Former Players Champion and current darts commentator and pundit Paul Nicholson reviews the last month in PDC darts...
Upon the green jacket being draped over the shoulders of Michael van Gerwen once again in Graz, we left Austria feeling that normality was returning.
Two consecutive European Tour events bagged by this generation's greatest player and the promise of more to come with four weeks on the continental road to follow.
We were wrong, at least for now.
May was dominated in ranking action by two former World Youth champions, and if that isn’t proof that the PDC youth and development system works, I do not know what is.
Michael Smith was cast out by many as his Premier League campaign fell into obscurity, but did this guy sulk? NO.
He got back to work on the floor and ratcheted the only two Players Championship crowns of the month away from all of his competitors.
His performance levels at times were frightening, and we did see the real Bully Boy in May.
And, even though we won’t be seeing him in Berlin for the Premier League Play-Offs, he has already moved on via his last night Newcastle PL win and then to top off what has been a mega period for him, a long-awaited fifth European Tour success in a third different country.
In that Dutch Darts Championship win in Zwolle, he showed not only his ability to dominate, posting a new tournament and venue average record, but also the strength to fight something out with the home audience against him.
Beating Noppert, his UK open nemesis in a last-leg decider could be the spark to him truly believing he can conquer any further situation. We all know he can.
If we had a player of the month for May, it would be between Smith and the other dominant force of the month.
Luke Humphries had the luxury of missing Zwolle after winning two more consecutive European Tour events in Prague and Stuttgart.
He showed brilliance, patience, spirit and when winning in Czechia; he is a completely different threat this season, and only Peter Wright and MvG have won three ET’s in one campaign. Not even Gerwyn Price has done that yet!
So, we ask, what is next for Humphries? Traditionally we would heap pressure on him to now win majors like we did with Joe Cullen and Smith, but we have to remember that ranking action takes a back step for June as we focus on World Series events and the World Cup of Darts.
Luke isn’t in those, so it will be important for him to stay sharp, maybe hit it hard in Niedernhausen in mid-month and try to keep that winning form going.
I put it to you all. Who would be player of the month for May? Humphries or Smith?
It is strange that I am not putting Van Gerwen in there, as he has had a very good month, or even Jonny Clayton who topped the league phase of the Premier League with a night to spare.
Feel free to cast a vote for either if you so please, and I would understand that. Clayton deserves heaped praise for becoming only the fourth player in history to top that league ladder.
Only MvG, Taylor and Durrant have climbed that peak, and they have all been champions of the planet too. Is that an ominous sign for Alexandra Palace perhaps?
Before we get there, he would love to defend his title and bank another stack of cash going into another World Cup campaign with Price, who will once again not again feature in the final four of the Premier League.
Even though Price hasn’t been at it, he will be I am sure. It is usually this time of year when the folk who didn’t have good PL’s come back to a state of hungry.
Include Wright in that with his new sparkly darts in world championship winning colours, who has already shown some signs of a return to usual venom.
To finish up May, honourable mentions need to go to Cullen for making Berlin at the first try. A stellar night could see him do what Durrant did on debut by lifting the Premier League.
Time will tell, but he will be gracing Australia and New Zealand in the summer, so pack your togs and darts Joe, you are going to love it down there.
Not good news for the Holland team and for darts in that MvG will not play in the World Cup due to upcoming surgery. We all wish Michael well, and we strongly pray that it isn’t too strenuous a recovery.
His fellow-stalwart in the Premier League Play-Offs, James Wade, also having come under the health and fitness spotlight this past month, is looking to shake his lifestyle up and become a healthier machine. We all wish James well with that after a nasty scare from Leverkusen.
It just goes to show, just throwing darts at a board isn’t that easy. It is taxing, hard on the mind and body and is never, ever predictable. June, will be anything but common place! New York awaits first.