Irish ace O’Connor on why he dreads return to the oche
O’Connor has serious doubts about comeback
PDC Darts chairman Barry Hearn instilled hope in fans worldwide last week when he revealed his ‘big hope’ the sport can make a competitive return in the not-too-distant future.
The Londoner spoke of the advantages boasted by a game, like snooker or golf, in which social distancing protocols can be implemented with ease.
But Ireland’s No 1 player William O’Connor believes things aren’t as simple as he’d realistically want them to be, despite the advantages it has as a non-contact sport.
The 2019 World Cup finalist admitted he would not feel safe if he was to make his return in the current global situation, although the financial incentive would make such a return a necessity.
‘No you wouldn’t (feel safe). You can’t feel safe. Every time you turn on the TV you’re being scare mongered into staying at your house. It’s all, “You can’t go here, you can’t go there”.
‘If we are going to be one of the first sports back we have no choice but to turn up.
‘We have got no money coming in so we have to go to work.
‘Whether you are scared or not scared you have to turn up.’
Irish darts players are more at risk, as the Limerickman knows from his own experience of travelling across the water to the UK on a weekly basis.
‘It’s probably a lot safer for lads that live in the UK. They leave their house, drive to a venue, go in and go home.
‘I go on a bus to get to the airport. I get into the airport where there are thousands of people walking around me. I jump on to a plane trapped with hundreds of people. (Then) I go into another airport. Then I’m getting a taxi, buses, trains and a hotel. That’s not safe is it?’
Before the sudden hiatus O’Connor had enjoyed the ‘best night’ of his career when he gave Michael van Gerwen a scare in Dublin’s 3Arena in front of a 10,000 strong crowd during the 2020 Premier League.
The 33-year-old was serenaded to the stage by the fans with a spine-tingling rendition of The Cranberries’ Zombie which has since gone down as one of the best walk-on entrances in the sport.
‘I loved it. I had all sorts of expectations and I was going through it in my head. It surpassed any expectation I had.
‘I wasn’t at my best by any means. I’d like to have another go at it.
‘I know I can throw a lot better and at the time I had been throwing better darts than that so I’d like another go.’
Nicknamed ‘The Magpie’ for his love of shiny trophies, O’Connor is eager to take part in the internet streamed PDC Home Tour after sorting out his dodgy rural Ireland WiFi connection.
Painting and housework have occupied the former carpenter who had packed in his trade at the beginning of the year to focus solely on darts.
Some 12 months ago, he claimed his first PDC title in a traditionally behind closed doors Players Championship event and he would be happy to play in such an environment, even if it was just initially, upon his return.
However, O’Connor is not attracted to playing without fans for the long haul.
‘I don’t think it is something very appealing to darts fans.
‘Everyone likes to go to the big events and the big arenas and soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the occasion.
‘That’s where darts is, that’s where I want to be. If I thought it was going to be behind closed doors forever I don’t think I’d be doing it.’
It is his understanding that the PDC will try to stage its major events at the end of the year in the lead up to the lucrative World Darts Championship.
O’Connor was sent packing by semi-finalist Gerwyn Price in the most recent edition after a miscount proved costly in the fifth and final set.
‘I’ve never done that in my whole life and I can guarantee you I will never do it again.
‘I’ve seen it happen to other people and I’d comment on it and say, “How could you make that mistake!?” But it happened to me and there’s nothing I can do about it.’
Impressive performances either side of that tournament have been crucial as he closes in on the top 32 of the rankings.
However O’Connor believes the inflated prize fund at the Worlds does little to reward players who show consistency throughout the calendar year.
‘It’s crazy, I think. I do think the money needs to be spread more evenly across the field. It’s madness.
‘There’s a lot of players in the PDC and we have families — we had jobs, and we have houses and mortgages and we do a lot of travelling.
‘I do believe (the prize money) should be brought down through the field to every player and all of the other tournaments rather than one big tournament.
‘If you have one bad day after a great year, you’re out which I don’t think is right, either.’
“I fly to the UK,
use trains and stay in hotels”