Darts Enthusiasts Divided Over Potential Move of World Championship to Saudi Arabia
In the ever-evolving world of sports, the darts community has found itself at the center of a captivating debate. As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues its strategic push to influence the broader sporting landscape, the prospect of the World Darts Championship relocating from its iconic Alexandra Palace venue in London to the Middle East has become a topic of intense discussion among fans and players alike.
During a recent visit to Gliwice for the Poland Darts Masters, world number one and reigning world darts champion, Luke Humphries, shared his perspective on the growing speculation. “Saudi Arabia, yeah it would be great to play there. I’m not an advocate for it to be the World Championships. I think the World Championships is where it belongs and that is Alexandra Palace, where we all want to play,” Humphries, known as “Cool Hand Luke,” reflected.
The current world champion expressed his concern that moving the prestigious event away from its long-standing home could potentially alienate the loyal fan base that has been instrumental in shaping the sport’s vibrant atmosphere. “That is one of them things where I feel like you have to be careful because the fans are what make us what we are. So if you move away from Alexandra Palace and go somewhere else you could take away that little bit from the fans. Every year when we go to play the World Championships the fanbase seems to grow and you’re nothing without the fans so I’d love the World Championships to stay at Alexandra Palace,” Humphries stated.
However, not all top-tier darters share Humphries’ reservation. Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen previously expressed openness to the idea, telling Mail Online, “It will be great, I think. They wanna make sports big in that country. You saw the big boxing matches there, the football there. For me, I don’t mind where I play. I will be competing, and that’s how it is.”
While the World Darts Championship has been held at the iconic Alexandra Palace since 2008, the increasing involvement of Saudi Arabia in the wider sporting landscape has fueled speculation about the potential relocation of the event. As the debate continues to unfold, darts enthusiasts eagerly await further developments that could shape the future of their beloved sport.
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