Commentator Chris Murphy believes Sherrock World Darts Championship uproar is misplaced: "No one is missing out here that place was unallocated"

Commentator Chris Murphy spends most of the year commentating on the darts mostly on the ProTour, European Tour, Women's Series and also the MODUS Super Series.

Speaking to Online Darts during the Players Championship Finals, he took a look ahead at the biggest tournament of them all - the PDC World Darts Championship.

"It's just really exciting. Particularly when we've had so many players staking their claim to be at the deep end of the big one this year," said Murphy to Online Darts.

One player going in likely cold is Peter Wright with his wife Jo in and out of hospital and no competitive darts since the Grand Slam for the defending champion. Murphy finds it hard to gauge.

"It's going to be difficult, family first and we give our best to Peter and Jo (Wright) but you just never know. I think the type of tournament it is, it gives players a chance to play themselves into form over the course of the time there. However Peter has been caught cold in opening rounds earlier so I think you can't predict anything with Peter Wright. Predicting how far he's going to go is probably as reliable as predicting what set of darts he is going to throw."

Click here to join the Fantasy PDC World Darts Championship and win $2,588/€2,500/£2,175! Or click here to join the FREE PDC World Darts Championship!

Read also

This is all you need to know about 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship

Van Gerwen favourite for World's glory but joined by Price in discussion

As well as the favourite with Michael van Gerwen seen by many as the forerunner but Murphy adds Gerwyn Price to that mix.

"Him and Price for me. I think it's between those two as the front-runners. He's won all the biggest events this year. I can see why he's favorite.

"I thought the way he was playing at the start of the year when he was hitting all those nine-darters on TV, the performances in the Premier League and how he ended last year, it's strange. I thought the Grand Slam was going to be the one, Barney put pay to that and then a shock defeat here (PC Finals). But the biggest one might await him."

As well as discussing Michael Smith and how in reality, the floodgates might not open immediately but he expects more titles.

"He will win more. We are of an era where there are so many potential winners of any event that it's not going to be easy to go on runs of winning two or three for anyone. But I think you'd expect him to pick up a title a year for the next few years at worst."

Sherrock uproar

Murphy has been vocal surrounding the Fallon Sherrock situation with the Queen of the Palace the source of a lot of criticism due to being invited last minute to the World Championship.

He gave his take and believes that with no space being taken away from anyone, he doesn't see why people are so up in arms about the decision and that despite the timing of the decision not being the best - he sees why the PDC would have had an issue no matter what.

"One aspect of it that people seem to be overlooking is the fact she played in the World Series events in Australia and New Zealand which meant she couldn't go to the Women's Series in Germany. Even being runner up to Beau in a couple of events would have been enough.

"So to say she doesn't deserve to be in the World Championship is the wrong thing to say. The timing of the announcement was maybe a little bit messier than it could have been."

"There was never going to be a right time, I understand that as well because if you announce it before the Women's Series, what's the point in the Women's Series. How are other people going to feel towards her, it was always a difficult thing."

"Another point I would make is here no one is missing out here that place was unallocated, she hasn't taken a place away from anyone. There is probably a little more uproar than there needs to be."

Read also

Mardle weighs in on late Sherrock World Championship invite: "I don't like the way the PDC just kind of bent the rules"