Four spots are still available in the second round of the 2024
World Seniors Darts Championship. Friday night the four final matches of the first round will be played.
One of the top favorites for the overall victory will be in action, as well as a number of darts icons. The evening opens with a duel between
Leonard Gates and Colin McGarry. Gates is seeded second in Circus Tavern. That's for good reason. Gates was a semifinalist at this tournament last year, but then won the three remaining televised tournaments at the World Seniors Darts Tour (WSDT). Gates is therefore considered one of the top favorites for the senior world title.
In the second match of the evening session, crowd favorite
Darryl Fitton faces off with
Chris Mason. Both men were also there in Purfleet last year. Fitton then lost to Gates in the quarter-finals, while Mason went down against Terry Jenkins in the first round.
Phil Taylor begins his very last World Championship appearance Friday night. 'The Power' competed four times at Lakeside, played 25 World Cups with the PDC and is now playing his third World Championship in the seniors. The 63-year-old darts legend has announced he is putting away his darts for good after this year. Taylor will take on Manfred Bilderl, the first ever German participant at this tournament.
The first round will conclude with a meeting between Richie Howson and John Part. Howson is last year's losing finalist, while Howson was also subsequently the losing finalist at the World Seniors Masters and at the Champion of Champions tournament. Three-time world champion Part recently made a bid for a Tour Card at the Q-School, but was unsuccessful. Darth Maple, however, showed he can still throw a good dart, as he did manage to reach the final stage of the Q-School.
Playing schedule World Seniors Darts Championship 2024
Friday, Feb. 16
Evening session (from 7 p.m.)
Leonard Gates (2) - Colin McGarry
Darryl Fitton (14) - Chris Mason
Phil Taylor (3) - Manfred Bilderl
Richie Howson (10) - John Part