Sky Sports Darts presenter Emma Paton praises Blackpool's World Matchplay Darts
“Blackpool is a real hub of proper, true darts fans.”
Sky Sports Darts presenter Emma Paton has hailed Blackpool’s World Matchplay as the tournament that ‘real darts fans attend’.
In an interview with Leasing Options, Paton said: “Yeah, I feel like it is always [great]. I feel like it's proper darts fans. With the Ally Pally and Premier League, they're at these big venues where you've got people just kind of really wanting a night out.
“In Blackpool, they're there to watch darts. I feel like with Blackpool it's proper darts fans who are kind of queuing up by the door, trying to get a glimpse of players and trying to chat to people. It's always one of my standout weeks of the year, or standout nine days.
“So it's one of my favourite tournaments. I think, probably outside the Worlds, it probably is my favourite tournament. Year on year, the interest in darts seems to be growing. Blackpool is a real hub of proper, true darts fans.”
Luke Littler soared to a second consecutive victory in this year’s tournament, solidifying his claim as the undisputed world’s best.
The Matchplay will return to the Winter Gardens next July.