DART BORED
‘It’s getting BORING now’ – Darts icon slams Premier League format as he says something has to ‘change’ to protect sport
Humphries and Littler have won nine of the 15 Premier League nights
DARTS hero Steve Beaton reckons the modern game is a snoozefest.
Beaton, 61, has competed on the professional circuit since 1991 - competing against the likes of Dennis Priestley and Bob Anderson - before calling it quits last year.
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The Bronzed Adonis is playing at the World Seniors Darts Championship nowadays but believes the current elite level of darts is in a tedious position that underwhelms clashes such as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler.
Beaton told Online Darts: “I think the Premier League could be changed a bit. It’s getting a bit boring now.
“I know they sell it out all the time. It was nice to see Luke and Luke play each other, but almost every week they’re playing each other.
There’s too much of [the same] players playing each other. If that’s how they want to do it, that’s how they want to do it.”
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In 2022, the Premier League shifted their format with aims of the introduced nightly bracket from round-robin phase would entice viewers throughout over the duration of 16 weeks.
As seen this year, the restricting does juice up some clashes but Beaton - who retired from the pro circuit last year - argues it hinders the unpredictability that the sport is built on.
Humphries and Littler — the two most recent world champions — have naturally featured in the final more than any other pairing.
Beaton continued: “You’ve seen them play that many times all year…
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"[Before] they (the top players) met now and again, now they’re playing all the time.
"I don’t think it’s such a big thing when they do play each other.”
Premier League Darts star Stephen Bunting ‘moonlighting as Rangers steward’ as incredible Ibrox doppelganger spotted
The 1996 world champion hopes that the structure is reviewed after its conclusion at the O2 at the end of the month.
Top two Humphries and Littler, are joined by Gerwyn Price for the Final Four in the capital - with one more place up for grabs.
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