Daryl Gurney and Gerwyn Price fracas good for the game says Colin Lloyd: "Not players rolling over and getting their bellies tickled"

Blackpool might be drenched in tradition during the World Matchplay, but if one thing’s clear from this year’s edition, it’s that the winds of change are blowing hard through the Winter Gardens. Former world number one Colin Lloyd, affectionately known as “Jaws,” has been soaking up the action — and he sees a tournament that could mark a real generational shift.

“It’s been absolutely brilliant, hasn’t it?” Lloyd opened enthusiastically in conversation with Online Darts. “I mean, there’s been some players that I think felt the pinch a little bit, Phil. I know they had big money to defend, but then Gian van Veen looked fantastic, and Wessel Nijman threw some really good stuff. Just a superb performance.”

But Lloyd reserved particular praise for two players. “Wessel’s been outstanding from the off and made it look easy,” he said, before pointing to a familiar face showing a resurgence: James Wade. “Wade looked good — really solid, really in control of his emotions. If he can keep that form going, he might take some stopping. Sometimes he's up and down, isn’t he? But if he’s averaging 104, like he did, that’s dangerous.”

One of the biggest shocks so far has been the early exit of world number one Luke Humphries, toppled by rising star Gian van Veen. Lloyd wasn’t too alarmed on Humphries' behalf.

“I don’t think Luke should worry about it too much. He didn’t throw badly — Gian just threw really well,” Lloyd said. “He knew it was going to be a tough game, and unfortunately he was packing his bags. He joins a very elite club, which I’m part of, so there you go.”

As for Van Veen, Lloyd believes this could be the spark for a remarkable run at the highest level.

“He admitted it himself, didn’t he, in previous years he might’ve crumbled. But now he knows he’s good enough. And once you believe that, there’s nothing stopping you. We’ve seen what he can do. And who’s to say his name’s not on the trophy at the end of the week?”

With young players like Van Veen and Nijman storming through the ranks, Lloyd sees a clear shift happening.

“As I used to say, ‘Get out of the way, old man, you’ve had your day,’” he laughed. “That’s what keeps the sport progressive. It’s not disrespectful. Peter Wright, five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld — they’ve had glittering careers. I wouldn’t have minded having half of what they’ve achieved.”

Still, he recognizes the reality: the older generation can’t hang on forever. “There’s probably still a big win somewhere in them. But these young players, they don’t want just a slither of the pie anymore. They want chunks.”

And perhaps, Lloyd suggested, we might be witnessing the final chapter for some legends at Blackpool. “I was chatting with fans last night and they said, ‘Colin, we think this is the last time we’ll see MVG face Barney here.’ And they might be right. It’s not disrespect, it’s just life. Your brain tells you you can still do it, but the body doesn’t allow it. I’m fitter than I’ve ever been, but my body tells me: ‘Nope.’”

Lloyd also addressed the worrying slide in form for Dave Chisnall — a player once synonymous with heavy scoring on the ProTour and EuroTour circuits.

“In some ways, you can’t put it right. The inevitable is happening. It creeps up on you,” he warned. “You don’t really notice it at first — you think, ‘I’m still getting results.’ But then suddenly you’re averaging 87, 91, 84, and you ask, ‘Where’s that come from?’”

And when the slide begins, it’s not just physical. “It’s mental. You know it’s happening, even if you push it to the back of your mind. And when you start doubting yourself, it shows. There’s just too many good players now — you can’t have dips in form on TV anymore.”

Of course, the night that got everyone talking was the heated clash between Daryl Gurney and Gerwyn Price. Emotions flared, tempers boiled, and social media exploded.

“I was watching it and enjoying it,” Lloyd recalled. “They hugged at the start, but then it got a bit cranky. I don’t know what happened, and it’s not my business. But at the end, just shake hands and smile.”

Still, Lloyd is conflicted about the role of emotion and confrontation in darts. “It’s good in one way — it gives the crowd something. But it’s not good for the players. There are kids watching too. If you’ve got something to sort, do it backstage.”

Yet, he knows full well that characters are what keep fans coming back. “You can’t just go up there, throw, wave, and walk off. I like that Daryl and Gezzy show emotion. It fires you up. Fans want to see fire, not players rolling over and getting their bellies tickled.”

As for mocking celebrations? “I’d probably have said something — couldn’t help myself,” he laughed. “But I’d shake their hand and then swear behind the scenes. You’ve got to have something. You need spice. That’s what keeps the game alive.”

And in typical Lloyd fashion, he signed off with self-reflection and honesty: “I probably got a bit crankier near the end of my career. Something I found so easy just became so difficult. That’s when I knew. But I still believe you’ve got to have characters — that’s what brings the crowd back.”