"I think next year will definitely be my last": Steve Beaton drops shock retirement bombshell as career likely to end in 2024

A former Lakeside World Champion and a player universally loved by darts fans, 'The Bronzed Adonis' Steve Beaton admitted after his opening win over Wessel Nijman at the PDC World Darts Championship that 2024 will likely be his last year.

Beaton was playing in his 33rd consecutive World Championship as he saw off the Dutch talent, but ahead of his 60th birthday, he admitted his days on the dartboard are numbered and he wants to spend some more time at home with his family.

"It was a tough game, I didn't know a lot about the lad. I knew he was runner-up to Luke Littler and so he can't be that bad. But he came out firing like nobody's business so I thought I'm in trouble here," said Beaton post match.

As ever he received a superb reaction from the fans and he praised the Ally Pally faithful. "Walking up there with that crowd, it's what you play for. You're not going to get that buzz anywhere else. They don't let me down, they were great again tonight and the support was unbelievable.

But then like alluded to dropped the retirement bombshell and said that even if he won the World's or remained in the top 64 next year that he is unlikely to remain playing.

"I think next year will definitely be my last. However this tournament goes, I'm 60 next year and it's a gruelling circuit, the ProTour. I've been married 30 years and my wife hardly sees me, I'm only home half the year. People don't seem to understand how much you have to do really to carry on with the darts, it's great if you are a youngster now. I'd have loved it if it was like that when I was 21 but it's quite draining and it'll be nice to spend a bit of time at home for a change."