Is Dave Chisnall the best player on the Pro Tour without a Major Title?

Dave Chisnall is widely regarded as one of the most talented and consistent players on the PDC Pro Tour. At 44 years old, he has been a fixture in the world of darts for more than two decades, having started his professional career back in 1997. Currently ranked 5th in the world, Chisnall has achieved a remarkable amount of success on the PDC circuit, but there is one glaring gap in his resume: he has yet to win a major title.

Despite this elusive major victory, Chisnall's success on the Pro Tour cannot be denied. In 2023 alone, he secured three Euro Tour victories and two Players Championship titles. As of 2024, he's already added two more Euro Tour wins and two additional Players Championship victories to his name, bringing his career tally to an impressive 26 PDC ranking titles. These numbers cement his place among the top tier of darting professionals, but the question lingering amongst fans is when will Chizzy finally break his duck and capture a major title?

One of the key attributes that makes Chisnall a force to be reckoned with is his incredible ability to score heavily and frequently hit 180s. In fact, Chisnall's proficiency in peppering the treble 20 is legendary. Over the years, he has established himself as one of the sport's premier heavy scorers, with an ability to hit the 180 marker at a higher frequency than almost anyone else on the tour.

In matches, Chisnall’s 180-hitting is often breathtaking, making him a constant threat. His reputation as a high scorer has earned him the admiration of darts fans across the globe, many of which are desperate to see Chisnall claim the elusive crown.

While Chisnall’s success on the Pro Tour is undeniable, his track record in major finals has been less than glittering. The closest he came to winning a major before his PDC days was in 2010 when he reached the final of the Lakeside World Championship, losing to Martin Adams. Since joining the PDC, however, Chisnall has fallen short in all six of the major finals he has contested, leaving fans and pundits alike wondering if he is simply unlucky or cursed when it comes to the biggest stages in darts.

His first PDC final came in 2013 at the World Grand Prix, where he lost to the legendary Phil Taylor. Taylor, a 16-time World Champion, is arguably the greatest darts player of all time, and facing him in a major final was always going to be an uphill battle. Taylor’s dominance at that time meant that many players, including Chisnall, found themselves on the wrong end of results when they ran into "The Power."

In 2019, Chisnall once again reached the final of the World Grand Prix, this time facing Michael van Gerwen. The Dutchman, who like Taylor has multiple World Championship titles under his belt, proved too strong for Chisnall, denying him once again.

Chisnall’s unlucky streak continued at the Masters, where he reached the final in both 2016 and 2022, losing on both occasions to Joe Cullen, another player who has proven himself capable of rising to the big occasion. Despite coming close multiple times, Chisnall has never been able to get over the line, and these near misses have built an unwelcome narrative to his professional career.

Chisnall’s consistent performances without major silverware have placed him alongside the likes of Terry Jenkins and Ian White as one of the best players to have never won a major title. Jenkins, a former world number four, was known for being one of the sport's most consistent performers but suffered the same fate as Chisnall, losing in multiple major finals without claiming victory. Ian White also amassed numerous titles on the secondary circuit but has never managed to crack the code when it comes to majors.

These players share the unfortunate distinction of being seen as ‘nearly men,’ and Chisnall must be desperate to remove himself from that list as quickly as possible.

Part of the reason for Chisnall’s inability to secure a major title can be attributed to bad luck, particularly in terms of the opponents he has faced in finals. His losses to Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen are hardly surprising, given the incredible records both players boast in major competitions. Taylor’s 16 World Championship victories and van Gerwen’s endless list of major titles make them two of the most dominant figures in the history of the sport, and running into them in finals has been nothing short of a nightmare for Chisnall.

However, it’s not just the quality of opposition that has held Chisnall back. There have been times when the luck of the draw simply hasn’t gone his way, with tough early-round matches or missed opportunities conspiring against him. In the unpredictable world of darts, even the most skilled players can fall victim to bad luck, and Chisnall has certainly had his share of misfortune in major tournaments.

Chisnall’s next opportunity to end his long wait for a major title comes at next week’s World Grand Prix. This unique double-in, double-out tournament is one of the most challenging on the calendar, requiring players to hit a double to both start and finish each leg. The tournament will take place in Leicester from Monday, October 7th, to Sunday, October 13th, and Chisnall will begin his campaign against Cameron Menzies in the first round on Tuesday.

Chisnall will be eager to make amends for last year’s disappointment at the World Grand Prix, where he was stunned in the first round by Luke Woodhouse in a 2-0 defeat. At the time, Chisnall had entered the tournament in excellent form but was unable to produce his best darts on the day, suffering an early exit that left him and his fans frustrated.

As Chisnall prepares for another shot at a major title, the question on everyone’s mind is whether this could finally be the moment when he breaks through. With 26 PDC titles to his name and a wealth of experience under his belt, Chisnall has all the tools necessary to claim a major. However, as his past near-misses have shown, it will take more than just skill and consistency to get the job done, and it will be crucial for him not to falter due to a mental block. Chisnall will need to hope that the draw falls his way and that, when the moment comes, luck is on his side.

At 44 years old, Chisnall still has plenty of time to add a major title to his career accomplishments. With the World Grand Prix just around the corner, fans of Chizzy will be hoping that this is finally the year when their hero can break his major duck and claim the victory that his talent so richly deserves.