IRISH AT THE ALLY PALLY
JOSH ROCK
Age: 22
From: Antrim World
Ranking: 23
Biggest achievement: PDC World Youth Champion (2022), PDC Players Championship x1 (2022)
Best World Championship: Last 16 (2023)
It was a year ago when Josh Rock went into his first World Championship as short as fourth favourite with the bookies, such was the quality of his debut season.
He put in the third highest threedart average across the 2022 season, claiming a maiden title at a Players Championship, hitting a televised nine-darter and winning the World Youth Championship.
His second season had been lame by comparison, but Rock has rediscovered his form at the right time – losing an epic quarter-final at the Grand Slam of Darts to James Wade.
His most recent TV average was a whopping 112.7 – the Antrim man has the game to win the title.
DARYL GURNEY
Age: 37
From: Derry World Ranking: 27
Greatest Achievement: Major Champion x2 (2017 World Grand Prix, 2018 Players Championship Finals)
Best World Championship: Quarter-finals (2017, 2021)
While Gurney may not be towards the summit of the world rankings these days, he remains a dangerous player.
A multiple major winner – not many can say that – it took an inspired performance from Alan Soutar to beat him 12 months ago. He put in his best TV performance in years in battering Gary Anderson at the World Matchplay this season.
He is beginning to look assured again, and although his stock has dipped since he was ranked third in the world, he is a player the big names will be keen to avoid.
BRENDAN DOLAN
Age: 50
From: Fermanagh
World Ranking: 28 Biggest achievement: PDC Players Championship x7, World Grand Prix finalist (2011)
Best World Championship: Quarter-finals (2019, 2021)
A model of consistency for over a decade on the PDC tour, veteran Fermanagh man Dolan is the benchmark player on the circuit.
His ranking, 28, is a fair reflection of where he is in the game. Play poorly and he’ll punish you; find your A game and you’ve a chance.
Few would have predicted that he would still be a regular face in 2023, given the significant changing of the guard over the last decade.
He will expect to make it to the third round, but the imperious Gerwyn Price will take some stopping. He has worried the Welshman on the Ally Pally stage in the past however, taking him to a last-leg decider three years ago.
WILLIAM O’CONNOR
Age: 37
From: Limerick
World Ranking: 38
Biggest achievement: PDC Players Championship x1 (2019), World Cup finalist (2019)
Best World Championship: Third Round (2019, 2022)
The ultra-consistent Willie O’Connor is the only man going into the event with a 100% first round record since the tournament was expanded to 96 players. He passed the daunting task of taking on women’s darts sensation
Beau Greaves 12 months ago, and the Limerick man will be confident again at the first hurdle when he takes on Bhav Patel.
A meeting with Masters winner Chris Dobey will await in round two, which will be tough.
That said, he has the scoring power to compete for the win. Claiming it will match his best run at the competition, a great incentive for ‘The Magpie’.
KEANE BARRY
Age: 21
From: Meath
World Ranking: 41
Biggest achievement: BDO Junior World Champion (2020)
Best World Championship: Second Round (2022)
Just 21, Meath man Keane Barry was viewed as a banana skin draw for the top dogs 12 months ago, but his status has somewhat waned. He had enjoyed his best year yet in the game, reaching the semi-finals of the UK Open before beating two-time world champ
Adrian Lewis at the Players Championship Finals.
But Barry’s game has stalled, falling to 41 in the world rankings at a time when many had expected him to forge ahead.
A first-round victory will see him battle Michael van Gerwen, scant reward for what would be a welcome win on the big stage.
STEVE LENNON
Age: 30
From: Carlow
World Ranking: 58
Biggest achievement: World Cup finalist (2019)
Best World Championship: Third Round (2023) This season has quietly been a decent one for the soft-spoken Carlow man but he faces a fight to keep his tour card ahead of the new season.
Why? Because he is defending a chunk of ranking points from his run to the third round of the event two years ago, when he was beaten by Mervyn King.
He did defeat UK Open champion Andrew Gilding at the recent Players Championship Finals, his biggest win on TV since then. He is in a favourable section of the draw too, with ninth seed Jonny Clayton out-of-sorts at the minute.
MICKEY MANSELL
Age: 50
From: Tyrone
World Ranking: 64
Biggest achievement: PDC Players Championship winner x1 (2018)
Best World Championship: Second Round (2021, 2023) Tyrone’s Mickey Mansell makes his return to the biggest stage in world darts after a solid, if not spectacular, year on the Pro Tour.
Although he has never set the game alight, Mansell is a former winner on Tour and is a vastly experienced operator. While 100+ averages are not his forte, his low to mid-90s game will punish anyone who is off the boil. His methodical pace is not optimal for his opponents to play against either.
He could face off with pal and former World Cup of Darts teammate Brendan Dolan in round two, a kind draw judging by who he could have faced.
DYLAN SLEVIN
Age: 21
From: Tipperary
World Ranking: 88
Biggest achievement: WDF Irish Open runner-up (2022)
Best World Championship: Debut
The biggest wildcard going into the competition from an Irish perspective, Tipp man Slevin is looking to do damage on debut. Qualifying for the big one after just a year on tour is a landmark achievement, and tournament seeds will be privy to him.
Unscarred by the past, Slevin battles Florian Hempel – who like Lennon is defending big money – in round one. A win there will see him take on Dimitri van den Bergh – another out-of-form seed. A new kid on the block, Slevin could make headlines in a matter of days.