Owen Bates' shoes steal the show despite defeat against Van Gerwen

Owen Bates failed to record a victory against Michael van Gerwen at Players Championship 14 in Rosmalen on Tuesday, but it wasn't so much the young Englishman's play that loosened tongues, it was his shoes.

The 22-year-old Bates lost 6-3 to the three-time world champion, ending a run of four consecutive defeats in the first round of Players Championship tournaments. Van Gerwen threw an average of 94 and hit six of his 16 darts on the doubles.

Still, during the match, the commentators' attention was mostly focused on Bates' footwear. Analyst Paul Nicholson explained a remarkable detail during the broadcast. “I was having a word with Owen about his love for wearing very simple darting footwear. 

“For a while he had been wearing the same plim soles for the past two or three years.  

“They were so worn out at the bottom he would actually fluff them up by wearing extra pairs of socks. I do believe he has got new shoes now.”

According to Nicholson, Bates would have since traded in his old trusty shoes for a new pair, though the subject remained a source of hilarity. Co-commentator Dan Dawson laughingly added, “Yeah, he was wearing multiple pairs of socks at one point. I think he has been publicly shamed into sorting that out.”

Despite the defeat, 2025 remains an excellent season for Bates. The current world number 79 is in second place on the Development Tour Order of Merit, behind Beau Greaves, with two titles already sealed this year. At least a new pair of shoes does not seem to be an impediment to his development, although it may be unfortunate for the public that his old shoes are put away for the time being.

The English darter was previously in the news because of his former nickname 'Master'. Coupled with his surname Bates, that made for a piquant combination of words. Ahead of his appearance at the 2024 World Darts Championship, he was instructed to take another nickname.