Is 2021 Dave Chisnall’s Year?

At the back end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021, Dave Chisnall showed the darting world that he has what it takes to become a real force.

However, it’s becoming something of a staple of the world number six’s game that he struggles to find consistency. On any given night, few can argue that the 40-year-old doesn’t have the talent to beat any other top-level competitor. Unfortunately, such showings have been few and far between in recent years. That said, there are signs that Chisnall may be coming into a rich vein of form. So, could 2021 finally be his year?

A Strong Showing at the World Championships

Since turning professional, Chizzy has long been on the cusp of major success. However, for one reason or another, he struggles to overcome the final hurdle. In many ways, the 2020-21 World Championships have epitomised Chisnall’s career. After defeating Keegan Brown, Danny Noppert, and Dmitri van den Bergh, the 40-year-old set up a quarter-final clash against the three-time world champion, Michael van Gerwen. To the surprise of many, the eighth-ranked player defeated the Dutchman 5-0 and later picked up the Toyo Tires’ Television Performance of the Year award for his ruthless display.

Prior to his quarter-final win over MVG, he hadn’t beat the Dutchman in a televised major since the 2013 World Grand Prix. However, just as it looked like Chizzy was building up ahead of steam in his pursuit of world champion status, he fell in a 6-3 defeat to Gary Anderson in the semi-finals. While there’s no shame in losing to the Flying Scotsman, the 40-year-old had more to offer but couldn’t find his rhythm. Looking forward, the World Championship undoubtedly provides reason for optimism regarding Chisnall’s chances in 2021.

Continually Falling Short

It’s worth noting that Chizzy doesn’t typically lose in major events to relative unknowns. Instead, he falls short against the very best. Although Anderson’s and Van Gerwen’s contributions to darts somewhat speak for themselves, it’s a testament to their level that they’ve enhanced the game’s mainstream status. This is evident when we look at the games offered at Casumo. Among the 1200+ games available at the platform, bettors can immerse themselves in Darts Legends, a StakeLogic creation. The five-reel slot game features Anderson, Van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.

Currently, it’s not unfair to say that Chisnall isn’t at their level, but he’s also not too far away. Thus far in his career, the Englishman has lost seven PDC televised finals, in addition to ten semi-finals, as per dartsdatabase. In the last twelve months alone, the 40-year-old suffered defeat in two semi-finals and two quarter-finals. Of course, making that final leap to becoming a champion is easier said than done, but televised success isn't beyond a player of Chizzy’s abilities.

It’s Time for Chizzy to End his Drought

At the time of writing, Chisnall has now been in the PDC for ten years. Despite his decade-long efforts, from a trophy standpoint, he has little to show for his contributions. However, now is not a time to look to the past, but instead at what’s possible in the near future. Although it doesn’t guarantee success, the 40-year-old must use his recent World Championship form as a springboard to glory in 2021.