Charis’ Column

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Column CM128
The Grand Slam’s about to begin!

Jim, you are some kind of old hand in the US sport of darts – what has kept you interested in the sport for such a long time?

Yes, been playing a long time. What keeps me playing is the competition, camraderie and …

Thursday, November 9, 2023
Column CM127
The Grand Slam’s about to begin!

It is November.  The leaves have started to fall, and the weather is strange.  Rain, wind, sunshine – and temperatures that don’t seem to be able to decide between summer and winter.

Dart players and fans from all over the world will head …

Sunday, July 22, 2023
Column CM126
Thirty Years of World Matchplay – the Players from Great Britain

When one looks at the World Matchplay winner’s list the name Phil Taylor immediately catches the eye – it appears so often. Taylor won the event sixteen times, as often as he won the World Championship. It is …

Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Column CM125
Thirty Years of World Matchplay – the Continental Europeans

Following the first part of the World Matchplay history which dealt with the participants from North America, today’s installment looks at the Continental European players and, well, the players from Australia.

Even before Roland Scholten a Dutch player appeared among …

Friday, July 14, 2023
Column CM124
Thirty Years of World Matchplay – the North Americans

Second only to the PDC World Championship, the PDC World Matchplay is the PDC tournament with the longest history.  This year, it will take place for the 30th time.  But the World Matchplay differs from other PDC events, not only …

Wednesday, March 16, 2023
Column CM123
UK Open – Third Day

After the quarterfinals all remaining participants were known and much of the suspense had somehow dissipated on finals day.  It seemed it would only be a question of against whom Michael van Gerwen would play in the final, which he would win anyhow.  But …

Wednesday, March 16, 2023
Column CM122
UK Open – Second Day

Has it happened to you?  Have you ever been unable, at first, to recognize a well-known darts player when you saw them in their street wear or in jump suit?  That is what happened to me when in my accommodation on the morning of …

Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Column CM121
UK Open – First Day

This year I once again travelled to the UK Open – when you use public transport, as I do, it becomes a really time consuming affair.  But when you take an early flight from Germany you will make it in one day.

In Minehead …

Friday, February 10, 2023
Column CM120
30 years of PDC World Championships – the Dutchmen (Part 4)

In the last article and as we drew closer to the present, the number of Dutch participants in the PDC World Championship continued to rise.

In the 2026 World Championship three Dutch players were in the field of …

Friday, December 23, 2022
Column CM119
30 years of PDC World Championships – the Dutchmen (Part 3)

In 2004, two Dutch players again stood at the oche during the PDC World Championship.  Roland Scholten was joined by left hander Jan van der Rassel – who was born in 1965 and known by the nicknames “The …