Corrine Hammond talks about the future of women’s darts

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Former BDO World Championship finalist Corrine Hammond says she could not think of anything worse than competing at the PDC World Championship.

Competing at the PDC World Championship is the dream of any darts player. The historical Alexandra Palace stage, the bright lights and the prestige that comes with competing in the sport’s biggest event are all that keeps any darts player going. It is a place where dreams can not only be achieved but also be shattered as well.

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Corrine Hammond, a former BDO World Championship finalist, was mentioned to be among the people bidding to sample that occasion at the PDC Women’s Series, which will be kicking off this weekend in Milton Keynes.

The 39-year-old player claimed success on the Lakeside stage, as she was able to claim the scalps of some of the legendary female players in the game of all time, and most of the games are always listed in the darts match predictions. Despite her achievements, the thought of coming up to the biggest darts’ stage this Christmas remain a terrifying thought to Hammond who continues to balance her darts’ career with her work at an insurance company.

Speaking with the Darts Show podcast, she said: “I think yeah I would really like to have that opportunity, then at other times I think I could not think of anything worse than having to get up on that stage at Ally Pally and play in the World Championships.

“I’m not going to lie if I said there could be some serious upset stomach, wanting to throw up, that kind of thing!

Corine Hammond playing darts.
Corine Hammond playing darts.

“While I would really love the opportunity, there is a part of me that says: ‘Yeah, I couldn’t think of anything worse’.”

Hammond’s comments struck a chord with Sky Sports commentator Laura Turner and former world No 1 Lorraine Winstanley, who are both set to appear for the weekend’s game being held at the Marshall Arena.

This also means that the stars for this women’s darts game are not only out for achieving individual success, but to also reveal the sport in the best light they could achieve in hopes of setting it up for a successful long-term future.

In the last 18 months, due to the Covid-19 pandemic which coincided with the demise of the British Darts Organisation, the continuation of women’s game had previously been clouded with uncertainty. Due to this, many were left longing for a competitive darts action with no clue of its return.

Although the England Darts Organisation, Mad Darts and the World Darts Federation are known as potential avenues, the expanded Women’s Series – which will be sporting a £60,000 of prize money spread across 12 events – is seen as a life-changing opportunity for many.

The PDC Women’s Series last season featured over 80 participants, however, the opening leg for this year’s series in Germany – which should be held in August – was postponed having only seen a total of 22 entries. 

Hammond is known to be among the top players urging people to grasp the opportunity as well as the momentum that was built over the years on the women’s game. 

Three darts in bull's eye close up
Professional darts.

“I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that enough ladies have been entering to be able to make it a successful series, because the last thing we want to do is lose that opportunity from here on in,” she added.

“There were quite a few of us who were campaigning in Selsey; talking to everyone we knew, asking them: ‘Had they entered, were they entering, were they planning on entering? Let’s get behind this, let’s support it’.”

The talent pool for women’s dart returned with formidable strength. Lisa Ashton becoming the first female player to ever win a Tour Card at Q-School in January 2020, while Fallon Sherrock didn’t fall behind as she reached the final at the Nordic Masters in Copenhagen last week.

10-time women’s world champions Trina Gulliver will be making her return to the darts world, while Deta Hedman, Anastasia Dobromyslova and Mikuru Suzuki are all famous elite players in the sport.

The future of women’s darts looks bright as the sun when you bring Hammond, Turner, Maria O’Brien and Winstanley into the mix. But there’s more work to be done before that future remains a stable one.

Hammond ended up with the fourth position on the Women’s Series Order of Merit a year ago, with the deadly trio of Ashton, Hedman and Sherrock taking up top spots.

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