“I love you son” – Danny Baggish fights back tears after emotional return to darts ends in victory

Danny Baggish’s return to competitive darts was never going to be defined purely by results. But when the American stepped up and delivered a winning performance on his comeback at the Modus Super Series, the moment that followed said far more than any scoreline.

After sealing a 4-1 victory over Jeff Smith to confirm his place at the top of the group, Baggish turned to the camera and held up a photo of his late son, visibly fighting back tears as the reality of the moment caught up with him. It was a deeply personal tribute, coming just months after the loss of his 19-month-old child in late 2025.

Asked about the moment shortly after the match, Baggish struggled to put his emotions into words. “So much. I’m sorry,” he said, pausing as he attempted to compose himself.

That brief response quickly gave way to a fuller explanation of what it had taken to reach that point. “It meant a lot, but I felt it when I got to three legs. I felt the emotions take over a little bit so I had to take a deep breath back there.”

The emotional toll of returning to the oche after such a loss had not been confined to the stage alone. “I think last night was the first night I started thinking about back home and stuff. So for a good hour, I was a wreck last night.”

Despite that, Baggish made clear the mindset he had to adopt in order to compete. “You have to keep it in, you have a job to do. You’ve got to do what you came here to do and you hold it in until there’s a time to release that.”

He added: “I have always been an emotional player, but this is different. The moment I hit that double tops, it was a lot of relief and thoughts, appreciation and love came out.”

On the board, the performance itself underlined just how strong that return has been. Baggish finished top of his group at the Modus Super Series with 11 wins from 15 matches, progressing through on leg difference after finishing level on points with Dawson Murschell.

It was his first notable appearance since December 2022, marking a significant step back into competitive darts after time away from the sport. But while the results ensured progression in the tournament, they were ultimately secondary to what the week represented.

On social media, Baggish later offered a simple reflection that captured the meaning behind his return. “To some it’s darts, to some it’s fun and to some it’s a job. To me it’s so much more. I love you Son and miss you more than you know. RIP Truen.”

For Baggish, this was never just about a win. It was about why he came back at all.