Mark Webster is a former professional darts player who now works as a commentator and analyst. In a candid conversation, the Welshman discussed the expanded World Championship format, the dominance of Luke Littler, surprises like Ryan Searle and Gian van Veen, mental pressure in elite sport, and the future of established names under strain. One conclusion kept coming back: global darts is harsher, faster, and more ruthless than ever.
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World Championship expansion: a risk that paid off
The expansion of the World Darts Championship to 128 players raised questions beforehand, but according to Webster the format has proved itself. “Yeah, it did to be fair. Obviously there were always concerns about adding extra qualifiers, but it was really competitive. There were stories in the early rounds as well," he said to Online Darts.
On the contrary, Webster believes the change strengthened the tournament, particularly before Christmas. “I think that the seeded players coming back for that second game before Christmas just added that little bit more jeopardy. We lost a lot of seeds, so yeah, on the whole you’d have to say it worked.”
Early-round wins by David Munyua and Nitin Kumar stood out as examples of the event’s growing global reach. “The big stories in the opening rounds, David Munyua and Nitin Kumar picking up wins, it just helps take the darts further on. On the whole it was a real success.”
Luke Littler: already among the greats
Once again, Luke Littler dominated the headlines, successfully defending his world title and joining an exclusive club of back-to-back champions. “You’d have to say that, but that’s down to him playing well,” Webster said when asked if Littler cruised through the tournament. “He’s the number one seed so generally his draw is going to be more favourable.”
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Despite that, Webster highlighted several tests along the way. “His first round against Darius Labanauskas, he got stuck in early, he was pushed in that game. The Rob Cross game was the one, wasn’t it, he was really tested there.”
Ultimately, however, the outcome was never in doubt. “But look, he cruised to that World Championship, didn’t he, and he’s the man to stop at the minute. It’s up to the players to up their standards, otherwise he’s just going to keep winning titles.”
Asked whether Littler already belongs in the all-time greats conversation, Webster had no hesitation. “Yeah, I think so. There’s no doubt about it. What he’s achieved in such a small amount of time is incredible and there’s no sign of him letting off.”
He also pointed to Littler’s mentality. “I like his reaction when he loses, he gets a bit stroppy, and that’s what you want to see from him. No defeat he’ll take easily. He’ll get back on the horse and want to win the next tournament he’s in.”
Reborn Anderson, breakthrough for Searle, and a hungry Van Veen
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Gary Anderson’s run to the semi-finals evoked memories of his prime years, but Webster insists it did not come as a shock. “I wasn’t gobsmacked that Gary got to the semi-finals. I think he’s still got it, he’s still hungry. He uses different things to motivate himself, but look, it worked.”
Webster believes Anderson has adjusted his priorities. “I think he’s sort of flipped everything, hasn’t he. He’s more focused on the ranking events now, the European Tours and the floor events. Until this World Championship he’s kind of underwhelmed on TV, but look, he looked good, he looked confident all the way through.”
Ryan Searle also enjoyed a career-defining tournament, earning his biggest payday and breaking into the world’s top ten. “He was really good, particularly in the early rounds. He was barely on stage, he was dispatching opponents, finished well and looked comfortable.”
Webster underlined the significance of the financial boost. “With the increased prize money, players were going to get that opportunity and Ryan Searle certainly got that opportunity. What was it, £200,000 — his biggest payday — up into the top 10 in the world.”
However, he was clear about the challenge ahead. “That’s the challenge for you now. When you have a little bit of success, you’ve got to try and continue it. He’s so capable, Ryan, so likeable, and I was really pleased for him.”
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Perhaps the most remarkable rise belongs to Gian van Veen, who capped a sensational year with a major title. “Really impressed. I like the guy as well. I had a chat with him a few years ago when I was doing a bit of work at the MODUS Super Series and he was just starting out.”
Even Van Veen himself may be surprised by the speed of his progress. “I think even he’ll think he’s well ahead of schedule here. He’s a major champion now, he’s been to the World Finals, he’s going to be in the Premier League, he’s going to be in the World Series.”
Webster expects his upward trajectory to continue. “He’s hungry, he’s going to want to carry on winning events, and yeah, we’ll see plenty of him this year. I think he’ll win some more events, that is for sure.”
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Pressure, mental health, and limits
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The World Championship also produced some uncomfortable moments, with emotions spilling over on stage. Webster believes pressure is inseparable from elite, individual sport. “There’s real pressure, but that’s what individual sport’s about. I don’t think that’s just come into this sport — it was there when I played.”
He stressed that support systems exist for those who need them. “There is help out there for players if they need it. If they don’t feel comfortable going through the PDPA, they need to go their own way and get that help.”
Webster also spoke candidly about handling defeat. “It is emotionally challenging up there. I didn’t take defeat well sometimes, but you don’t want to see players suffering. You want to see them successful.”
Dom Taylor suspension
On Dom Taylor’s six-month suspension following a second doping offence, Webster was unequivocal. "Yeah, it’s far too short, isn’t it.”
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He explained that the sanction was not decided by the PDC. “From what I’ve been told, it’s out of the PDC’s hands, it’s dealt with by UK Anti-Doping.”
Above all, Webster believes the focus should be on Taylor’s wellbeing.“The fact he’s tested positive twice in a couple of years means there’s an underlying problem there. First and foremost Dom needs to go and get that help.”
He also urged caution over a return. “Don’t come back next year if this problem’s still hovering around. Get himself sorted, get himself mentally prepared, and then take the next step when he’s comfortable.”
Rankings under pressure due to World Championship prize money
The surge in World Championship prize money has dramatically reshaped the rankings, something Webster views with mixed feelings. “One run has put Ryan Searle into the top 10 in the world now, and it’s heavily inflated at the World Championship.”
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Still, he believes there are positives.“What it does do is give players who have that run the chance to say, ‘Hang on, maybe I can take a step back from that day job.’ It can improve the quality.”
Premier League: the right choices?
The Premier League Darts line-up generated plenty of debate, and Webster admitted sympathy for those who missed out. “I really felt for Danny. I really did feel for Danny.”
He believes timing played a major role. “For Danny Noppert, he put himself in a window where maybe it was his only window, and I’d have liked to see them find room for him.”
Webster also addressed Stephen Bunting’s selection. “He really underwhelmed in the Premier League last year. Played okay, but when you have that bad game you’ve got to try and find a way to win it, and Stephen didn’t do that enough.”
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Nevertheless, he expects improvement. “He’s learnt from that now, you’d expect him to put up a lot more resistance this year.”
Looking ahead
Looking forward, Webster expects continued dominance at the top and pressure at the bottom. “More wins for Luke Littler, I think, he’s that good.”
He also anticipates responses from the established elite. “I’m expecting responses from Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries.”
Finally, Webster pointed to the danger facing some of the sport’s biggest names. “The sport waits for no one. There’s players on the up, and for them players to get themselves in those places, players have to move out.”
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.
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- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
- Play all legs and the winners split the pot. Luke gets the lot of he wins them all. If your occupation is darts player you can't enter, regardless of ability.BandB01-11-2026
- I'm quite a jaded person all things considered, but to be honest I found Beat Luke Littler to be pretty entertaining. It certainly wasn't seamless, which is to be expected given the lack of precedence, but I actually think the pacing was pretty good, the production was impressive, and there was a good sense of humour and levity to it. I think it was a very ambitious undertaking but one that, for the most part, paid off. I liked the system with the four pots and I think it added to the drama and intrigue. I enjoyed seeing the diverse range of entrants and learning about their backstories. I think the interactivity was pretty clever and well-integrated. The panel was a little incoherent at times; Lee Mack shone however, and his improvisational skills were appreciated during some more awkward interstitial moments. As far as the darts is concerned, it was a shame that the format didn't allow Littler to get into full flow. You obviously don't want him to steamroll everyone but you want to feel like you're getting the full Littler package rather than seeing him struggling to get out of first gear. I will say that his leg against Jayden Walker was very impressive, but it was mostly downhill from there. The attraction revolves around Littler being this untouchable, indomitable force, yet the format doesn't really allow him to fulfil that characterisation. As for Fallon Sherrock, she was mightily impressive and deserved the victory. It is a testament to her unshakeable character that she was able to bang in a 14-darter under such mind-bending pressure. Everything that has been said about the misleading marketing is valid, though they were clear about their eligibility criteria and were able to offload the responsibility somewhat by bringing the viewers into the decision-making process in real time. What is clear though, is that Fallon played the game according to the rules, and she should not be criticised for that, much less abused. I will admit though that it is a kick in the teeth for those true amateurs who committed time and money to the course, and I would also question those who think pub players would have no chance, given that some of Littler's winning legs were dispatched in 7 visits to the board! The great thing about darts is that it isn't so much that amateurs cannot replicate the feats of brilliance pulled off by professionals of the sport, than it is that they simply cannot replicate the consistency of their output, something that this format almost entirely removes from the equation. It should also be noted that, financially, Fallon certainly stands to benefit much less in relative terms from the paycheque than would your average pub thrower, as I'm sure she nets a fair income from the lucrative exhibition circuit alone. What I do hope is that she might use this as an opportunity to really build up a head of steam heading into the new season, as it seems long overdue that she come through Q-School and really take it to the pros on a week-in week-out basis, but whatever she chooses to do, she has certainly achieved enough already for one if not several lifetimes, so who am I to dictate terms? To conclude though, I will state once again that I found Beat Luke Littler to be a pretty enjoyable evening of entertainment. I do feel for the contestants who never actually had the chance to try their luck against the world #1, although I suppose it comes with the format, but all which inevitably raises the question: will Netflix be tempted to do it all again next year? It's hard to say. Whether it would be financially viable, I can't weigh in there. One point I have been making though, and which I touched on earlier, is that the entire concept relies on a public perception that Littler is more or less unbeatable, and that certainly hasn't been the case of late. If the execs had been trying to pitch the show in recent months while Littler has seemed vulnerable, rather than when he was mopping up almost every major title on the calendar, it would certainly be a tougher sell. We will have to see in about 6 months' time whether Littler can still reliably command perception as a near-unstoppable force in darts, and then we'll have a clearer idea about whether we should expect a second helping. Even as a one-off experiment though, and with all the controversy taken into account, I still don't think they disgraced themselves by any means, and that will probably be my lingering assessment of the event when all is said and done.Deduce635801-11-2026