"Van Gerwen's mindset, Littler's finishing, and Price's muscle" – The ideal darts player according to fans at the 2025 World Cup of Darts
PDCTuesday, 17 June 2025 at 12:45
During the 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, our very own Dartsnews.com team took to the stands with a mission: to find out what makes the perfect darts player. Not just any player, but a true icon — someone who embodies everything that makes the sport so special.
With questions ranging from the best walk-on and the most powerful scorer, to the deadliest finisher on doubles, the smoothest throwing technique, and the coolest nickname, a clear picture slowly emerged of what fans consider the ideal darts player.
It quickly became clear that no single real-life player could check all the boxes. Opinions varied, but some names echoed repeatedly throughout the Frankfurt Arena.
“He’s the Green Boogeyman”
For Philipp and Nevio from Dreieich-Offenthal, the choice for best walk-on was an easy one. “Michael van Gerwen is the only real answer,” they said. “He’s the green boogeyman, and Seven Nation Army fits him like a glove. His entrance is more than just a walk-on—it’s magic. Even though he’s not playing this year, the crowd still sings: ‘Ohh, Michael van Gerwen!’”
When it came to scoring power, most fans were in agreement: Luke Littler is the undisputed king. “What he’s doing is unreal,” Nevio said. “He’s broken the Premier League 180 record two years in a row. He just keeps setting new records. On Saturday, when Germany played England, I was genuinely scared of him.”
For doubles, Nevio picked Danny Noppert. “He’s solid on every double. No favorites—he just hits them all.” Philipp, however, preferred a more segmented view. “I like to break it down by double,” he explained. “For tops, I go with Gerwyn Price—ice cold. Double 10? That’s Luke Littler’s specialty. You really have to look at each double, because different players excel in different areas.”
In terms of throwing style, Gary Anderson’s name came up frequently. “His motion is pure—straight, accurate, elegant,” said Philipp with admiration. “Especially when his first dart hits triple 20, the rest usually follow. He’s a classic, almost a darting aesthete. Watching him hit a 180 is just beautiful.”
And when it came to nicknames, fans still gravitated toward the legends. “Mighty Mike, The Flying Scotsman, The Power—those names have character,” Nevio laughed. “Much better than most of the new generation’s nicknames.”
Two passionate darts fans and lots of expertise: Nevio and Philipp have a precise idea of their "perfect darts player"
"If You Want to Be World Champion, You Have to Score"
Laura from Frankfurt offered a different perspective. For her, Peter Wright had the best walk-on. “He brings the crowd in. His energy is contagious—you can tell he lives for the stage.” On scoring, she didn’t hesitate. “If you want to be world champion, you have to score. So my pick is Luke Littler.”
For doubles, she chose Martin Schindler, who, alongside Ricardo Pietreczko, hit an impressive 62% success rate against England. As for throwing technique, Gian van Veen stood out in her eyes. “His darts land almost horizontally on the board—you hardly ever see that. That’s what makes it so special.”
And her favorite nickname? “The Asp” – Nathan Aspinall’s moniker. “It just sounds cool.”
A classic walk-on, and surprising choice for finest pitching style
“He’s a Scoring Machine”
Gabriel from Frankfurt also had a soft spot for Aspinall—especially his walk-on. “Mr. Brightside is a classic. You can feel the crowd swaying with it.” For throwing style, he picked Luke Littler for his smooth motion. But for scoring, Gabriel leaned toward Luke Humphries: “He’s a real scoring machine.” His choice for doubles was Gerwyn Price, and the coolest nickname, in his view, belonged to Matt Campbell: The Ginja Ninja.
Eliminated early at World Cup of Darts, but essential for Gabriel's perfect player: the duo of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries
"What He Does on the Trebles Is Still Phenomenal"
Kai from Wiesbaden put a twist on his picks. “For entrance music, I’ve got to go with Martin Schindler—he walks on to Rammstein.” Although Littler was the obvious choice in scoring, Kai preferred Michael van Gerwen. “What he does on the trebles is still phenomenal.” For doubles, he returned to German pride, choosing Ricardo Pietreczko. “Pikachu is lethal on the outer rings.” He also picked Gian van Veen for best throwing technique, and for best nickname, he went with Littler’s The Nuke.
Impressed by the pitching style of semifinalist Gian van Veen: Kai from Wiesbaden
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“It’s Just Atmosphere—You Want to Be There”
Fin from Wiesbaden and Johann from Darmstadt were in complete agreement on the best walk-on: Gerwyn Price. “‘Ice Ice Baby’ with Gezzy is pure atmosphere. It makes you want to be there.” Littler was again their go-to scorer, but surprisingly, they picked Van Gerwen for doubles. “He’s just reliable. A multiple world champion. You can count on him.” To show some national pride, they picked Martin Schindler’s nickname, The Wall, though they admitted his semifinal performance wasn't his best.
The German number one cannot be missing from the German shirt: Finn and Johann support Martin Schindler in their selection
“Nathan Aspinall Is My Guy”
For Felix from Saarbrücken, it’s a no-brainer. “Mr. Brightside always hits the spot. So Nathan Aspinall is my guy.” He chose Littler for both scoring and doubles. His favorite throw came from Josh Rock, and again, he went with Schindler’s The Wall as his top nickname.
Josh Rock left a lasting impression on Felix from Saarbrücken: despite Northern Ireland's victory over Germany, "Rocky" won the award for best pitching style
“Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor Is Still a Legend”
Frederik from Wiesbaden gave a shoutout to the German team. “Today I’m going with Major Tom, the song the German team used at the World Cup.” But when it came to scoring, Littler was his clear favorite. Josh Rock impressed him with his doubles in the match against Germany. And although he’s not a huge fan of Gerwyn Price, he admitted Price’s throwing style is among the finest. For nickname, he went old-school: “Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor is still a legend.”
A blast from the past: "The Power" remains Frederick's peerless nickname
The Final Verdict: This Is the Ultimate Darts Player, According to the Fans
After countless conversations with passionate fans, a kind of consensus finally emerged. According to the crowd at the 2025 World Cup of Darts, the perfect darts player would look like this:
- Walk-on: Nathan Aspinall – Mr. Brightside won just a few more hearts than Van Gerwen, Price, or the German team.
- Scoring: Luke Littler – almost no debate here. The young Englishman dominated this category.
- Doubles: Luke Littler – though he faced stiff competition from Van Gerwen, Price, Pietreczko, Schindler, Rock, and Noppert.
- Throwing Style: Gian van Veen – a standout pick whose unique form left a lasting impression.
- Nickname: The Wall – Martin Schindler’s nickname came out on top, though The Nuke, The Power, The Asp, The Ginja Ninja, Mighty Mike, and The Flying Scotsman weren’t far behind.
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