"I've got three darts at double 16 and if I hit this the mortgage is paid" - Paul Nicholson on the fine line between money and honor
PDCSaturday, 23 August 2025 at 08:00
In an interview with SportingLife , former major winner Paul Nicholson explained how heavy the pressure of having to win can weigh on someone. Especially when you have to win to pay your bills.
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Nicholson himself knows better than anyone how much difference there can be financially between, say, winning a tournament or losing the final. "It was for £32,000 when I hit the winning dart at the Players Championship Finals in 2010.
"I think it was the World Cup final. I had two darts one at double 20 and one at double 10. Missing those cost me an extra £10,000. It had absolutely nothing to do about the money, it was about the medal and all about missing it for Australia and Simon (Whitlock). Those were the things that hurt. It had nothing to do with the money.
Joe Cullen lost the 2022 Premier League Darts final against Michael van Gerwen
"Drama for Joe Cullen"
But that also pales in comparison to players like Joe Cullen who missed double 16 in the 2022 Premier League Darts final. "Joe Cullen has said that he missed a dart for £250,000. I think technically it was £130,000 as I think he got £120,000 for the runners-up spot."
Although Nicholson also points out that you have two types of players. "You have two different players out there, people who want to win titles and people who want to win money. I admire both. You've got people who want silverware and you've got mercenaries. There are plenty of those, you tend to find the merceneries are the guys who are more senior in age and rank."
"If you're playing for a mortgage payment, that's tough. You might think I've got three darts at double 16 and if I hit this the mortgage is paid for the month. That's a horrible way to think. The best players play without financial pressure."
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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.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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