The excessive nationalism at the Darts World Cup
Peter Wright crowns himself world champion
Peter Wright has crowned himself darts world champion for the second time. In the London “Ally Pally”, the Scot prevailed in a high-class final against Michael Smith. For the “Bully Boy” it was his second World Cup final defeat after 2019.
The darts audience has long been considered uncomplicated and particularly fair. At the World Cup, the English stayed to themselves this time and booed every player who did not start under the Georgskreuz. Until the finale, the end of which at least reconciled a little.
GAt the end of the day, when the Darts World Championship was actually over, the second biggest problem at this tournament turned out to be a blessing. For three weeks, the audience in London’s Alexandra Palace was struck by nationalism and unfairness.
Those who weren’t from England were booed, disturbed and spurned. And even if the addressee of the chants spontaneously intoned a few minutes after the final was an Englishman, it was noticeable that the action of the fans this time did not depend on the player’s national team. The audience demonstrated a sensitivity and warmth that were no longer suspected.
For minutes they just sang a name to the chorus of the hit by KC and the Sunshine Bands “Give it up”: “Michael, Michael Smith, Michael Smith. Michael, Michael Smith. “You had not missed the fact that up there on the biggest stage in darts a personal drama had taken place immediately after the award ceremony. Sung-about Michael Smith crouched against the back wall of the stage, his back turned to the audience in shame, and wept bitterly.
All the disappointment that had built up after the 5-7 defeat by Peter Wright broke through, the violent twitching of his body betrayed the extent of his grief. The chants of the fans, who had previously also paid tribute to the Scottish final opponent, turned out to be a successful source of consolation.
The second title after 2020: Peter Wright is world darts champion
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
It was the conciliatory end of a sporty and inspiring World Cup that was also shaped by the effects of the pandemic. At least six of the 96 players were infected with the corona virus, three professionals, including superstar Michael van Gerwen, showed positive tests before they were eliminated and were removed from the tournament. Their removal and the associated byes of their lucky opponents will influence the ranking for two more years.
PDC boss criticizes, but avoids consequences
The behavior of the fans could also have an impact. PDC boss Matt Porter criticized the unsportsmanlike behavior, which was surprising in its frequency. No session went by without non-English players being disparaged and booed and their missed throws applauded. “Scotland get battered, everywhere they go” was the battle cry of the World Cup from the first evening on December 15th.
“You don’t want someone to be gunned down because of their origins. That is unacceptable “, Porter condemned the behavior before the final in the podcast” Weekly Dartscast “and gave the reason directly afterwards:” There was a different dynamic in the audience. We usually have a third of our fans who are not from the UK. Our data from ticketing shows that there were only a handful of non-residents this year. “
The attitude of the Professional Darts Corporation was thus evident. With the end of the pandemic, the audience will become more international again and the excessive nationalism will disappear by itself. The consequences that have recently been demanded louder and louder by the players will apparently not exist.
It should be colorful and loud at the Alexandra Palace. Nevertheless, this time the limits of fairness were exceeded
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
For many years the World Cup was seen as a haven for cross-national support. Sympathies were seldom dependent on country teams. English cheered Scots on stage, Dutch darts fans were happy with Welsh players and vice versa. And when the Ally Pally collectively targeted a player, it had nothing to do with his passport, but his behavior.
Social romanticism that has nothing in common with reality for years. Also due to the increasing number of German fans, the impression was watering down more and more: “Without Germany there would be nothing going on here.” A thesis that has been refuted since this World Cup at the latest. Which doesn’t necessarily make it better, however.
Gerwyn Price cited the fans and their unsportsmanlike behavior as the reason for his unable to defend his title. He had lost in the quarterfinals in one of the many memorable duels after repeated disruptions by a fan against Smith. It no longer had anything to do with sporting rivalry. He then sensed fraud and suggested that the venue be changed annually.
Price is one of the losers at this World Cup, van Gerwen anyway and the atmosphere even more. For Michael Smith, who had already eliminated the first Welsh title candidate in Jonny Clayton before his coup against Price, to the cheers of the fans, there was only one tragic hero in the end: himself.
Deceived: Michael Smith had a long hand on the trophy, the Sid Waddell Trophy
Source: dpa / John Walton
The consolation that was given to him in the end, without renouncing the recognition of the Scottish world champion, could at least reconcile a little at the end.
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