Rod is thankfully now on the steady road to recovery thanks to the amazing NHS. It will be a while before he’s able to catch up with everyone’s messages, it’s early days, but rest assured he will be back. Thank you for all your kind messages, Louise X
It’s such a desperately sad night. In the 1980s we all wanted to be Eric Bristow. He was brash. He was flash.He played with unparalleled panache.He loved playing darts, talking darts.He was darts. The biggest star darts has ever had, the sport owes Eric a huge debt of gratitude.
Friends, 37 days after being admitted to hospital so glad to bebachome with my wonderful wife Louise + our familyI couldn’t have reached this stage without them or the many friends +colleagues who sent such kind messages of support .My most sincere gratitude to you all.
I’ve read a lot of imbecilic justification of booing Gerwyn price. Let’s have it right. Peter Wright is bringing booed due to being born on a different part of a rock from the majority of the crowd. Try justifying that. 🎯
That 5th leg of the 5th set of the Smith-Aspinall semi final is one of the best ever played at the Ally Pally. Smith 140 Asp 140. Smith 134 Asp 134. Smith 134 Asp 180. Smith 93 out D9 last dart in hand. Asp left on 47. Darts. Yeah. Darts.
𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
A 5-4 victory for Michael Smith halts Gerwyn Price's title defence at the quarter-final stage of the World Championship.
📺 Sky Sports Darts
📱 Live blog:
#️⃣
#LoveTheDarts
Tonight Phil Taylor plays his last ever darts match. You won’t get another chance to watch The Power play so don’t miss it. Taylor vs Rob Cross. The World Darts Final. 8pm
@SkySportsDarts
Friends, it’s good to be back. 🎯It’s been a long time…… thank you so much for all your kind messages of support over the past year or so. You’ve made a difference. Love and good health to all. ❤️
The 9 dart leg. The back to back 141 checkouts. The big fish. The near big fish. The maximums. The nerve shredding excitement. The fly. The class of 2 ace arrowsmiths. Thank you Gary Anderson and Joe Cullen. Darts. Yeah. Darts.
Hi misogynists. If you don’t like women’s sport, simply don’t watch it. Don’t keep tweeting me to tell me you don’t like women’s sport. I couldn’t care less whether you like it or not. And whether you like it or not, the sporting landscape has changed + will continue to change.
FYI I’m no longer engaging in imbecilic arguments on Twitter. It’s not good for my health. If you’re rude and abusive, I’ll simply block you . I don’t need the stress of reading your bile. I’ll continue tweeting my insightful observations on various topics.Thanks for following ❤️
For all the people who branded Michael smith a bottler, tonight is for you. Lovely to see his family there to celebrate with him. No one shows more class in defeat than MVG. Great final. 🎯
In 2018 Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson contested one of the most controversial finals in Darts history. Tonight they meet in the biggest match there is. The World final
@SkySportsDarts
Come on now! What’s all this praise for Rob Cross??! He only beat the best two players in history to win the World Darts Championship at his first attempt. I’ve managed to put up with Mar-dell for 15 days for goodness sake! 😄
Friends, a year ago today I was taken ill and woke up in the stroke unit of Calderdale Royal Infirmary. I’m very lucky to be still here + very grateful to a lot of people. First + foremost to my wonderful wife Louise abs our 2 boys. To the ambulance crew who got me to hospital
Friends, today I’m celebrating 3 years of life I might not have had. I won’t be dwelling on the events of 19 May 2020 when I collapsed and woke up in hospital. I’m focusing on continuing to move forward + on enjoying each new day.
Danny Ward and London never moaned, blamed and bleated. They just got on with it and almost defied the odds and their lack of resources. In the end they weren’t quite good enough but they added much to the competition, more than some of the sides that finished above them.
Congratulations Mikuru Suzuki who out doubled Lisa Ashton when it mattered. It will be a wasted opportunity for darts if elite level women’s tournaments aren’t more regularly on TV in 2020. It’s *the* growth area for the sport. I have no idea why it’s not being grasped by the PDC
A few days ago, Fallon Sherrock was a 25 year old mum from Milton Keynes. Today she’s the most famous darts player in the world. I love this game!
#fallontastic
. 🎯
Friends, it’s 2 years to the day since I had a stroke + ended up in hospital. These 2 years have been challenging but I’ve enjoyed them. I’m very grateful to be here. I want to say thank you to my wonderful wife Louise. A truly exceptional human being. To our 2 boys Joe + Charlie
Had my first rehab session with
@Terry_neuroPT
today. I’m feeling positive about the rehab and looking forward to my next session on Thursday. Thank you Terry!
Friends, thank you so much for the kind words today, especially to those with family experience of stroke. It made me quite emotional to realise people care. I’ll keep doing my best to get back to Sky Darts . Please try to remember the FAST message. Love + good health to all.
Rod Studd, the popular and respected Sky Sports darts commentator, suffered a stroke in his garden in May 2020. He is making good progress with his rehab, undergoing intense physio and fully intends to return to the TV booth. Here he tells his story.
Just look at the actual state of this. Look at the abuse referee James Child gets. The contorted faces of rage spouting bile. Look at the bloke who arrives at the end. What an image for “the family game”.... 99% of fans are brilliant. We don’t need fans like this thanks.
12 months ago there was controversy, this year it was pure class. Congratulations
@Gezzyprice
- the most brilliant winner of the Grand Slam of Darts. On to Ally Pally...🎯🎯🎯🎯
Dave,it’s been a great privilege to work alongside you these past few years + be your friend. You’re respected as a broadcaster + a man. We’re in awe of you + inspired by you. You make a difficult job look very easy, maestro+ Darts won’t be the same without you. Love you mab.❤️
It’s been an AMAZING journey, but now it’s time to bow out of
@SkySportsDarts
22 years on Sky, nearly 10 years with
#Parkinsons
Brilliant memories, brilliant people.
Just stopping doing the live darts .. NOT giving up on life. 100% my decision x
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The next big growth area for darts is women’s darts. From next year, let’s have 4 women in the WC. From 2021, let’s have a mini PDC women’s tour with 4 events aiming for 8. There’s £14m in prize money in the PDC. Let’s use some of that.
The most incredibly unlikely result in the history of the PDC world championship as David chisnall dismantles Michael Van gerwen 5-0 in the quarter final with a ruthless and remarkable display of the utmost excellence from start to finish. Chapeau Chizzy. A joy to watch
Good grief.
@nigelpearson
sacked?!?! Seems a hasty decision. I thought he did a decent job presenting
@SkySportsDarts
last night and deserved another go tonight! 🎯
Saints finished 16 points ahead of Wigan and have beaten them 4 times out of 4 by an aggregate margin 130-42. However, if Wigan happen to win a 5th meeting at Old Trafford, they’ll be deemed champions. What a brilliant system eh? Why don’t they just make it last try wins??
Allow me to make myself clear. I, and others, want to watch more of Suzuki vs Sherrock vs Ashton vs De Graaf vs Grieves vs Dobromyslova etc on TV. I don’t want to wait for a woman to possibly get through PDC Q school + then play unseen in leisure centres in matches I can’t watch.
A Beautiful piece this One of the most uplifting moments of my time in hospital was when
@mosemasoe
rang to offer support Bearing in mind what he was going through it was a wonderful act of kindness I won’t forget.Thank you so much Mose ❤️
The most awful and desperately sad news. I have many fond memories of time spent in Pancho’s company. My love and condolences to Nigel’s family and friends.
All at the PDC are deeply saddened to learn that iconic commentator Nigel Pearson passed away earlier on Friday.
Nigel will be sorely missed by all at the PDC and we send our condolences to his family at this time.
That was the night that the sport of darts changed forever.The glass ceiling has been smashed + history made by the brilliant
@Fsherrock
but the class + dignity of
@SuperTed180
should be respected too - both on stage + in interview he was very gracious That shouldn’t be forgotten
An absolutely epic game of arrers. Thanks to both players. All sportsmen and women deserve respect when they’re at work. Especially the world champion. I watch to appreciate +enjoy skill and talent I don’t watch to hear xenophobic filth hurled at players. They’re human beings.🎯
Friends, it’s been a big day today. After 4 years, I finally got back behind the wheel of the car. Mrs studd was bravely riding shotgun. I enjoyed it. I think she did too!😀Love and good health to all ❤️
The World Darts Championship is NOT some sort of qualifier for the Premier League. It is the WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP. Far and away the biggest prize in world darts. Capisce?
So much credit goes to the brilliant doctors, nurses, physios and rtherapists at Calderdal royal infirmary. An exceptional group of people. I won’t forget the way you helped me and looked after me with such kindness and care. Thank you so much.
Friends, today marks the 4th anniversary of the stroke. I don’t remember this date negatively. Quite the opposite. I celebrate 4 years of life I might not have had. I have some days when I feel a bit fed up. Who doesn’t?
Leeds Rhinos vs Hull KR produced the highest TV audience for a Super League game since Magic Weekend. Higher than Leeds vs Wigan, Saints vs Leeds, Wire vs Saints and the Hull Derby. Well.
That was great fun! When I wasn’t very well one of the things that kept me going was the thought of getting back to sitting next to
@Wayne501Mardle
describing darts matches like this one. Love and good health to all ❤️
ROCK HITS A NINE-DARTER!🚨
Josh Rock hits perfection in the second leg of the match against Michael van Gerwen!
Just look at that reaction!
#GSOD
| L16
📺
This World Darts Championship has featured many brilliant young players whose talent, sportsmanship and dignity has been an absolute joy to watch. Well played Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith. A magical match.
Friends, I’ve mentioned this before but I want to repeat it. When I was ill in hospital last May, I got a phone call from
@MoseMasoe
who despite his own situation was asking how I was and offering me encouragement. It was an act of kindness I’ll never forget. Thank you Mose ❤️
Mose Masoe: Behind the smile - a powerful read as Mose and his partner Carissa, open up on the former Hull KR forward's struggles since his career-ending injury:
Much hard work lies ahead in rehab I am looking forward toi it and will continue to commit fully to the recovery process. I hope to be back at the arrers in due course. Love and good health to you all. ❤️
Worrying times for Mardell as James Wade reaches his 4th worlds semi final. If he loses it he will only be one SF defeat behind mardell’s world record of 5 SF defeats without winning set between 2001 and 2008. A record many would never be equalled let alone broken 🎯
Some people appear to arguing that nurses are not important enough to be paid what they’re asking for but too important to be allowed to go on strike. 🤷🏻♂️
Isabel Oakeshott - "I fundamentally don't believe in strikes.... you're entirely entitled to withdraw your labour, but don't expect a job at the end of it."
#PoliticsLive
Often apologies are glib, half hearted and meaningless. This isn’t. It’s sincere and genuine and James should be greatly respected for it. Good luck for the rest of the tournament.
When players refuse to be refereed and coaches routinely blame refs and yet clubs and coaches go unsanctioned, when refs are hung out to dry by the head of officials without justification or explanation, there’s something seriously and shamefully wrong with rugby league.
So to summarise, after Catalans + Warrington’s dismal exhibition of indiscipline on and off the field last Saturday, the net result is no sanction whatsoever to either club, no charging of either coach, a grand total of 3 players suspended and a referee hung out to dry. Well.
So quickly. To the doctors + nurses who looked after me with such care + kindness. To my friends + Sky Sports colleagues who’ve been so supportive and to all the people who’ve messaged me with good wishes. Thank you! I’m getting better inch by inch! Love and good health to all ❤️
Friends,it felt good to be talking over pictures of arrowsmiths in action today. Massive thanks to
@DanDartsDawson
,
@ChrisMurphy180
+
@TheAsset180
for helping me through.Thank you to everyone for the kindness and support over the past year. Much love and good health to all ❤️
.
@snakebitewright
may have lost his world title tonight but watching him realise his dream a year ago after decades of hard work and tough times remains a great memory. And whatever happens. Once a world champion, always a world champion Snakey! 🎯🐍🎯
Michael van Gerwen is a great champion and brilliant ambassador for darts. It’s no fun seeing him struggling so badly. Being away from family for long periods is tough. He’s been through tough times on the Oche before + I look forward to MVG being back on top form again soon. 💚
Danny murphy - free kick outside the box and yellow card correct decision. No - booking for diving correct decision . Well it’s a bit harsh. No. It’s the correct tdecision and more referees should do it. How can one pundit have 4 different opinions on one incident in 3D seconds?
This morning THEY were still telling me that women’s darts was no good and not worth investing in... when the tide’s coming in, don’t try to stop it, it’s futile. Just grab a surfboard, ride the waves and enjoy it
#fallontastic
#womensdarts
Some people reckon nostalgia ain’t what it used to be but I really enjoyed this weekend’s wander down memory Lane to the Circus Tavern. Well played and congratulations
@TheThorn180
A deserved winner. Great to see so many familiar faces + hear Gwynnie in the commentary box. 🎯
There are some people who live their life through the prism of hoping another individual fails, a miserable existence a million miles away from the life Michael smith lives. I hope he goes on to win big darts tournaments but if he doesn’t he still has much to be proud of. 🎯
The Studd family are 4 of a grand total 9 people in a 250 seat cinema. As the film is about to start, a bloke comes up to me and says “excuse me. You’re in my seat” 😄😄😄😄. He was serious. No seriously. He was.
Wow what a match! Congratulations
@RobCross180
- what an amazing sporting story his is.
@MvG180
proved once again he’s a champion sportsman with the utmost class + dignity.
A near capacity crowd at Saints v wire tonight as fans continue to stay away from rugby league in their droves due to the RFL policy on dangerous tackles.
A male football pundit just said that he doesn’t “ have a clue” what the hand ball law is. Heaven only knows what the Dalai Barton would make of it if a female made such an admission
Fining Alize Cornet for changing her shirt was utterly absurd but let’s get this right. Serena Williams was ultimately penalised for questioning umpire Ramos’ integrity by calling him “a liar” + “a thief”. That’s not remotely acceptable by any player of any gender in any sport.
A week long Matchplay masterclass from
@snakebitewright
culminating in that brilliant display in tonight’s final. It was a superb title defence by
@VandenBerghDimi
All in all a fantastic week. It was lovely to be back with all my friends at
@SkySportsDarts
even Mardell 😄😄😄
There’s so much currently wrong with football but this is lovely. Heartwarming stuff. Some people actually tweeted slating the kid because he supports Brighton. Can’t he love Hazard too? Good grief.
If I was a multi millionaire owner of a RL club and they turned up and damaged the image of my club live on terrestrial television in this pitifully embarrassing and petulant fashion, I’d be seriously asking the management team + players for an explanation pronto.
If Toronto are promoted to Super League, I hope they’re told to re-mark this paddock so it resembles a rugby league pitch rather than the inside of a school sports hall. It looks amateurish.
James Wade loses his 4th straight semi final at the world championship to move to within one defeat of Mardell’s incredible all comers record of 5 straight semi final defeats without a win….