Dartsnews.com recently had the opportunity to catch up with Ireland's Steve Lennon who has had a brilliant first year on the PDC tour which is underlined with his current run at the Grand Slam where the Carlow native has reached Round 2 coming really close to topping the group and before the Grand Slam, we spoke to him about a variety of topics including Irish darts, Development Tour, Euro Tour and of course the Grand Slam.
Firstly we spoke about how he got into darts growing up and he gave this answer :
'My brother used to play at home so I just kind of started throwing a few games in the house when I was bored, then in the pub I used to practice then with a man named Mick Lawlor who introduced me to the county darts scene and then it just sort of went from there'
From there we then spoke about particular players that inspired him growing up and made him pick up a set of darts for the first time.
'Phil Taylor is an inspiration to be fair! I'm sure he is for a lot of people. What he has achieved in his career is phenomenal but its really his serious motivation he has to keep on creating records to this day and his drive to keep on winning is what I really find amazing!'
We then shifted gears to talk about his first year on the PDC tour and what his thoughts on it have been as well as qualifying for the worlds in only a months' time.
'I've loved every minute of it so far! The experience of playing in a PDC environment from doing development tours I think helped me to settle in a bit quicker than expected. Participating in quite a number of BDO events aswell last year helped get used to an environment with top players. The year itself has gone a lot better than I thought as well so I'm really pleased with my progress so far this year especially considering the standard on the pro tour. Qualifying for the World Championships was absolutely amazing to do especially for my first year on the tour! I didn't think I could achieve that at the start of the year as I had no idea what to expect i'm just glad it has went well so far'
We continued on with the theme of qualifying for events with talking about the Euro Tour events and what his thoughts are on them and also the amount of events currently on the PDC calendar.
'I really enjoy playing in them as they are great for stage experience if you make TV events. I hope I can continue to qualify for more in the coming year ahead. In terms of the number of events put on during the year, I think I may be the only one who would say this but I dont find it too hectic of a schedule! If I could choose I would have events on every weekend as I really like playing darts in general anyway! If there is no PDC event on a certain weekend I usually go and try find one in Ireland to play so the more events on the better I believe haha'
Steve is currently competing in the Grand Slam of Darts and as the interview took place shortly after him qualifying the next question was about that and his thoughts on making his TV debut at the Wolves Civic.
'It was an amazing achievement for myself! I had played so well that morning in the World Youths but unfortunately just got out played in the game so i was a bit gutted at the start of the day! I'm really happy to have played so well to qualify, the game against Joe Cullen was quite difficult but was so glad to get over the winning line. Cant wait for the Grand Slam now and i'm really looking forward to the experience as I love the format as well!'
Irish Darts has produced some brilliant players over the past few years including the likes of Mick McGowan and William O'Connor and the next question was about that and his thoughts on Irish Darts currently.
'The standard of Irish darts is improving every year and is at a high level. There are a lot of good young players coming through the ranks at the minute!'
Steve before going over to the main tour plied his trade on the Development Tour and still has done up to recently so the penultimate question was about that and how it has helped him and whether or not he would recommend it to anyone
'The development tour has helped me improve in my game a lot! In my opinion they are by far the best tournaments around for young players to compete in! Having it as the same setup and atmosphere as the pro tour events does help a lot! The standard is unreal and seems to be getting better each year. Unfortunately I am overage to play next year in them so I will miss playing in them to be honest! But I would definitely recommend it for anyone to try as it gives you a good indication of where you are at in your game plus it is a great experience and not only is the standard great but the prize money is good as well!'
Finally we asked him about his win over Raymond van Barneveld in a ProTour game and whether he saw that as one of his finest wins.
It was fantastic to beat Barney in a close run game and I would say it would have to be one of my best wins.
Firstly we spoke about how he got into darts growing up and he gave this answer :
'My brother used to play at home so I just kind of started throwing a few games in the house when I was bored, then in the pub I used to practice then with a man named Mick Lawlor who introduced me to the county darts scene and then it just sort of went from there'
From there we then spoke about particular players that inspired him growing up and made him pick up a set of darts for the first time.
'Phil Taylor is an inspiration to be fair! I'm sure he is for a lot of people. What he has achieved in his career is phenomenal but its really his serious motivation he has to keep on creating records to this day and his drive to keep on winning is what I really find amazing!'
We then shifted gears to talk about his first year on the PDC tour and what his thoughts on it have been as well as qualifying for the worlds in only a months' time.
'I've loved every minute of it so far! The experience of playing in a PDC environment from doing development tours I think helped me to settle in a bit quicker than expected. Participating in quite a number of BDO events aswell last year helped get used to an environment with top players. The year itself has gone a lot better than I thought as well so I'm really pleased with my progress so far this year especially considering the standard on the pro tour. Qualifying for the World Championships was absolutely amazing to do especially for my first year on the tour! I didn't think I could achieve that at the start of the year as I had no idea what to expect i'm just glad it has went well so far'
We continued on with the theme of qualifying for events with talking about the Euro Tour events and what his thoughts are on them and also the amount of events currently on the PDC calendar.
'I really enjoy playing in them as they are great for stage experience if you make TV events. I hope I can continue to qualify for more in the coming year ahead. In terms of the number of events put on during the year, I think I may be the only one who would say this but I dont find it too hectic of a schedule! If I could choose I would have events on every weekend as I really like playing darts in general anyway! If there is no PDC event on a certain weekend I usually go and try find one in Ireland to play so the more events on the better I believe haha'
Steve is currently competing in the Grand Slam of Darts and as the interview took place shortly after him qualifying the next question was about that and his thoughts on making his TV debut at the Wolves Civic.
'It was an amazing achievement for myself! I had played so well that morning in the World Youths but unfortunately just got out played in the game so i was a bit gutted at the start of the day! I'm really happy to have played so well to qualify, the game against Joe Cullen was quite difficult but was so glad to get over the winning line. Cant wait for the Grand Slam now and i'm really looking forward to the experience as I love the format as well!'
Irish Darts has produced some brilliant players over the past few years including the likes of Mick McGowan and William O'Connor and the next question was about that and his thoughts on Irish Darts currently.
'The standard of Irish darts is improving every year and is at a high level. There are a lot of good young players coming through the ranks at the minute!'
Steve before going over to the main tour plied his trade on the Development Tour and still has done up to recently so the penultimate question was about that and how it has helped him and whether or not he would recommend it to anyone
'The development tour has helped me improve in my game a lot! In my opinion they are by far the best tournaments around for young players to compete in! Having it as the same setup and atmosphere as the pro tour events does help a lot! The standard is unreal and seems to be getting better each year. Unfortunately I am overage to play next year in them so I will miss playing in them to be honest! But I would definitely recommend it for anyone to try as it gives you a good indication of where you are at in your game plus it is a great experience and not only is the standard great but the prize money is good as well!'
Finally we asked him about his win over Raymond van Barneveld in a ProTour game and whether he saw that as one of his finest wins.
It was fantastic to beat Barney in a close run game and I would say it would have to be one of my best wins.
ADVERTISEMENT
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
- Play all legs and the winners split the pot. Luke gets the lot of he wins them all. If your occupation is darts player you can't enter, regardless of ability.BandB01-11-2026
- I'm quite a jaded person all things considered, but to be honest I found Beat Luke Littler to be pretty entertaining. It certainly wasn't seamless, which is to be expected given the lack of precedence, but I actually think the pacing was pretty good, the production was impressive, and there was a good sense of humour and levity to it. I think it was a very ambitious undertaking but one that, for the most part, paid off. I liked the system with the four pots and I think it added to the drama and intrigue. I enjoyed seeing the diverse range of entrants and learning about their backstories. I think the interactivity was pretty clever and well-integrated. The panel was a little incoherent at times; Lee Mack shone however, and his improvisational skills were appreciated during some more awkward interstitial moments. As far as the darts is concerned, it was a shame that the format didn't allow Littler to get into full flow. You obviously don't want him to steamroll everyone but you want to feel like you're getting the full Littler package rather than seeing him struggling to get out of first gear. I will say that his leg against Jayden Walker was very impressive, but it was mostly downhill from there. The attraction revolves around Littler being this untouchable, indomitable force, yet the format doesn't really allow him to fulfil that characterisation. As for Fallon Sherrock, she was mightily impressive and deserved the victory. It is a testament to her unshakeable character that she was able to bang in a 14-darter under such mind-bending pressure. Everything that has been said about the misleading marketing is valid, though they were clear about their eligibility criteria and were able to offload the responsibility somewhat by bringing the viewers into the decision-making process in real time. What is clear though, is that Fallon played the game according to the rules, and she should not be criticised for that, much less abused. I will admit though that it is a kick in the teeth for those true amateurs who committed time and money to the course, and I would also question those who think pub players would have no chance, given that some of Littler's winning legs were dispatched in 7 visits to the board! The great thing about darts is that it isn't so much that amateurs cannot replicate the feats of brilliance pulled off by professionals of the sport, than it is that they simply cannot replicate the consistency of their output, something that this format almost entirely removes from the equation. It should also be noted that, financially, Fallon certainly stands to benefit much less in relative terms from the paycheque than would your average pub thrower, as I'm sure she nets a fair income from the lucrative exhibition circuit alone. What I do hope is that she might use this as an opportunity to really build up a head of steam heading into the new season, as it seems long overdue that she come through Q-School and really take it to the pros on a week-in week-out basis, but whatever she chooses to do, she has certainly achieved enough already for one if not several lifetimes, so who am I to dictate terms? To conclude though, I will state once again that I found Beat Luke Littler to be a pretty enjoyable evening of entertainment. I do feel for the contestants who never actually had the chance to try their luck against the world #1, although I suppose it comes with the format, but all which inevitably raises the question: will Netflix be tempted to do it all again next year? It's hard to say. Whether it would be financially viable, I can't weigh in there. One point I have been making though, and which I touched on earlier, is that the entire concept relies on a public perception that Littler is more or less unbeatable, and that certainly hasn't been the case of late. If the execs had been trying to pitch the show in recent months while Littler has seemed vulnerable, rather than when he was mopping up almost every major title on the calendar, it would certainly be a tougher sell. We will have to see in about 6 months' time whether Littler can still reliably command perception as a near-unstoppable force in darts, and then we'll have a clearer idea about whether we should expect a second helping. Even as a one-off experiment though, and with all the controversy taken into account, I still don't think they disgraced themselves by any means, and that will probably be my lingering assessment of the event when all is said and done.Deduce635801-11-2026