"Top players are being offered huge money to play one exhibition rather than grind through a ProTour": Scott Mitchell understands why Luke Littler and co are skipping Players Championships

The darts world is on the verge of another edition of the prestigious WDF World Masters in Las Vegas, and one of the standout names on the entry list is none other than Scott Mitchell. The former world champion, better known to fans as “Scotty Dog,” is clearly looking forward to the tournament in America with great enthusiasm.

At the same time, he spoke openly about his health, his changing life as a grandfather, the current state of darts, and the rise of a new generation of superstars. Mitchell, who spent many years among the absolute elite of the BDO and WDF, has lived a somewhat quieter life in recent seasons. However, the fire still clearly burns brightly.

"I had a couple of health issues that I tried to play through, but it didn’t really happen as much as I wanted it to. I was still playing well, still winning the odd vault here and there and still doing enough, but I always seemed to be one or two darts short," he said to Tungsten Tales.

For Mitchell, the WDF World Masters in Las Vegas means more than just another tournament on the calendar. It is an adventure that is brand new given that the former BDO World Champion has never been to the US even.

"I’m really excited. I’ve been to Hungary for the last couple of years as well, but I’ve never played in America before. I’ve wanted to go and play there for a long time, it’s just been about having the right reason. And the World Masters is no better reason to head to Vegas."

As a result, he is practicing hard and leaving no stone unturned in his mission. "We’re working hard now and if I’m going to commit to Vegas, then I’m going to commit to practising every day when the opportunity arises, putting the hours in on the board and trying to fast-track it a little bit."

That practice has not been straightforward in recent months. Mitchell now combines his active darts career with commentary work, exhibition tournaments, and various other commitments within the sport.

"It’s been unbelievably hard. There hasn’t really been any practice time in the last two or three months. Unless I’m out playing in an ADC Vault or playing my local league stuff, which I’ve always done, I tend to find myself a little bit too lazy or too tired. If you’re tired while practising, then it’s pointless. I’ve got to be in the right mood and the right physical state."

Despite his busy schedule, Mitchell is not ruling out a return to the professional circuit. Another attempt through Q-School is certainly a possibility. "I may go back to Q School in January, but if I don’t feel like I’m playing well enough then there’s no point in going. I want to be able to compete."

But a Lakeside return is his current dream. "For me, though, I’d really like to get back to Lakeside one more time. That’s probably next on the bucket list. At 55, life changes very quickly and sometimes unexpectedly."

While darts was once the centre of Mitchell’s life, other priorities have now emerged. The former world champion has become a grandfather, something he says completely changed his life.

"I’m now a grandparent and people who follow me on Facebook will have seen my grandson came with us to County this weekend.

"My daughter Casey plays County with me as well, so County darts has changed for me now. It’s become a really fun family weekend, and I’m enjoying that side of life a lot more. Being a grandparent is the best thing ever, so I’m making time for that too."

That new phase of life has also made him calmer as a player. Mitchell visibly enjoys the sport more than he did a few years ago.

"Yeah, definitely. I’m enjoying the exhibitions. I did one with Josh Rock the other week and beat him 4-1, then beat Danny Noppert 5-4 the next night at the BIC. Unfortunately I lost to Cristo Reyes, but as we’ve seen over the last few months, he’s playing great.

"At the moment, whatever darts I’m doing, I’m enjoying it. I still have the drive and hunger to play well and I still get annoyed when I lose. The day I walk away from a defeat and think, “Ah well, he was much better than me,” without caring, that’s the time to stop. But I’m not at that point yet."

During the interview, Mitchell also spoke extensively about the current top players in darts. Luke Humphries in particular has impressed him.

"I’ve got a sneaky feeling about him. I think he could win the Premier League and I think he could go on and win Blackpool as well. He looks like he’s hitting form at exactly the right time for me."

But he also sees that him tinkering with his setup is something that could see him hit top form again at the right time. "I think it does. We all tinker. Those of us from the Phil Taylor era knew how much he tinkered to try and get that extra two per cent.

"I’ve been doing it myself lately, trying longer points to see if there’s more control and balance. I used to put little lumps of Blutac in the back of my darts to make them sit flatter so they didn’t get in each other’s way. I’ve tried all sorts over the years."

He also spoke with admiration about sensation Luke Littler. The young Englishman has lived under intense scrutiny for quite some time, but according to Mitchell, he handles it exceptionally well. "I’ve known him since he was a youth player and I always enjoy catching up with him.

It’s difficult for him to have a normal life with the magnitude he now has in the game and the way he’s changed darts. He has moments where he gets upset, but people forget he’s only 18 or 19 years old. He’s not 55 like me. There’s such a spotlight on him and, speaking to him, I think it’s very difficult at times. His schedule is so heavy as well. If he’s not playing in tournaments, he’s doing exhibitions. I think some of the downturn in form since Christmas has probably been because he’s been so busy, but I think over the next six months you’ll see him address that."

Speaking of Littler, he also addressed players deciding to skip en masse the ProTour tournaments and he said something needs to change in a similar vein to Chris Mason's view about the fact that Littler and co won't play Minehead which is a nightmare for broadcasters.

"I think something has to change because if top players are missing ProTours, and those rankings are being used for TV events, then it becomes difficult to sell those tournaments to broadcasters when your best players aren’t there.

"That’s the PDC’s headache, not mine. I’m just enjoying watching it all and enjoying playing against the guys whenever I get the chance. There’s so much darts on TV now and I love that."

But also the issue also lies with players taking lucrative exhibitions and he understands why. "I don’t know how you reduce it because there’s so much money to be made from exhibitions at the moment. The top players are being offered huge money to play one exhibition match rather than grind through a ProTour event.

"From a player’s perspective, I understand it. But from a promoter’s point of view, trying to fix that is really difficult."

One player Mitchell was particularly complimentary about was Beau Greaves. According to him, she has been one of the greatest talents he has ever seen for years.

Mitchell then recalled a remarkable anecdote from the WDF World Cup in Denmark. Shortly before the finals, Greaves lost one of her darts and had to improvise.

"We’ve known Beau was special for a very long time. Those of us in the game have known about her since she was 12 or 13 years old.

"I remember at a WDF World Cup in Denmark, she reached the finals in the singles, pairs and team event, then realised she’d lost one of her darts. She borrowed a set from Jamie Atkins, borrowed some flights and stems from around the room because she was sponsored by L-Style, and then went up there and won everything with someone else’s darts.

"That tells you how special her mentality is. She can just throw anything similar and get on with it. She’s only got better and better since then. The better the opposition, the more focused she becomes. Her throw is perfect and mechanically there doesn’t seem to be a flaw in it. On top of that, she’s just a lovely person. No ego, no “look at me.” She just loves playing darts."

Mitchell Lawrie was also discussed. Mitchell sees the young Scot as one of the greatest talents within the WDF, although he hopes comparisons with Littler will stop.

"I spent some time with him at the Denmark Open a couple of weeks ago. He’s another lad who doesn’t think he’s bigger than the game. He’s very humble and just enjoying his darts.

"He’s like a 15 or 16-year-old kid who just wants to keep playing because he keeps winning. Everybody wants to play when they’re winning. He won the Denmark Open that weekend as well, so on the WDF side he’s probably the player everybody is chasing right now.

"I just hope people stop comparing him to Luke Littler because they’re completely different characters and players. They’re both very likeable in their own way."

Finally, Mitchell spoke about a possible comeback for two-time world champion Adrian Lewis. According to him, Lewis returning would be fantastic for the sport.

"Adrian is naturally talented. He’s one of those players who doesn’t really have to work at it in the same way because it comes naturally to him, a bit like Gary Anderson.

"He’s not going to come back instantly at his very best because that just doesn’t happen, but who wouldn’t want to see Adrian back?

"It would be a tough road because the game has changed. The standard at the top hasn’t necessarily gone massively beyond the eras of Phil Taylor or Michael van Gerwen, but now there are far more players producing that level. Where there used to be maybe eight or ten players at that standard, now there are 40.

"That’s why we’re seeing so many different winners on the ProTour and in the WDF as well. Nobody is dominating everything. It’s a really interesting time for darts and, speaking with my pundit and commentary hat on, I love where the sport is going. I still want to keep playing as long as I can too."