Darts commentator Dan Dawson on issues of late withdrawals from European Tour: "It short changes the fans, that can't happen"

Darts commentator Dan Dawson has commentated on most of this year's World Series and spoke on the final day of the World Series of Darts Finals about where he thinks the tour is going as a precursor to the announcement about a Bahrain debut in 2023.

"We had a Dutch event over the road (from AFAS Live) earlier in the year. The Netherlands is developed, great tournament. We've had them in Germany in the past, again good tournament but how much developing does it need. I really think the proof of the pudding is in the eating, if you get a Damon Heta that comes through," said Dawson to Online Darts.

"Everything about the PDC is about creating elite level players, the World Series has helped create some. Corey Cadby he's gone wherever but Damon Heta is another one, that's what they are there for. For the PDC, it is about where is our next Michael van Gerwen coming from so we don't know where that's going to turn up, if we get an American, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand one that's the end goal. You can only judge that further down the line."

But his main love is the European Tour and he teased some exciting news in 2023. "I think you're going to see some exciting news about the European Tour next year," he continued.

"People are going on about Luke Humphries being a future World Champion and being one of the best players in the world right now, the only reason they are doing that is because of the European Tour. He is going on stage in front of thousands of fans and he's playing World Class darts and smashing people up. It is the place where the next big winners are found."

As well as speaking about the late withdrawals which have prompted a lot of discussion and for Dawson, he says it ultimately 'short changes' the paying public who expect to see Van Gerwen, Price, Wright etc as well as the full eight games.

"It short changes the fans, they wanted eight games, they were promised eight games, they didn't get eight games. The networks that have been showing it whether it is DAZN, Sport1 or PDCTV deserve a full day of action. That can't happen. As I understand it massive fines are one of the things that will come in."

"The carrot will get even bigger and the stick will get even bigger. You go on about that busy calendar, if you're going to have Host Nation Qualifiers, you used to have them the night before. They clump them together now, it means more players are going to turn up and you get a better standard of qualifiers coming through."