"To win one was very unexpected and I got a bit emotional" - Tommy Lishman discusses first PDC title triumph and rise through darting ranks

Tommy Lishman is already making a name for himself in the sport. A Challenge Tour title, nine-darter on the MODUS Super Series and a number of ProTour ventures have put him on the darting map. While he is thoroughly enjoying the experience, there is still more progress to be made with the 31-year-old confident that he has the tools to do so, but is treading patiently.

Before taking about darts, he spoke to Bang on Target a bit about himself and life away from darts. “Well, I’ve recently turned 31, live in Hull and live with my partner and recently turned 1-year-old. I work at a Garage Installation company called Everard as a Customs Controller, as well as being supervisor in a busy Stores Room/Warehouse.”

While he has other priorities outside of the sport, he is still trying to make it in darts. Sitting 94th in the Players Championship Order of Merit, Lishman has earned his chances through competing on the Challenge Tour. Already having amassed £7,900, he is placed in third after already winning a title in the first event.

He already has a select few names that he sits with when competing either on the ProTour or Challenge Tour. “On the Pro Tour, I sit with Thomas Lovely, Tom Bissell, Jack Tweddell and Tyler Thorpe," he listed. "Challenge Tour it’s my management team. So, Adrian Gray, Carl Wilson, plus Simon Stothart, Steve Day and Tony Fleming. Then a few others that don’t play all the events.”

That Challenge Tour title was something that 'The Flame' was not expecting to occur. It marked a maiden PDC title and has since taken him to a higher level, regularly competing in a number of events while gaining valuable experience in every contest competed.

“Yeah very surprised," he said on that title. "I went to Q-School in January out of form and got my arse handed to me a bit. Heading to the Challenge Tour, I was very worried, fully expecting to just turn up, not perform, then end up being forgotten about a little bit."

Family prioritised over his darting career means missed opportunities slightly set him back but it was all worth it when he got over the line. “Also, I’d have been higher in the Order of Merit last year if I didn’t miss a weekend for the birth of my child. So yeah, to win one was very unexpected and I got a bit emotional. But also after 2025 I did have the belief that year I’d win one. I was just on a downer at the start of 2026.”

He has reached another final since, losing in the 12th event of the year to Harry Ward who sits in 10th on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

Back in 2025, the work paid off and he was able to compete in the UK Open. While the trip from Hull to Minehead was not the most pleasant one in the world. the experience was something that he will not forget.

“UK Open was amazing (except the drive!). Again I was full of confidence but also relieved to win a game," he admitted. "Going all that way without a guarantee of prize money is daunting. Can’t wait to get back there again.”

Playing more on the ProTour, more money is being earned which boosts his chances of making it to more top events. If he is going to compete in the biggest tournaments on offer, he will need to get used to winning more money. Lishman will have hopes in the future of returning to Minehead for the Players Championship Finals and even possibly the PDC World Darts Championship.

He went on to speak about the difference from the Challenge Tour to ProTour and specifically the Players Championship events being a much more enjoyable experience. On the Challenge Tour, two events are played in a day whereas Players Championship events span the whole day.

“It’s a lot different. I like the two-in-a-day format, providing you’ve done well in event one. If you lose early, it’s such a long wait and hard to balance your food, drink, practice and even motivation. If you’ve done well, you just roll with it. Pro Tour, however, I enjoy because we get a lot longer to prepare and kind of enjoy the day and the moment."

Normally one of the first at the venue, it is no surprise who is normally already there. "I’m an early bird with the two Toms [Bissell and Lovely]. Only Merv [King] beats us there.”

Lishman's journey started on the Development Tour back in 2012. While he did not have the success hoped for, the enjoyment factor was most certainly there. “Yeah, it did. I didn’t overly do well at youth level, but I competed to enjoy it and I did pick up some great wins at the time against the odd world-class player, which made it worth carrying on," he said.

“I also have started the Pro Tour this year with absolutely zero fear of the pros. Some people get sucked in and are just in awe of the fact you’re with the absolute elite, but I’ve never once even thought like that. The youth was the same. I thrived off the potential to play Dimi [Van den Bergh], Mike [De Decker] and Jeffrey [De Zwaan].”

It was the MODUS Super Series which got him back on his feet and motivated to be a professional darts player, convinced he can compete with the top talents. It also extinguished the main problem: “Finances. I didn’t have the money to go myself, nor the commitment to darts or the interest in going. Darts hasn’t ever been the world’s biggest priority for me. I’m not a die-hard practiser and I just didn’t really have the oomph to even consider going.

“Once MODUS Super Series became a thing, I wanted to go there as I believed I was good enough to play with the players participating there. I won the first Vault qualifier Finals Day and that kind of kick-started darts again. Three MODUS Super Series appearances and a nine-darter later, I was heading to Q School for the first time in five years with backing and belief.”

This is just the start of the journey. Lishman is patient and not expecting a Tour Card to come immediately, getting used to the environment in the sport that he loves before getting ready to make that next leap of faith.

“A Tour Card is always the goal for any player, but right now I’m in the greatest spot ever. Some people get cards early and go in there like lambs to the slaughter. I’m getting to ply my trade at the top of the Challenge Tour and have fast become one of the best in the room, but I also get to dabble in Pro Tours to get used to the set-up, atmosphere and mentality, so when I do get a card, I’m ready," he concluded.