and Dudbridge in today's game (Mardle too in spite of his excellent commentary)?

squidgainz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062483#Comment_120062483

In fairness it's that leg. THAT leg.

PTH2009

Congrats too Bully Boy

Didnt expect that perfromance from him and fully deserves that World title victory

MVG was a beast in this tournament and will be like a man A Man Possessed this coming season

If Bully Boy had lost that I don't think he'd have ever recovered.

Delighted for him.

sligeach

Smith couldn't had written a better script. Class from both players in their post match interviews.

LowOdour

Smith could really be a dominant player, don't think anyone doubted his talent but that mental toughness is now there

PTH2009

2 bets up

Winning Quarter- 4/1

Smith to win- 9/1

A whole €14 but better than nothing

Mr. Guappa

Great stuff from Smith... won a couple of sets from 0-2, including the last, and started the final leg 180, 180. He bounces back much quicker now from poor patches.

Top class from MVG in the post match interviews.

Degag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062489#Comment_120062489

Sport will always evolve. The standard of every sport today is probably better than is was in the 90s which in turn was far better than what it was in the 70s etc.

Manley & Painter could still have been solid top 16 players in todays game. They were solid 90-95 men in their day. Mardle was a joke of a player for the most part, a pantomine act, and the same as a commentator.

Degag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062535#Comment_120062535

Jaysus, Paddy won't sleep tonight!

boomdocker

Brilliant win for Smith, thoroughly deserved

MvG is the most gracious loser of the top players , always has good words to say

shockframe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062489#Comment_120062489

It is a different sport though really since the early 00s. Manley and Painter had lousy timing with the downfall of the game.

The field is far more competitive and more financially driven than it was back then.

It does enhance the success of players like Smith,MVG,Wright though. Winning it in a field of 96 and a gruelling year long tour.

squidgainz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062553#Comment_120062553

To be fair though , darts is one of them that you'd think wouldn't evolve that much. Obviously with the more money ,players take it more seriously. But sports science/fitness wise there's nothing there in the difference.

Atlantic Dawn

Great night of it.

Anyone know when Premier League players are announced?

dirtyden

Is it a bit harsh to suggest MVG bottled it. Was he too used to winning easy so far and when the pressure came on he folded. He seemed to totally lose his rhythm.

boomdocker

Usually more or less immediately after the final finishes

PTH2009

The game is in some place atm and no doubt we could see a £1 Million World champion soon

Taylors legacy will never be broken because the game is getting so competitive

Degag

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120062584#Comment_120062584

I'd suggest that players these days look after themselves far more than they did even 20 years ago. More and more players are able to play professionally these days due to the money available also. Therefore able to put more hours into practice. Years ago most players probably had real jobs.

Technology has also improved. Dart Boards and darts themselves are far better than they were.

All these factors will contribute to a general increase in standard.