Former world champ claims huge prize money has taken characters out of darts

KEITH DELLER reckons the huge money in modern darts has taken some of the characters out of the game.

The former world champ believes players are now under greater pressure to behave because of the hefty fines handed out for misconduct.

Deller, 66, feels the rise of mobile phones and social media has changed the relationship between players, while claiming commentators have become too distracted from the action on stage.

He told Oche180: "The problem is now if they [players] do anything wrong they're going to get fined and they don't want to be doing that, it's not cheap these days.

“There is so much money in the game. I mean they are picked up, driven into the arena. Cars waiting for them when they lose.

"In a way they're looked after so much now that they don't - I mean I might lose to someone and we'd go and have a drink afterwards. They wouldn't do that now.

"It's different. There's so much money in the game now and you've got the mobile phones around now so you can't even go and have a drink and talk to anybody without a phone in your face.

"I look at the commentators for instance. I mean your Dad [Dave Lanning] to me along with Sid [Waddell] and John Gwynne are the best we've ever had.

"They used to commentate on darts. They would commentate on the matches.

"I find now a lot of it's changed. You'll find the commentators now, they waffle on about anything and sometimes they forget there's a game going on."

The PDC has dramatically increased the financial rewards on offer, with annual prize funds now topping £25million.

Luke Littler made history earlier this year by becoming the first player to pocket £1million for winning the World Championship, crushing Gian van Veen 7-1 in the final.

The teenage superstar has also become the sport’s first £3million player, underlining his remarkable rise after collecting 14 major titles in the space of just two years.

Words: Aaron Nijjar