Darts players preparing for surprise element

Dubai: For the world’s top-eight darts players, playing in Dubai at the inaugural Duty Free Darts Masters on Thursday and Friday won’t be the only first they will be facing.

That’s because a traditionally indoor game will be played on a specially-built and covered outdoor stage at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

As such, those competing will have to contend with temperatures topping 30 degrees Celsius and possible breezes, which could interfere with the players’ precision dart-throwing.

David Cattanach, General Manager of the Irish Village complex where the tennis stadium is based, said the players had ‘a sense of wonderment’ about playing outside.

He told Gulf News: “The players knew right from the start the event would be outside and they are all up for it. They are all excited to be here. The stage has a covering and the sides are covered as well. It will be the same for all the players. As [two-time world champion] Adrian Lewis said to me, the exciting thing is each set might change and that’s an element of surprise that the players are genuinely looking forward to.”

Sixteen-time world champion Phil Taylor admitted ‘there was not a thing’ the players could do to practice for the outdoor conditions.

“It could be breezy or there could be no wind,” he said. “It’s just something you have to get on with really; there’s not a lot you can do about it and it will be the same for everybody.

“We are excited about it but apprehensive at the same time.”

Taylor also dismissed fears that the intense heat could adversely affect his metronomic throwing.

“For me, no, but I think it will be for this lot,” he said, nodding in the direction of his seven rivals.

“I can take it a bit better than the rest of the players.”

But five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld admitted the outdoor aspect of the tournament is a concern to him.

He said: “It could be dodgy. I have played one or two games at my local campsite and you can’t play with wind. I think the PDC [Professional Darts Corporation] are managing that, though, as they have good people building up the stage. I am more concerned about the heat and what that could do to us. People sweat a lot and you might be soaked on stage. That could affect our games.”