"The WDF is too much travelling, too much money" – Robyn Byrne says PDC is now the home of women’s darts

Robyn Byrne believes the PDC has firmly established itself as the true home of women’s darts — and says the Women’s Series has given her and her peers the platform they need to shine.

Speaking to Dartsnews.com ahead of her return to the Winter Gardens for the 2025 Women’s World Matchplay, the Irish star was refreshingly candid about why she’s chosen to focus entirely on PDC competition, leaving the WDF circuit behind. “The WDF is a lot,” Byrne said in her pre Women's World Matchplay press conference. “It’s too much travelling, too much money, too many days off work.

"For the Women’s Series, I have to take one day off work a year — for maybe eight, nine, ten weekends" she explained. "I can fly in Friday night, fly back Sunday, work Friday and Monday. That’s ideal. That’s exactly what you need on a women’s tour.”

With more players now balancing careers, family commitments and financial constraints, Byrne believes the PDC model is the only realistic option for growth in the women’s game. “I’m in a lucky position that I don’t have kids at the minute. A lot of the women do, and that’s where a lot of their time is consumed," she says. “If I was doing WDF, you’re taking every Friday and Monday off probably two or three times a month. I just haven’t got the days off work or the time for that.”

Byrne’s return to Blackpool marks her second appearance in the Women’s World Matchplay — two years after her debut at the iconic venue. And despite missing out in the years since, she insists she’s a better, tougher player now. “I’m probably more consistent. I can probably reach a higher standard now — my averages are better, and I’m better at winning" she explains. "Some people can be really good players but they’re not very good at winning. I feel like now I can scrap out a match — even if me and my opponent aren’t playing at 100%, I’ll come out on top. I’m getting good at winning the scrappy ones and getting over the line.”

In particular, one of her recent triumphs on the Women’s Series circuit came with a special sense of vindication, particularly after finally beating Fallon Sherrock in the semi-finals. “Fallon had beaten me 11 times in a row before that, so that was huge. Then I beat Lorraine [Winstanley] in the final, and she’s been playing very well lately," she recalled. “I think I said after I won it — winning one is great, but when you back it up with another one, it means the first wasn’t a fluke. Now no one can say, ‘yeah, but you didn’t beat so-and-so.’”

Byrne has enjoyed a strong 12 months, which also included victory at the Europe Cup with Ireland and a final appearance at Modus Women’s Week. But she admits there have been dips along the way. “A couple of weeks ago I was playing terribly. I didn’t play well at all at the last Women’s Series weekend or at the Six Nations," says Byrne. “But I’ve put a good bit of practice in for this event, and really in the last week or two I can see it coming together. I’m looking forward to getting back on the stage.”

That stage — and the iconic Winter Gardens atmosphere — holds nothing but fond memories for the Dubliner. “I actually just enjoyed every second of being on that stage last time. Even when I got beaten by Beau [Greaves], I still enjoyed it. There was nothing that tore me off that stage at all," she remembers. “I bring so many family and friends with me — that’s all part of the experience. I enjoyed it so much that it just makes me want to get back up there.”

On whether she’s plotted a route to the final this time, Byrne laughed: “I haven’t even plotted a route to the first leg! I’ll work on getting up the steps of the stage without falling — then we’ll see what happens. Darts is a silly game. You can have the best day of your life or the worst day of your life.”

She would also like to see the event itself expand — but only with the right format to maintain its elite feel. “You don’t want to take away the prestige of qualifying, but I think maybe bringing it up to 12 would be a good number. Let 5th to 12th play off to face the top four seeds," Byrne proposes. “The next four in the rankings are all good players, so it wouldn’t diminish the standard, but it would give more people an opportunity.”

There are other dreams too — including one Byrne has carried for many years. “I always say I’d love to qualify for Lakeside. No Irish woman has ever played there," Byrne concludes. “I’ve been the first Irish woman to do a lot of things in darts, and I’d love to be the first to play at Lakeside. Whether I won it or not, I wouldn’t care. Just to get there and say I’ve played there.”