It’s the day after his first World Title, and Luke Littler is discussing his accomplishment with BBC Breakfast. Luke is asked about his status amongst the world best players, and admits to the surprise of the studio, that,’I will never admit that I am the best’. ‘But’, he adds, ‘maybe my performances show that I am the best’. This isn’t false modesty. It’s the mark of a competitor who understands a crucial truth: declaring yourself the best can become a psychological trap. The moment you proclaim your greatness, you shift from pursuing excellence to defending a title. You move from […]
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Darts Psychology: Like Littler – The Visions!
It’s post-match at the World Darts Championship and youngest ever champion Luke Littler is fielding questions from Polly James. Mid-interview Luke reveals that he watched back last year’s final earlier in the day where he surrendered a 4-2 lead to Luke Humphries. But in watching the final back, he says, ‘he got the visions!’ He ‘got the visions!’ Whoa! We get no further immediate questions about ‘the visions’, but it’s pretty clear what he’s intimating. Muhammad Ali called it “future history” – that extraordinary ability to tap into what hasn’t happened yet, to experience victory before it unfolds. It’s more […]
Read More...Darts Psychology: Luke Humphries – Champion!
It’s the seventh set at the World Darts Championships. Luke Littler is honing in on a 112 finish. For a five-two lead. Treble 18. Treble 18. Pause. Check scores with Russ Bray. Double two? Double two. Reset. Out of rhythm. Miss. Luke Humphries takes out 28 for 4-3.. And doesn’t look back. Taking the next four sets to claim his maiden World Title. It’s an unstoppable surge from the Newbury dartist that is worthy of a champion. Sport is full of turning moments. When game dynamics change. When opportunities to wrest control present themselves. At the Alexandra Palace, Luke Humphries […]
Read More...Darts Psychology: Luke Humphries – Concentration!
It’s the World Darts Championships, and world number three Luke Humphries, is defending himself against criticism of being boring. Luke is not one for histrionics. Emotions. Big celebrations. High energy! The former roofer gets on with it. Darts in hand. Next throw. Tune in. Focus! Darts at the highest level is a game of Concentration. Get in the bubble. Stay in the bubble. Get out of the bubble. Get back in it as quickly as possible. This part is important. If you get out of the bubble then the longer it takes you to […]
Read More...Darts Psychology: Gerwyn Price – World Champion!
So, six years after entering the sport Gerwyn Price secures his first ever World Title.
This isn’t any kind of surprise to followers of darts, as Price’s uber competitive spirit and sporting disciplines have had him marked down as a future champion ever since he came through Q school.
Read More...Darts Psychology: Michael Van Gerwen – Winning!
It’s day four of the World Darts Championships and the seeds are tumbling. Rob Cross. Michael Smith. Ian White. And of course ex-champion Ray Van Barneveld. One seed who remains is defending champion Michael Van Gerwen. But it could have been so different. One set down and under the kosh to Jelle Klaasen, Van Gerwen had to find something to get him out of a hole. Something which the other seeds couldn’t find. Something which is the preserve of champions. You could see it in his concentration. Mid-way through the second set with the pressure mounting, the champion turned on […]
Read More...Darts Psychology: Dave Chisnall – Finals!
And so Michael Van Gerwen defends his World Grand Prix title in Dublin. In the process denying Dave Chisnall his first major darts prize. That’s five final losses now for Chisnall. Of course, getting to fie finals is a terrific achievement. But your darts career will be known for the silverware you have won, not the finals you have graced. Of course playing MVG in a final can feel daunting. You sense that you need to bring your A Game. Anything less and Mighty Mike will be all over you. But the danger with that mind-set is that you end up […]
Read More...Sports Psychology: Adrian Lewis – Champion!
So Adrian Lewis has successfully defended his darts World Title. Winning the title once is an outstanding achievement. To repeat the win, shows that it wasn’t a fluke, or ‘lucky week’. The further Lewis advanced in the 2011-12 competition, the more he spoke of himself as being ‘World Champion’. He was tapping into the powerful mindset of being champion. It’s the trait that helps champions to win repeatedly. They know they are the best in the world at that time. That no one else can beat them. They may not be playing the best, but their mindset is tuned to […]
Read More...Sports Psychology: Paul Nicholson – Dana!
It’s the third round of the World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace. And Paul Nicholson is simmering. He has just come off stage, having lost 4-1 to Kim Huybrecht’s. And he’s blaming Huybrecht’s girl-friend Dana Verhaegen for his unexpected loss. Regular big-screen close ups of the pretty Verhaegen, proved a lure for the women-hungry beer swilling crowd. Leading to boisterous wolf-whistles and other shows of approval. This, plus an instinctive dislike of Nicholson’s so called ‘bad-boy’ image, gave the man from Chorley nothing to feed off emotionally. Of course he’s wrong to pin the blame on the North London crowd. […]
Read More...Sports Psychology: Simon Whitlock – Expectations!
It’s the first round of the World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace. Former world finalist Simon Whitlock is playing Dennis Smith. And Sky are hyping the game up! Whitlock has recently broken his ankle. How will he stand the test of a long drawn out game, against the slow-throwing Smith? This is a potential upset in the making. But Whitlock, instead of being hampered by his injury, is set free. He throws the highest average of the tournament to date, to put Smith to the sword. Sky’s Rod Stubbs, is gurgling with incredulity. What Stubbs has failed to recognise, is […]
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