Latest news with #TopsandTales
Scottish Sun
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘I'm close to losing my card' – Darts cult hero reveals moment he got job in a bar and almost ran out of money
Nicholson revealed the moment that everything changed for his career money treble 'I'm close to losing my card' – Darts cult hero reveals moment he got job in a bar and almost ran out of money DARTS star Paul Nicholson has revealed that he had to get a job behind a golf club bar and was close to running out of money during a slump in his career. The English thrower is as well-known for his commentary career as he is for his playing one, but there was a time where it looked as though he would have no career at all. 3 Paul Nicholson has opened up on the peak of his financial struggles as his playing career stalled out a decade ago Credit: Getty 3 'The Asset' would follow the end of his playing career with a presence on commentary for the PDC Credit: Getty - Contributor In 2013, 'The Asset' seemed set to become a mainstay at the top of professional darts after strong showings in several major tournaments. His 2011 performances alone had brought him to three major quarter-finals, as well as a second-place finish in the Championship League. But a downturn in form would follow for the Newcastle native, which would see him fall into dire financial straits by 2016. He told the Tops and Tales podcast: 'I wouldn't qualify for the Worlds for a while. "The European Tour was very, very difficult to get on all of a sudden after being a seed for the first two, three seasons and tour life was different. "I was earning a lot less money and around 2016, I'm close to losing my card. I'm close to running out of money. "I had to sell my house and went into rented accommodation with my girlfriend. She had to support me for a little bit of time." It had reached a point that Nicholson was at risk of leaving the world of darts altogether. 3 Nicholson is a cult hero for his eccentric persona and explosive actions on stage Credit: PA:Press Association He had to consider finding other work, and even arranged a job pulling pints at a local golf club. 'There was a time in the summer of 2016, where I swallowed my pride whole, like it was a five pound pill. I said 'go and get a job then.' I haven't had a job since 2008. Luke Littler in fiery reaction to crowd during Australian Darts Masters win over Damon Heta "So, eight years, what do I do? I was one of the best 10 players in the world at one point. But this is a massive reality check. "So I actually got a job to work at a golf club in the bar. I got the job and I thought, right, okay, we're going to do this.' Luckily for The Asset, he would receive a call that week offering him a spot on commentary for the upcoming Austrian Open in 2016. The move would kick off a career on commentary for Nicholson that endures today. He explained: "That was my big break. Vienna 2016. That tournament was brilliant and it coincided that was the last European tour event Phil Taylor would play. "He won that one. It was his last one, but it was my first one. That was where things sort of tipped towards the media side.'
The Irish Sun
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘I'm close to losing my card' – Darts cult hero reveals moment he got job in a bar and almost ran out of money
Nicholson revealed the moment that everything changed for his career money treble 'I'm close to losing my card' – Darts cult hero reveals moment he got job in a bar and almost ran out of money DARTS star Paul Nicholson has revealed that he had to get a job behind a golf club bar and was close to running out of money during a slump in his career. The English thrower is as well-known for his commentary career as he is for his playing one, but there was a time where it looked as though he would have no career at all. 3 Paul Nicholson has opened up on the peak of his financial struggles as his playing career stalled out a decade ago Credit: Getty 3 'The Asset' would follow the end of his playing career with a presence on commentary for the PDC Credit: Getty - Contributor In 2013, 'The Asset' seemed set to become a mainstay at the top of professional darts after strong showings in several major tournaments. His 2011 performances alone had brought him to three major quarter-finals, as well as a second-place finish in the Championship League. But a downturn in form would follow for the Newcastle native, which would see him fall into dire financial straits by 2016. He told the Tops and Tales podcast: 'I wouldn't qualify for the Worlds for a while. "The European Tour was very, very difficult to get on all of a sudden after being a seed for the first two, three seasons and tour life was different. "I was earning a lot less money and around 2016, I'm close to losing my card. I'm close to running out of money. "I had to sell my house and went into rented accommodation with my girlfriend. She had to support me for a little bit of time." It had reached a point that Nicholson was at risk of leaving the world of darts altogether. 3 Nicholson is a cult hero for his eccentric persona and explosive actions on stage Credit: PA:Press Association He had to consider finding other work, and even arranged a job pulling pints at a local golf club. 'There was a time in the summer of 2016, where I swallowed my pride whole, like it was a five pound pill. I said 'go and get a job then.' I haven't had a job since 2008. Luke Littler in fiery reaction to crowd during Australian Darts Masters win over Damon Heta "So, eight years, what do I do? I was one of the best 10 players in the world at one point. But this is a massive reality check. "So I actually got a job to work at a golf club in the bar. I got the job and I thought, right, okay, we're going to do this.' Luckily for The Asset, he would receive a call that week offering him a spot on commentary for the upcoming Austrian Open in 2016. The move would kick off a career on commentary for Nicholson that endures today. He explained: "That was my big break. Vienna 2016. That tournament was brilliant and it coincided that was the last European tour event Phil Taylor would play. "He won that one. It was his last one, but it was my first one. That was where things sort of tipped towards the media side.'
The Sun
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘I'm close to losing my card' – Darts cult hero reveals moment he got job in a bar and almost ran out of money
DARTS star Paul Nicholson has revealed that he had to get a job behind a golf club bar and was close to running out of money during a slump in his career. The English thrower is as well-known for his commentary career as he is for his playing one, but there was a time where it looked as though he would have no career at all. 3 3 In 2013, 'The Asset' seemed set to become a mainstay at the top of professional darts after strong showings in several major tournaments. His 2011 performances alone had brought him to three major quarter-finals, as well as a second-place finish in the Championship League. But a downturn in form would follow for the Newcastle native, which would see him fall into dire financial straits by 2016. He told the Tops and Tales podcast: 'I wouldn't qualify for the Worlds for a while. "The European Tour was very, very difficult to get on all of a sudden after being a seed for the first two, three seasons and tour life was different. "I was earning a lot less money and around 2016, I'm close to losing my card. I'm close to running out of money." "I had to sell my house and went into rented accommodation with my girlfriend. She had to support me for a little bit of time." It had reached a point that Nicholson was at risk of leaving the world of darts altogether. 3 He had to consider finding other work, and even arranged a job pulling pints at a local golf club. 'There was a time in the summer of 2016, where I swallowed my pride whole, like it was a five pound pill. I said 'go and get a job then.' I haven't had a job since 2008. Luke Littler in fiery reaction to crowd during Australian Darts Masters win over Damon Heta "So, eight years, what do I do? I was one of the best 10 players in the world at one point. But this is a massive reality check. "So I actually got a job to work at a golf club in the bar. I got the job and I thought, right, okay, we're going to do this.' Luckily for The Asset, he would receive a call that week offering him a spot on commentary for the upcoming Austrian Open in 2016. The move would kick off a career on commentary for Nicholson that endures today. "That was my big break. Vienna 2016. That tournament was brilliant and it coincided that was the last European tour event Phil Taylor would play. "He won that one. It was his last one, but it was my first one. That was where things sort of tipped towards the media side.'
The Irish Sun
06-08-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
‘Crying my eyes out' – Darts star lifts lid on personal woes and moment opponent accused him of cheating
Other players have also suffered from the same condition DARTS STAR OPENS UP 'Crying my eyes out' – Darts star lifts lid on personal woes and moment opponent accused him of cheating DARTS star Gian van Veen cried his eyes out after being accused of cheating by an opponent. The Dutchman suffers from dartitis - a condition which stops players from releasing the dart due to a psychological problem. Advertisement 2 Gian van Veen cried his eyes out after being accused of cheating by an opponent Credit: Getty Van Veen said on Huw Ware's Tops and Tales podcast: 'I still remember one game on the Challenge Tour when I first got dartitis and my opponent was angry at me because he thought I was doing it on purpose. 'I was in tears, crying my eyes out in the middle of Barnsley Metrodome because I was struggling so badly. "And for my opponent to tell me I was cheating or something — it was heartbreaking.' The name is a portmanteau and was coined by Darts World editor Tony Wood in 1981. Advertisement This condition sees darts players of all levels struggle psychologically - and it is suggested it comes from a fear of missing. At the highest level, dartitis has affected many of the sport's best players, including five-time world champion Eric Bristow, who said he suffered with the condition for a decade. Nathan Aspinall also appeared to struggle with the condition when he faced Luke Littler in the World Darts Championship on New Year's Day. Van Veen is still overcoming his issues now - but believes dartitis has actually made him a better player. Advertisement He said: 'The weird thing is, I played better through it. I started averaging like 85 with dartitis. "But when I got rid of it, I averaged 92, 93, because in my head, I was like, 'You're not going to release the dart until you're 100 per cent sure you're going to hit the target.' Rob Cross admits darts concerns after former world champ's major slump in form "So it took a while, but I started playing better, winning more games, and that massively grew my confidence. "And that's how I eventually got rid of it.' Advertisement Former Youth World Champion Van Veen is now ranked 18th in the world and has titles in his sights. He said: 'I'm not going to sit here and say, 'I'm going to win five world titles.' I'll be very happy with my career if I win one. "I think so far, my career's already been very successful. But yeah, I'd love to top it off — whether it's in 20, 25, 30 years — with a world title. "Doesn't matter if it's next year or in 10 or 15 years. Just win one, and I'll be very satisfied.' Advertisement
The Irish Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Two-time darts world champion, 40, reveals he is at ‘crossroads' in major retirement hint
ADRIAN LEWIS admits he's standing at a 'crossroads' as he contemplates a return to professional darts. Two-times World Champion Lewis has been competing at exhibition events throughout the UK this year. 3 Adrian Lewis has hinted that he may soon return to the world of competitive darts Credit: Getty 3 The two-time world champion stepped away from the competitive game and has since been playing exhibition events Credit: Getty But the Stoke-on-Trent thrower has been absent from competitive action for over 26 months. "Jackpot" had previously stepped away from the oche due to the stress of the game and to care for his ill wife Sarah. He told the Tops and Tales podcast: 'Sarah's got an incurable kidney disease, so we obviously spent a lot of time in hospital. 'My daughter, she's got autism and ADHD, so she's got them both combined. So, she's on disability. READ MORE ON DARTS 'So, and all that like, like I said, she's at our level, our level needs. But yeah, she's still a diamond like, you know.' The 40-year-old is currently unable to compete in PDC events after his Tour Card expired at the end of 2024. Four-times major winner Lewis insists there's no chance of a half-hearted return to the big stage as he weighs up his next move carefully. Lewis added: 'I mean, we'll see where January takes us in regards to going back to professional darts. Most read in Darts JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 3 It has been 26 months since Lewis last played a competitive game of darts Credit: PA 'You know, obviously, I'll never write it off and say I'm, you know, I never go back to the PDC because that would be my aim again. 'But I wouldn't turn up there, say I won my Tour Card back and then after six months, say no, I wasn't ready for it. Darts icon Bobby George shows off amputated TOE he keeps in vodka after it was chopped off by 'big pair of nail cutters' 'I want to make sure I'm 100 per cent ready, mentally right and just go at it all guns blazing. 'I feel, I mean, I haven't really said anything to anybody else really. I feel as if like it's a crossroads. Do you know what I mean?" List of all-time Darts World Champions BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year. The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions. That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included. 1994 - Dennis Priestley 1995 - Phil Taylor 1996 - Phil Taylor (2) 1997 - Phil Taylor (3) 1998 - Phil Taylor (4) 1999 - Phil Taylor (5) 2000 - Phil Taylor (6) 2001 - Phil Taylor (7) 2002 - Phil Taylor (8) 2003 - John Part 2004 - Phil Taylor (9) 2005 - Phil Taylor (10) 2006 - Phil Taylor (11) 2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 2008 - John Part (2) 2009 - Phil Taylor (12) 2010 - Phil Taylor (13) 2011 - Adrian Lewis 2012 - Adrian Lewis (2) 2013 - Phil Taylor (14) 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 2015 - Gary Anderson 2016 - Gary Anderson (2) 2017 - Michael van Gerwen (2) 2018 - Rob Cross 2019 - Michael van Gerwen (3) 2020 - Peter Wright 2021 - Gerwyn Price 2022 - Peter Wright (2) 2023 - Michael Smith 2024 - Luke Humphries 2025 - Luke Littler Most World Titles 14 - Phil Taylor 3 - Michael van Gerwen 2 - John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 1 - Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler
