Clarys looks back on career: "I wish I'd switched sooner, money wise it's better in the PDC"

Erik Clarys is currently active as a co-commentator with Belgian TV channel VTM 2. The now 54-year-old Belgian looked back on his darts career on Weekly Dartsscast.

Clarys captured his biggest win in 1995 by winning the Winmau World Masters. Afterwards, he was active in the BDO for many years before switching to the PDC in 2004. "I wish I'd done it sooner, money wise it's better in the PDC," Clarys says. "You could make a living in the PDC whereas in the BDO there was only really two main tournaments. But it wasn't so easy to make that decision at the time. I also played for the Belgian national team and they were counting on me there."

At the PDC, Clarys was active for about two years until a work accident broke his throwing arm in several places. "I was just doing well and could have definitely made the top-16, maybe even the top-10. But unfortunately that accident threw a spanner in the works. A few weeks later I'd had surgery five times."

The right-handed Clarys did try with the left after that. "I practiced an awful lot for three years, it also started to go well, but I never had the same feeling as with the right. So I realized I would never get the same results and ended my career for good."

For several years, "The Sheriff" has been active as a co-commentator on VTM 2 and also gives workshops. "Darts has gained tremendous popularity in Belgium in recent years. In cooperation with VTM, we have set up a Darts Academy in the hope of seeing even more Belgian players in action at the top tournaments within a few years."