Colin Lloyd
Darts Expert & Columnist
Raymond van Barneveld’s return, Kirk Shepherd and Scott Mitchell coming by means of Q-School, and a big year for Dimitri Van den Bergh have been all on the agenda on the most recent episode of The Darts Show Podcast. Colin Lloyd gave his two cents forward of the 2021 darts season
Last Updated: 23/02/21 5:20pm
Dimitri Van den Bergh could possibly be dealing with into an vital year
Colin Lloyd outlines the principle talking points forward of the 2021 darting year.
Speaking on The Darts Show Podcast, Lloyd outlined the principle storylines he’s wanting ahead to, with 2021 set to click on into gear with the Super Series getting underway this week.
Barney is again!
It was by no means a shock to see Barney undergo Q-School. He’s a class act, and he nonetheless has that identify and worry issue about him.
Mission completed! I needed to combat for Every level! Thank you all for your assist an unbelievable quantity of messages. I used to be moved and emotional right now I might have appreciated to win a day a lot however later needed to understand that third on this big competitors is sweet sufficient for my card👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/nwhn7iaDfW
— Raymond v Barneveld (@Raybar180) February 17, 2021
But he is ranging from the underside once more. And meaning, he is received no alternative, he has to go to the tour occasions, he has to go to the European qualifiers. If he has grandeurs of getting again as much as – I’m not saying the place he was – however get again competing in big TV occasions once more, he is received to get his rating up.
I do know that is a brisker Raymond van Barneveld. But is he going to get down on himself, if the outcomes do not begin going his manner, and stick with it travelling? He’s received no alternative, he is received to go to issues.
It’s not like a big prize boxer making a comeback, and they get a shot at a world title right away. He cannot. He’s received to qualify for tournaments.
Listen, I want him all the easiest. Part of the onerous work was getting his card, he is accomplished that.
He’s certified now. He can now begin specializing in working his manner up the rankings. I want him all the easiest.
0:56 Raymond van Barneveld is relishing the prospect of a return to the PDC ProTour
Mitchell and Shepherd among the many Q-School winners to watch
Scott Mitchell goes to be an asset throughout the tour. He’s a class participant. He was a prolific winner throughout the BDO system, and was a world champion.
He was so happy and so comfortable to get his Tour Card. He did not get it with the purpose system, he truly received it formally. I feel that he has proved a lot to himself the place he’s as a darts participant, and how he will compete and attempt and get into the TV occasions.
Kirk Shepherd had all of the expertise on this planet as a teenager. Otherwise he would not have gotten to the 2008 World Championship remaining.
That ought to have pushed him on. I like Kirk. He’s a beautiful lad. He’s at all times respectful. He goes out to take pleasure in himself. But sooner or later or one other, the possibilities will run out. I’m not saying he is within the final likelihood saloon, removed from it. But he’s such a proficient participant, it was good to listen to him say ‘I’ve received to develop up now and I’ve received to knuckle down a bit’.
Because he’s a harmful participant. When he is on, he will not worry anybody. He simply will get on that board and he performs his darts. So it was good to listen to him discuss ‘I’ve given myself one other alternative, I’m not going to let it slip’.
Kirk Shepherd got here by means of Q-School for a fourth time in his profession
Pressure on Dimitri Van den Bergh?
Dimitri is the alternative of some gamers; he delivers on the big stage.
Ian White is somebody that should convey his ground type onto the telly.
Yes Dimitri is a main champion, that may by no means be taken away from him. But for him to push on much more, he must be getting extra constant in these ground occasions. That will push him additional up the rankings. I feel it should make him extra of a menace.
He at all times appears to play nicely on TV. But to have an all-round higher recreation, I feel he must get his ground recreation up there as nicely. People would possibly say ‘nicely so long as he is doing it on the telly, it does not matter’. But that places stress on you.
It sounds prefer it’s a million miles away, however subsequent year he is defending £150,000 simply from one occasion on his rating. Potentially if he does not do a lot on the ground this year, that would drop him out of the highest 16 on this planet, if he does not defend.
I’ve at all times been a big believer within the ground occasions. It retains your sharp, and it is that further bit of cash to go in your rating.
Does Van den Bergh want to search out consistency on the Pro Tour?
The return of the Premier League
The PDC introduced the primary 9 nights of the 2021 Premier League for April.
I feel they’re hedging their bets to get this block in, to get it out of the way in which to allow them to deal with placing in ranked occasions.
Fortunately, we all know now that hopefully [restrictions] will ease up, getting out of lockdown, to allow them to have a crowd. So I feel they will discover house.
We’re nonetheless ready on the official calendar to return out from the PDC.
But there is no motive why they can not hold the second half of the Premier League again, put it to the again finish of the year, and attempt and get some ranked occasions additionally on this a part of the year the place they do not need to block every thing in. So I feel they’re doing a good factor.
The first half of the Premier League can be performed on the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes
And lastly, it is nearly time for the UK Open!
This is a implausible event. It’s known as the ‘FA Cup of Darts’. Every spherical is drawn, you do not know who you are going to get. You may get Michael van Gerwen drawing Gerwyn Price early on. It’s simply a nice occasion.
The factor about it being a nice occasion, it is so, so robust to win. It’s such a disgrace that there is not going to be a crowd there.
Watch full protection of each night time of the Premier League on Sky Sports, and persist with us by means of the year as we convey you the most recent darts news on skysports.com/darts, our app for cellular gadgets and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts.