
World Matchplay Darts DELAYED by power cut as arena left in darkness during walk-ons for first game of the evening
THROW IN THE DARK World Matchplay Darts DELAYED by power cut as arena left in darkness during walk-ons for first game of the evening
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
THE World Matchplay Darts was plunged into darkness after a power cut caused delays at the Winter Gardens venue.
Fans had to wait for the lights to come on before the highly-anticipated tournament could get underway after already seeing the first match delayed by 15 minutes.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
The crowd behind James Wade was plunged into darkness after a power cut hit the World Matchplay Darts in Blackpool
Credit: Sky Sports
James Wade and Joe Cullen were due to play out the tournament's curtain raiser at 7:10pm, but were delayed in their walkouts for some 15 minutes.
And things went even further awry when the lights inside the arena cut out as Wade took to the stage.
Fortunately for the World No8, the stage lights remained on so that he could see where he was going.
But those in the crowd in Blackpool were sat in darkness after a local power cut had caused the chaos.
READ MORE IN DARTS
LEW CAN DO IT Two-time world champ, 40, to make emotional darts return after over 2yrs away
Fans watching at home couldn't believe their eyes when they saw the incident unfold live on Sky Sports.
And one even joked: "Put 50p in the meter".
When the action did get back underway it was Wade who kept his cool to ensure a victory and a place in the second round.
The Machine breezed past Cullen 10-3, putting up a superb average of 104.44 - his highest in 10 years at Winter Gardens.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Wade, who is making his 20th consecutive World Matchplay appearance, spoke after the match about how much playing in Blackpool means to him.
He said: "Bloody hell, I've won tournaments with less than that [104.44 average].
Darts legend Bobby George sends stark message to Luke Littler as he warns sensation he can 'go from hero to zero quick'
"It is what it is. They [the fans at Winter Gardens] are all interested in darts. They're all listening, they're all watching and that's what makes Blackpool magical.
"Everyone is interested in darts. Some of the other venues you don't get that interaction, but here it's great. I'm very excited to be back here".

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Reuters
27 minutes ago
- Reuters
Raducanu beats Osaka in straight sets to reach Washington quarters
July 25 (Reuters) - Emma Raducanu beat four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka 6-4 6-2 in their first career meeting to reach the quarter-finals of the Washington Open on Thursday. Raducanu, U.S. Open champion in 2021, next faces former world number three Maria Sakkari after the Greek stunned American second seed Emma Navarro in straight sets. "I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi's won four slams, she's been world number one, won Masters," Raducanu told Sky Sports. "She's so dangerous and on the hard courts, I think she's particularly comfortable. "I knew I was going to have to play well and manage my own service games, which I'm really proud of how I did. I was making some inroads in her service game after I got used to it a little bit. "I'm really pleased with how I handled the ball speed and conditions here in DC." Raducanu, who will reclaim the British number one ranking from Katie Boulter when the WTA rankings are released on Monday, is also into the women's doubles semi-finals alongside Wimbledon 2022 champion Elena Rybakina. Venus Williams' comeback tournament after 16 months away from the game ended with a 6-2 6-2 loss to Polish fifth seed Magdalena Frech. The 45-year-old seven-times singles Grand Slam champion became the oldest player to win a WTA singles match since 2004 when she beat Peyton Stearns in her Washington opener on Tuesday.


Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Emma Raducanu proves too strong for Naomi Osaka in Washington
Emma Raducanu will reclaim the British number one ranking after winning her first meeting with four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka in confident fashion. The clash was hotly anticipated but proved to be not that much of a contest, with Raducanu comfortably clinching a 6-4 6-2 victory to reach the quarter-finals of the Citi Open in Washington. Speaking on Sky Sports, Raducanu said: 'I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi's won four slams, she's been world number one, won Masters. That was some performance 👏 @EmmaRaducanu defeats Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to secure her place in the quarterfinals once again in DC! #MubadalaCitiDCOpen — Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 24, 2025 'She's so dangerous and on the hard courts I think she's particularly comfortable. I knew I was going to have to play really well and manage my own service games, which I'm really proud of how I did. 'I was making some inroads in her service games after I got used to it a little bit. I'm really pleased with how I handled the ball speed and the conditions here in DC.' The result means the 22-year-old will once again overtake Katie Boulter to become the top-ranked British player as she looks to secure a seeding for next month's US Open. Raducanu ended Boulter's two-year run at the top of the domestic standings in June but then slipped back to 46 in the world after losing a close tussle with Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of Wimbledon. Making a statement 😤 @EmmaRaducanu battles past Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to return to the quarterfinals in Washington DC. #MubadalaCitiDCOpen — wta (@WTA) July 24, 2025 Her two victories here, though, could mean Raducanu returns to the top 40, and she will definitely pass Boulter following her opening round defeat to Maria Sakkari. It will be the Greek that Raducanu plays next, and she has not dropped a set in three previous meetings. Raducanu was sharp from the start against Osaka, who continues to search for a way back to the top of the game after giving birth to daughter Shai two years ago. A double fault from the Japanese star gave Raducanu the first break in the fifth game and the British player was rock solid on serve as she wrapped up the opening set. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @emmaraducanu Raducanu is without a coach in Washington amid uncertainty over the future of her partnership with Mark Petchey and has only hitting partner Alexis Canter in her corner, but there was no lack of direction in this performance. She was helped to another break at the start of the second set by more errors from Osaka, who created a first chance on the Raducanu serve at 1-2 but could not take it. Raducanu's serve has improved markedly under Petchey and was her key weapon here as she moved through to a third quarter-final in Washington with strong hopes of going further. Cameron Norrie could not match Raducanu, though, the British number two beaten 7-6 (3) 6-3 by American 14th seed Brandon Nakashima. Dan Evans' hopes of another deep run in Washington two years after he won the title are also over after he lost 6-2 7-6 (4) to France's Corentin Moutet. Elsewhere, Venus Williams fell in straight sets to Poland's Magdalena Frech in the second round. The 45-year-old became the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova in 2004 after an opening-round victory over Peyton Stearns on Tuesday. Williams took an early 2-1 lead against Frech, but the 27-year-old responded with a dominant run of seven straight games en route to a 6-2 6-2 win.

Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Emma Raducanu proves too strong for Naomi Osaka in Washington
The clash was hotly anticipated but proved to be not that much of a contest, with Raducanu comfortably clinching a 6-4 6-2 victory to reach the quarter-finals of the Citi Open in Washington. Speaking on Sky Sports, Raducanu said: 'I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi's won four slams, she's been world number one, won Masters. That was some performance 👏@EmmaRaducanu defeats Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to secure her place in the quarterfinals once again in DC!#MubadalaCitiDCOpen — Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 24, 2025 'She's so dangerous and on the hard courts I think she's particularly comfortable. I knew I was going to have to play really well and manage my own service games, which I'm really proud of how I did. 'I was making some inroads in her service games after I got used to it a little bit. I'm really pleased with how I handled the ball speed and the conditions here in DC.' The result means the 22-year-old will once again overtake Katie Boulter to become the top-ranked British player as she looks to secure a seeding for next month's US Open. Raducanu ended Boulter's two-year run at the top of the domestic standings in June but then slipped back to 46 in the world after losing a close tussle with Aryna Sabalenka in the third round of Wimbledon. Making a statement 😤@EmmaRaducanu battles past Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to return to the quarterfinals in Washington DC.#MubadalaCitiDCOpen — wta (@WTA) July 24, 2025 Her two victories here, though, could mean Raducanu returns to the top 40, and she will definitely pass Boulter following her opening round defeat to Maria Sakkari. It will be the Greek that Raducanu plays next, and she has not dropped a set in three previous meetings. Raducanu was sharp from the start against Osaka, who continues to search for a way back to the top of the game after giving birth to daughter Shai two years ago. A double fault from the Japanese star gave Raducanu the first break in the fifth game and the British player was rock solid on serve as she wrapped up the opening set. A post shared by @emmaraducanu Raducanu is without a coach in Washington amid uncertainty over the future of her partnership with Mark Petchey and has only hitting partner Alexis Canter in her corner, but there was no lack of direction in this performance. She was helped to another break at the start of the second set by more errors from Osaka, who created a first chance on the Raducanu serve at 1-2 but could not take it. Raducanu's serve has improved markedly under Petchey and was her key weapon here as she moved through to a third quarter-final in Washington with strong hopes of going further. Cameron Norrie could not match Raducanu, though, the British number two beaten 7-6 (3) 6-3 by American 14th seed Brandon Nakashima. Dan Evans' hopes of another deep run in Washington two years after he won the title are also over after he lost 6-2 7-6 (4) to France's Corentin Moutet. Elsewhere, Venus Williams fell in straight sets to Poland's Magdalena Frech in the second round. The 45-year-old became the oldest woman to win a tour-level singles match since Martina Navratilova in 2004 after an opening-round victory over Peyton Stearns on Tuesday. Williams took an early 2-1 lead against Frech, but the 27-year-old responded with a dominant run of seven straight games en route to a 6-2 6-2 win.