"It’s not glamorous sitting in a hotel room eating rubbish, to be fair" – Ritchie Edhouse on the other side of life as a darts player

For many darts fans, the life of a professional darter looks like a string of packed arenas, big stages, and prize money. According to Ritchie Edhouse, the reality is far less appealing.

The world number 27 paints a down-to-earth picture of life on tour and stresses that most of the work happens away from the stage.

The Englishman knows what he is talking about. Edhouse travels across Europe almost weekly for ProTour events, Euro Tours, and majors, but luxury is rarely part of the deal, he says.

“Everyone thinks it’s glamorous, and we spend most of the time in train stations, cars or airports," Edhouse said. With that, he punctures the romantic image many outsiders have of darts.

According to Edhouse, life on tour is mostly about waiting and traveling, with little room for comfort or structure. That also affects players’ lifestyles.

“It’s not glamorous sitting in a hotel room eating rubbish, to be fair. I wish it was glamorous. You get your little bits, but 90 percent of the time it is not glamorous at all.”

That reality stands in stark contrast to what fans see on television. On stage it’s all about spectacle, high averages, and big checkouts, but behind the scenes, Edhouse says it mostly comes down to discipline and perseverance.

The constant travel also makes it hard to maintain a fixed rhythm. Healthy food and enough rest are not a given when players move from airport to hotel and from hotel to venue.

In sporting terms, Edhouse endured a difficult season. On the ProTour he reached the quarterfinals only once, while results at the big televised tournaments also fell short.

This year, the Englishman has yet to win a match at a major, although he did show signs of recovery on the floor. For instance, he reached the last 16 at two Players Championship events.

Those inconsistent performances, according to observers, fit a player still searching for stability at the highest level. Edhouse has scoring power, but needs to be more consistent to secure a permanent spot among the top.

Most darters have a nickname, and Edhouse’s is ‘The Madhouse.’ “It was a combination of a few mates. At one point, I was not great at maths. If I had 15 left, I would go 13 and double one.

Those unorthodox routes not only drew puzzled looks, but ultimately also earned him his nickname. “Just for 10, eight and double one. It rhymes with my name and it just stuck for a few years. I have had a few names since then.”

His fanbase, who call themselves the ‘Edhouse Ultras,’ now wear that name with pride and regularly create an atmosphere when the Englishman takes to the oche.