‘Cough-gate’ no hiccup for Kiwi
New Zealand darts player Bernie Smith had ‘‘nothing to say’’ about a ‘‘cough-gate’’ scandal at the world championships, with his British opponent denying using dirty tactics to beat the Kiwi.
Justin Pipe edged qualifier Smith 3-2 in a dramatic openinground match at the championships yesterday.
Smith was on match darts and as he went to throw double 10, Pipe appeared to cough in the background as he stood behind watching his opponent.
The incident flared on social media and Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle, a fourtimes world semifinalist, said: ‘‘It looks absolutely despicable behaviour by a professional darts player.
‘‘Every time I see it, it was a case of how desperate are you?’’
But Smith, a 53-year-old Christchurch plasterer, told Stuff from London he had ‘‘nothing to say’’ about the incident.
‘‘It’s nothing. I missed my double. I had a chance to hit my double and I missed it. That’s all I can say about that.’’
Pipe, a 46-year-old Englishman ranked 27th in the world, strongly defended himself yesterday.
‘‘I’m bitterly disappointed with the comments which were made on Sky Sports and it’s not nice for me and my family to hear,’’ Pipe said in a report in The Express newspaper.
‘‘I would never do something to put another player off and Bernie didn’t say anything to me on the night. As far as I’m aware there is no issue from his side and this has been blown out of proportion.’’
Pipe said his total focus now was playing 16-time world champion Phil Taylor in his second-round clash this weekend.
Mardle was adamant Pipe was in the wrong.
‘‘That was a tactic for advantage, that was a tactic to make Bernie Smith miss and he got his way. Whether Bernie Smith heard it or not is absolutely irrelevant, the intent was there,’’ Mardle was quoting as saying in The Express report.
Smith, who will return to Christchurch for Christmas, said the world championships was ‘‘a brilliant experience’’.
‘‘That’s what we all want to do, that’s what we are all striving for.’’