"There’s still life in the old boys just yet": Write me off at your peril says Dave Chisnall, sees green shoots amid torrid 12 months

The experienced Englishman Dave Chisnall has had another eventful week. In his latest column for Kwiff, the former major winner reflects on a patchy showing in Belgium, looks ahead to a busy spell on the Pro Tour, and shares his thoughts on form, ambitions, and the criticism he has faced lately.

The Belgian Darts Open brought both hope and frustration for Chisnall. On Friday night he swept aside the Frenchman Thibault Tricole in convincing fashion. With a clear 6-2 win, “Chizzy” showed his game can still hit the level that kept him among the world’s elite for years.

"He’s been a bit of a good omen for me, as a good performance over him, and he’s a mate of mine and travelled with, and a good win over him last month kicked off a bit of a run on the Pro Tour down in Leicester."

Strikingly, Tricole seems to have become a sort of lucky charm for Chisnall. Earlier this season, a win over the Frenchman sparked a strong run on the Pro Tour in Leicester. This time too, the Englishman hoped to keep that momentum going.

But reality hit hard a day later. Where Friday had brought belief, Saturday turned into a major letdown as Chisnall lost to compatriot Chris Dobey. "The win on Friday was good and the game felt alright, but Saturday was bitterly disappointing with a poor average against Chris."

The defeat stung, precisely because Chisnall felt his game was showing signs of improvement again. The contrast between the two days underlines his current situation: the level is still there, but the consistency is missing.

There is little time to dwell on the setback. The darts world keeps moving, and the next challenge already awaits for Chisnall. Next week he heads to Leicester for another set of Players Championship events—the battleground where he has enjoyed plenty of success in the past. “The game is still on the cusp of hopefully doing something that goes close to winning trophies again,” he says defiantly.

Those words reflect the confidence that still resides in the Englishman. Despite recent dips, he continues to believe a new title is within reach. Leicester, a familiar Pro Tour setting, is where a possible resurgence could take shape.

Before that, another chapter is on the agenda. Chisnall heads to Norwich, where he will play two exhibition nights at Norwich City’s Carrow Road stadium. These “A Night at the Darts” events have been popular for years, drawing packed crowds of enthusiastic fans. For players, they are a welcome change of pace between serious tournaments. "There’s a good group of players going there and it’s always good fun with crowds in that part of the world."

Still, it’s not all about relaxing. In a busy schedule like this, an exhibition can also help find rhythm and match sharpness—exactly what Chisnall is looking for.

After Norwich come Leicester and then the German Darts Grand Prix, making the next few weeks packed with matches. It’s an intense spell that will test both form and endurance. Chisnall also looks with respect at his colleagues competing in the Premier League Darts. While he already has a heavy schedule, they combine it with weekly nights across Europe.

Right now the Premier League roadshow is, for example, in Berlin, with a stop in Manchester next week. Big arenas, sold-out stands, and an impressive atmosphere—it seems a dream for any darter, but Chisnall sees a downside too. "That’s a busy enough run but my hat goes off to those who are playing in the Premier League in the middle of all that. The lads are in Berlin tonight and Manchester next week and whilst the darting roadshow looks fun and sold out crowds and amazing atmospheres – there’s a lot of travel, media and the likes on the way."

Despite his track record, Chisnall hasn’t been spared criticism. On social media he is regularly told he no longer hits the level of a few years ago—a point he doesn’t completely deny. "I still get some stick on social media who say I’m not where I was a couple of years ago, and they may be right but it’s been a busy couple of years and we all have peaks and troughs."

The Englishman points to the natural fluctuations in an elite sporting career. Form comes and goes, and even the biggest names in darts experience spells of poorer results. He cites icons like Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, and Peter Wright—players who kept winning major titles into their later years. "Were all winning World Championships into their 50s."

Modern darts is marked by a strong surge of young talent. Players with high averages and a fresh mentality challenging the establishment. Still, Chisnall believes there’s room for the experienced guard. "So whilst there are a lot of unbelievable young lads coming through, there’s still life in the old boys just yet."

That blend of experience and hunger, he believes, can make the difference in the decisive phases of tournaments. Where young players can be erratic, veterans can lean on years of match toughness. With a busy schedule ahead and a clear mission in mind, Chisnall focuses on the coming weeks. The goal is clear: find form, build confidence, and get back in the hunt for trophies.