Emotional farewell for referee Owen Binks ahead of move to the PDC: player consoles him after final match
PDCThursday, 19 February 2026 at 09:48
A visibly emotional moment in the MODUS Super Series Live Lounge. Referee Owen Binks officiated his final match on that stage on Tuesday afternoon and could barely contain his emotions. After the match concluded, he was consoled by player Justin Smith as the cameras captured the moment.
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For the 27-year-old Binks, the clash between Justin Smith and Rob Thornton marked the end of a long stint at the MODUS Super Series. Smith won the match 4-1, but the sporting outcome faded into the background amid the referee’s farewell.
Binks refereed more than 6,000 matches in the series and now stands on the verge of a new step in his career. He will soon move to the PDC, where he will succeed the departing George Noble following his retirement after the World Darts Championship.
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During the closing stages of his final match, it was clear how much the moment weighed on him. Binks tried to remain professional and carry out his duties, but the emotion was evident as it sank in that his time in the Live Lounge had definitively come to an end.
Footage later shared by the organization on social media shows how visibly moved he became. Player Justin Smith placed a hand on his shoulder in a show of support, after which Binks responded with a slight smile and shook his hand.
Afterward, Robert Thornton also approached him. The Scot shook his hand and then embraced him, a fitting final moment for an official who had been a familiar face in the competition for years.
Warm tribute from MODUS
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The MODUS Super Series had already paid extensive attention to Binks’s farewell earlier in the day. The organization publicly wished him success in the next stage of his career and expressed its appreciation for his dedication and professionalism.
This was followed by a video montage highlighting his time in the Live Lounge, in which he was praised as a trusted and much-loved official. It underscored once more how much he meant to players, colleagues, and the organization.
New step at the PDC
Binks won’t have to wait long for his next challenge. His debut as a PDC referee is already scheduled for this weekend at the European Tour in Poland. That means he immediately steps up to the highest level of the sport.
He had previously said that the move still feels unreal. After thousands of matches in the Live Lounge, a new chapter now begins on the biggest stages in professional darts.
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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.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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