"Colour-blind, or just not taking his job seriously?" – Target Darts faces heavy criticism over the design of its new shirts
PDCSunday, 19 July 2026 at 15:45
Not only the matches took center stage on the opening night of the World Matchplay. The new shirts of several Target players also drew plenty of attention during the Viaplay broadcast. Analyst Martijn Kleermaker examined the new shirts of Stephen Bunting and Nathan Aspinall and didn’t spare the designers. His verdict was devastating.
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Bunting’s new shirt in particular came in for heavy criticism. The Englishman swapped his trusted design for a new red-and-black creation, but according to Kleermaker it was anything but an upgrade. “That’s a hideous thing,” he began without a shred of doubt.
He then immediately pointed to the details that bothered him. “It starts with that chest pocket. It’s so low you can’t even call it a chest pocket. It’s practically at his navel. That’s not normal.”
The fit didn’t appeal to the former Tour Card holder either. “In general it’s all far too baggy. Normally red and black is a really good combination, but here it completely misses the mark.”
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According to Kleermaker, the design looks messy and lacks any cohesion. “It feels like you gave a two-year-old a black and a red marker and said, ‘Go ahead.’ And this is what came out.”
Host Bart Nolles noted that the shirt also featured silver accents and that the flights had of course been matched to the new design. Kleermaker wasn’t having it. “That’s logical, because that comes with the package. But if I have to give this a grade, I really can’t go higher than a 1.5.”
When Nolles reacted with surprise and asked what that half point was even based on, the reply spoke volumes. “For the person who designed it.” Even rounding up to a 2 was a bridge too far for Kleermaker. “No, I’d sooner round it down. I wouldn’t wear this for fun.”
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Nathan Aspinall joins the World Matchplay’s opening-night shirt parade
Aspinall gets an even lower grade
Later in the evening it was Nathan Aspinall’s turn. He, too, appeared in Blackpool with a new Target shirt. The Englishman had said goodbye to his familiar red-and-black color scheme and now played in a red-and-light-blue shirt with a large snake on the chest.
That design also landed completely wrong with Kleermaker. “The only thing missing is tight blue trousers and a cape. Then you’ve basically got the Temu Superman.”
Stephen Bunting in his new shirt
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According to the former Worlds participant, the color combination again didn’t work. “This isn’t good. The color combo doesn’t add up. It’s far too busy. What was wrong with that red-and-black shirt?”
He also openly wondered how much say the players actually have in designing their shirts. Nolles pointed out that Aspinall himself had indicated he was done with his old red-and-black outfit.
“The shirts just keep getting better” – Luke Littler unveils his new look
That still wasn’t an explanation for Kleermaker. “He also said in his interview that people would have something to say about this. That makes me think he’s not fully behind it himself. If I got an email from my supplier saying, ‘This will be your new shirt,’ I’d say: back to the drawing board, because this ain’t it.”
He also thought the large snake on the front and back of the shirt was a miss. “That can be done in another way.” When it was time to hand out a grade, Kleermaker surprised again. “I wasn’t allowed to go negative, so a 0.1 for the effort.” Nolles could hardly believe his colleague was serious, but Kleermaker stood firm. “Yes, dead serious.”
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First look at Josh Rock’s new shirt at the 2026 World Matchplay
That put Aspinall even below Stephen Bunting in the rankings. Earlier in the evening, Kleermaker gave Luke Littler’s new shirt a 1.6, Bunting a 1.5, and Josh Rock a solid pass with a 6.7.
His final conclusion on the new Target shirts was crystal clear. “Basically the conclusion is that whoever designs those shirts at Target right now is either color-blind or not taking his job seriously. Or he’s just started, because it completely misses the mark.”
Chris Dobey joins the World Matchplay’s new-shirt trend in Blackpool
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