Next week’s MODUS Super Series line-up looks extremely tasty indeed. And I’m not talking about a little nibble or the sort of disappointing buffet where somebody’s auntie turns up with eighteen sausage rolls and thinks she’s Gordon Ramsay. No, this is a full-blown banquet with some seriously handy amateur players booked in to perform. A proper all-you-can-eat affair for darts fans, minus the salivating large bloke in a vest wiping his hands on the curtains.
In fact, no fewer than four of the dozen competing over the week have excelled so spectacularly on the PDC Challenge Tour this season that they’ve enjoyed plenty of call-ups to the Pro Tour too. And furthermore, they’ve all acquitted themselves rather well.
So first off, let’s have a look at the groups before dissecting them and having a bit of a giggle along the way.
GROUP A: Radek Szaganski, Jenson Walker, Derek Coulson, Colin McCaughern, Keanu van Velzen & Ricardo Ham
GROUP B: Danny Ayres, James Beeton & Matt Dennant
GROUP C: Steven Johnstone, Harry Ward & Oliver Mitchell
Right, where to start. Let’s go with Derek Coulson. Not just for Group A alphabetical reasons, but because the Welshman is enjoying rather a lot of success mixing it with the elite at Players Championship events this year.
First off, a bit of background. In a couple of weeks’ time Coulson reaches the ripe old age of 58. To put that into context, that is more than three times the age of Henry Coates, who is the very latest MODUS Super Series weekly champion. If Derek didn’t feel ancient before, he probably does now. Somewhere there will be a nursing home pamphlet quietly opening itself.
All in all- and at time of presss – Coulson has only missed four Pro Tour call-ups this season and half of those were because he was busy down at the Live Lounge. He’s racked up over £16,000 courtesy of tour card holder withdrawals, alongside another ten grand or so on the Challenge Tour. Not bad for a bloke who remembers when bird’s arses were plucked for flights.
Oh yes. And he is a mean Pool player too. What is it with Welshmen being really good at one sport before casually deciding to become frighteningly competent at another? Gerwyn Price swapped an oval ball for tungsten and started terrorising scoreboards. Jonny Clayton also had a rugby background, although admittedly without reaching quite the same heights as Gezzy. Coulson, meanwhile, was – and probably still is – exceptionally handy with a cue.
So, a word of warning to the rest of the MODUS lads. If Derek wanders over during downtime and suggests a few racks with money involved, decline quicker than a dodgy invite to a timeshare presentation. Nothing good can come from it. Before you know it, your wallet will look emptier than Everton Football Club’s trophy cabinet.
Next onto somebody I believe has a huge future in this sport – young Jenson Walker. It genuinely feels like yesterday this fresh-faced youngster turned up on the Development Tour looking as nervous as a man introducing himself to Tyson Fury after accidentally reversing over his pigeons. Since then, the Coventry starlet has flourished beautifully, adding serious numbers to his averages and a little fluff to his face. Although calling it facial hair remains generous. At present, it resembles something discovered on an abandoned peach.
Now nineteen years old, Jenson has picked up four WDF major titles in the last twelve months, including the Romanian Classic earlier this season. He climbed all the way to world number one in the WDF rankings for a spell. Which is rather impressive when you consider most teenagers his age are still struggling how to work a washing machine.
Portsmouth also appears to be a happy hunting ground. Last year he walked away with the Series 10 Champion of Champions title. That takes some doing. For young Mr Walker though, the best is undoubtedly still to come. His performances continue to improve all the time and hopefully his facial hair follows suit. At present, it still looks like it is awaiting planning permission.
Three of the others to enjoy a swim amongst the PDC sharks this year are Danny Ayres, Oliver Mitchell and Harry Ward. For Big H, it was almost a dream return to the big time after reaching the semi-finals in Leicester recently. Harry’s resurgence has been particularly pleasing. After all, life in darts can be brutally unforgiving. One minute you are competing on television. The next you’re applying to be a contestant on Bullseye.
Another young gun to watch is James Beeton, who makes his Live Lounge debut. Like Jenson Walker, the Chester ace is part of TSMC Management and has collected WDF silverware recently, most notably the Scottish Open. A couple of months ago he also broke his PDC duck courtesy of a Development Tour title in Milton Keynes.
A very good player. Although if he was due on stage first thing Monday morning, he’d probably need to set the alarm for some time during the previous evening. Such is the frankly ludicrous amount of time dedicated to styling his hair. The quantity of gel involved is roughly equivalent to the size of Portsmouth itself. Once he’s finished, even a tornado wouldn’t put it out of place.
Lastly, I’m going to mention one of the game’s great characters – Radek Szaganski. Now I don’t know enough Polish people to build a proper statistical sample, but this fella is gloriously bonkers. So much so that he makes the permanently serious Krzysztof Ratajski look like Harry Hill after six espressos and a tax rebate.
When he isn’t throwing darts or amusing everybody within a ten-yard radius, Radek can often be found driving a bus around County Cork. Imagine boarding public transport only to discover your driver casually owns a Players Championship title.
Indeed, only two players in next week’s line-up possess such an accolade – Szaganski and Harry Ward. Those things are not handed out in cereal boxes alongside a free plastic spoon. You have to be seriously handy to win one. They’re rarer than an honest VAR apology and considerably more difficult to obtain.
Should be a cracking week. The action gets underway on Monday morning, which ought to suit Szaganski perfectly. By that hour he’s normally halfway to Bantry and probably knows every pothole in West Cork by its first name.
