Deller gives insight into spotting role: "The most important thing is not to panic"

Keith Deller was crowned BDO World Champion in 1983. Today as well as reviving his darting career through the World Seniors also works on PDC tournaments as a spotter for Sky Sports.

Indicating to the cameraman where the players will go for combinations, they are integral for the viewing of darts.

“When you see the player needing, say, 106, ‘I’ll go treble 20, single 14, double 16’ so I’ll tell the remote cameras, the director, where I think they’re going to go,” said Deller to Daily Star Sport.

“I think I’ve been the longest spotters there’s ever been. I’m there at all the big tournaments, I feel the atmosphere, it’s great. It’s a tough job to do. No disrespect to the commentators but they can say they’ll go one way and, if they don’t, it doesn’t really matter to them because they’re not the one telling the camera where to go. You really have to be alert all the time when you’ve got the likes of Jonny Clayton, who decides to go his own ways. I love doing it and Sky are a brilliant team. It keeps me sharp.”

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But for Deller, he sees the most important part being not to panic in the face of players going different routes.

“It’s all the different combinations,” adds Deller. “The most important thing is not to panic. When you’ve got the likes of Michael Smith, who throws very quick, you’ve really got to be on your mettle.

“For instance, if someone wants 25, it’s nine, double eight for quite a few of them. But you’ve got to think ‘what happens if they hit a 12?’ You’ve got to keep an eye out in case they go either side because, when they’re quick, you haven’t got the time to do it.”