Former Players Champion and current darts commentator and pundit Paul Nicholson picks his five biggest winners from the last month in PDC darts...
5. Women's darts
We are very close to the inaugural Women's World Matchplay event, and now that we know who will compete, you have to say that we have a perfect mix of experience, youth, talent, greatness and excitement.
The qualifying tournaments have been dominated by Lisa Ashton and Fallon Sherrock of course, and they still remain on course for Alexandra Palace if indeed they cling to their top two spots on the Women's Series Order of Merit, but outside those two we have some new stories and this is what the ladies' game needs as well as the dominant forces.
Firstly, seeing Lorraine Winstanley winning an event and ensuring her spot at Blackpool was a sight to behold. There were tears in many eyes as she lifted that first PDC title.
Secondly, Katie Sheldon has been talked about for a few years and she is now firmly in our vision. She, alongside Chloe O’Brien could be carrying the Irish and Scottish games forward to the next generation.
Laura Turner, Aileen de Graaf and Rhian Griffiths complete the list of competitors and it ensures at least one lady from all of the powerhouse European nations will take part. That can only be a good thing.
The likes of Trina Gulliver, Corrine Hammond, Mikuru Suzuki, Deta Hedman and WDF World Champion Beau Greaves will be missed, but nonetheless this Matchplay will be a sight to behold, and it is the responsibility of those women to take this opportunity by the scruff of the neck and show everyone that the girls mean business.
4. Michael Smith
May saw Bully Boy as arguably the player of the month, and even though I do not put him at that mantle in June, he comes darned close thanks to a continued impressive 2022 showing.
The title in New York City bolstered his already swollen confidence, and he won yet again on the floor later in the month in Germany. It almost felt like winning was inevitable for Michael.
It was only when Scott Williams won an event in Niedernhausen without a Tour Card that we had a sign that someone else could be the last person standing.
That in itself could have warranted Scott a place in this list as he became only the third player in the Tour Card era to win an event 'cardless'. BUT, Smithy is way too befitting a spot, because he was able to do something that I didn’t think was possible.
He brought James Wade out of his shell in an England shirt and we finally saw England roar for the first time in years. They didn’t win, but they put up a damn good fight.
For me, if Bully Boy shows up in Blackpool, the drought could be over, and what a party that would be.
3. Dimitri Van den Bergh
Dimitri has been very enigmatic over the last couple of years, and has been hitting the extremes of both mystifying and brilliance. When he clicks and that focus is right, it seems like nobody can burst his bubble of concentration.
This was extremely evident in Copenhagen and Amsterdam, and it once again proves how much he likes World Series darts. It was in front of 20,000 people in Gelsenkirchen where we first saw him thrive in this format making a final that he eventually lost to Mensur Suljovic, but now he has dipped his bread twice and lifted two more crowns.
Maybe you could argue that the second one was more impressive considering the strength of the qualifying field, and the fact that he was up against the crowd in what seemed like the whole occasion.
They couldn’t pierce his bubble and neither could Dirk van Duijvenbode, so now we have to think that Belgium's number one is a genuine threat for another massive run in the upcoming World Matchplay where he will defend a very large chunk of his ranking money.
Remember when people said he may not like it at Blackpool last year? They were wrong, and him getting a second Matchplay title is way more likely now thanks to this fabulous form over the past month.
2. Michael van Gerwen
Speaking of new life, you could say that MvG winning the Premier League once again has breathed new life into his career, but as soon as the win was over, he was on the operating table getting some much needed surgery to a long-standing niggle.
The evidence suggests that he is going to be fine straight away judging by his form in Amsterdam, but even he couldn’t stop a sometimes bulletproof Danny Noppert there.
The PL win for Michael however is a big deal. It's not ranking money, but it is proof that the Premier League is ridiculously hard to win, and after the final with Joe Cullen, Michael will be glad that The Rockstar wired that double 16 to take the title as MvG was eyeing up 28 for a much-needed big TV crown.
Only time will tell what this will do for him, but it must be good to hoist that triangular trophy again ahead of a Summer/Autumn that could see him close the gap on the world's top two.
He may not be superhuman like previous years, but he may find other ways to win in his career from here, which will improve his legacy.
1. Team Australia
It will not be a shock to anyone that I have chosen this as number one. Some great things happened in June in PDC darts, but the ten-year wait for Simon Whitlock to avenge the 2012 World Cup final loss came to an end, thanks to incredibly spirited play from him, and the assistance of the best team mate he could possibly wish for in Damon Heta.
It was excruciatingly hot in Frankfurt and it was The Heat who nailed that final shot to lay not one, but two ghosts to rest. Not only did they finally get their hands on the cup, but they beat Wales too which will erase some of the pain of the 2010 semi-finals as well.
Wales were magnanimous in defeat, and you get the feeling someone is going to feel the Price and Ferret wrath by season's end, but for now, it's joy for the Aussies and with that comes Grand Slam places, massive confidence boosts ahead of summer action and a refreshed excitement about World Series darts which will see both players play on home soil with medals glittering around their necks. Australian darts has just been given renewed life thanks to this win.
June was epic. July could be even hotter, and I am not talking about the weather.
Asset out for now.
Follow Paul on Twitter @TheAsset180