Commentator Chris Murphy believes Sherrock World Darts Championship uproar is misplaced: "No one is missing out here that place was unallocated"
PDC
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.
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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."
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Van Gerwen favourite for World's glory but joined by Price in discussion
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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."
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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."
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"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."
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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.
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- Good, absolutely no loss if we never see this dancing goof ever again......no that is not fair. He absolutely cannot and has never been remotely able to dance!richieburnettrocks10-11-2026
- Yes Phil,now the money in the game is bigger than ever,you'd play littler. Well so would I! Retire on your memory Phil,and your successful careerrick6709-11-2026
- 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








