THE CONCRETE ROUNDABOUT (TCR)

Yep. And only Lennon has made it to the last 8.

The X Factor Andy Boulton is there still, he's been around for years. And fair play to Willie Borland who has done next to nothing all week, scraped through the order of merit and is now in the last 8.

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Decided to come back.

I dont know any of these names that people are saying but obviously for those that follow the sport, these are decent high level players.

So why are players averaging in the 30's and 40's even bothering? with the entry fees, accommodation, travel and subsistence costs they must be looking at something close to a grand to throw the sort of darts you might see at a pub league level?

I met Willie Borland in the pub when he was here for Q School last year. Nice guy.

Here he is a couple of years ago at the Worlds, hitting a nine darter in the deciding leg of the match! https://youtu.be/2etbixD6aWw

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"I sometimes buy the Big Issue out of social embarrassment. I don't buy a fucking bank!"

It's a very good question! Maybe it's chasing the dream a bit: these are normal guys in normal jobs, and this is the only route in their lives to doing something special.

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"I sometimes buy the Big Issue out of social embarrassment. I don't buy a fucking bank!"

Borland just lost today's final to Steve 'Interesting' Lennon, but he'll have earned good order of merit points, so a few more match wins or one more run to the semis should be enough to get him back on the tour.

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"I sometimes buy the Big Issue out of social embarrassment. I don't buy a fucking bank!"

As regards Fallon Sherrock (and the comparison to the Snooker Tour) - does she have to earn her place on tour by beating men at Q School then?

If so, I think that's how Snooker should do it as well. Instead, the top 4 women on the women's tour get 2 year cards - then barely win a game for 2 years and yet get to retain their place If they're still in the top 4 women. At the very least, I think those who've failed to earn their spot via the main Tour rankings after their 2 years should have to go to Q School that season rather than stay on because of their women's ranking

Lennon was pretty unlucky to lose his card as he did ok at the Worlds based on expectation. After he beat Bates I thought he had saved it but obviously other results did for him.

Funnily enough you met Borland in a pub, I met Lennon and Keane Barry at a social club in Minehead at the UK Open last year. Didn't chat for long, the club was trying to get us to sign up to a £50 membership card we can use every year. Swerved it in the end.

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Decided to come back.

Absolutely.

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Decided to come back.

Not even former BDO world champion Richie Burnett or 3 time world champion John Part?

Yes. She has qualified for the World Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts through performances in the PDC Women's Series (where she is a solid second behind Beau Greaves). She's also been given lots of appearances at the non-ranking World Series events for publicity reasons, in much the same way that Littler will be this year.

But to get on the main tour full-time, Q School is the main way to do it. She has tried and missed out a few times now, but that's not to deride her ability, because Q School is notoriously fucking difficult to get through!

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"I sometimes buy the Big Issue out of social embarrassment. I don't buy a fucking bank!"