Team Target at the World Championships 2023

A dozen members of Team Target go to Alexandra Palace this year for the biggest darts tournament in the world, all looking to be crowned 2023 PDC World Champion and claim the half a million pounds top prize. 
 

Three former champions are among the Target contingent, with Rob Cross, Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld all hoping to regain the title; and despite none of our players currently being reigning major champions, Cross and Nathan Aspinall have both reached major finals this year, while Dimitri Van den Bergh has won two televised titles on the World Series. 
Players in the top 32 of the world rankings will enter straight into the second round as seeds, with the rest having to come through round one.  Polish teenager Sebastian Bialecki and Challenge Tour champion Scott Williams will both make their “Ally Pally” debuts, and there is the added bonus of an all-Target final in the Junior Darts Corporation’s World Championship between Elite1 prospects Luke Littler and Harry Gregory. 
 
The tournament gets underway on Thursday 15 December, with the final to be held on Tuesday 3 January, and below we outline our players’ prospects for the tournament. 

Ranking: 6 

Previous best: Winner 2018 

Opening game: v Scott Williams/Ryan Joyce (Fri 23rd afternoon) 

Darts used: Rob Cross 21.5g 

A brilliant year on the Pro Tour and a strong ending to Q4 televised events seeing “Voltage” send a surge of electricity at the recent Players Championship Finals.  His run to the final was excellent, maintaining his record of reaching a major final in every year since he joined the PDC circuit.  He very nearly turned that final in Minehead around against a formidable Michael van Gerwen, who desperately needed a 170 checkout to prevent Cross’s rampaging comeback. 

There are many reasons to be optimistic that Cross could recapture the title he won on debut five years ago, and he is feeling as confident about his game as he has since that stunning 2018 campaign. However, his opening game should not be overlooked.  In one of the toughest sections of the draw, Cross will take on either former quarter-finalist Ryan Joyce or his occasional practice partner and fellow Target pro Scott Williams.  “Voltage” will have to be at the top of his game from the very start of the tournament, but with his opening game not until the final day’s action before the Christmas break, he should be ready. 

Ranking: 10 
Previous best: Semi-final 2019, 2020 
Opening game: v Boris Krcmar/Toru Suzuki (Sun 18th evening) 
Darts used: Nathan Aspinall Gen 1 26g 

Two titles on the Pro Tour and two major finals all add up to a brilliant year for “The Asp”, but he still believes he has work to do to get to a position where he can become World Champion for the first time.  The former UK Open winner says he still has levels which he needs to unlock to take the next step in his career.  However, his current performance levels have still been enough to see him named runner-up in the Grand Prix and Grand Slam, which bodes well for Alexandra Palace. 

Aspinall does think that he stands a better chance at this year’s tournament that he has done for three years though, after injury hampered last year’s event, and he did not relish playing in an empty hall during the Covid-affected 2021 tournament.  He will be a heavy favourite for his opening game against either Japanese qualifier Suzuki or the dangerous Croatian number one Boris Krcmar, but his potential path through the event could step-up in difficulty very quickly, with Josh Rock, Jonny Clayton and defending champion Peter Wright all in his quarter of the draw. 

Ranking: 15 
Previous best: Quarter-final 2018, 2020 
Opening game: v Rowby-John Rodriguez/Lourence Ilagan (Sat 17th evening) 
Darts Used: Dimitri Van den Bergh 23g 
 

The Belgian number one’s year began in spectacular fashion with two title wins both coming in the World Series, but with three further runs to finals on the Pro Tour, this could have turned out to be a trophy-laden 2022. 

His now customary excellence at the World Matchplay was another highlight, but his defeat in the semi-finals saw him drop out of the world’s top ten (as he was defending prize money from winning the title two years ago).  He remains a top 16 player though, and ‘Dream Maker’ is a huge problem for the whole field when he is on song. 

Rowby-John Rodriguez is his most likely first round opponent, and the Austrian has not been shy of causing an upset in a breakthrough year for him.  But after a number of high profile meetings with reigning champion Peter Wright this year (Dimitri winning at the Matchplay, but losing at the Grand Prix and in a Euro Tour final), the possibility of another clash between them in round four looks like a blockbuster.

Ranking: 21 
Previous best: Semi-finals 2021 
Opening game: v Geert Nentjes/Leonard Gates (Wed 21st evening) 
Darts used: Stephen Bunting Gen 4 12g 

“The Bullet” is defending a significant amount of his ranking money in 2023, after making two major semi-finals two years previously, and the biggest chunk is from his brilliant run at Alexandra Palace.  As such, there may be some extra pressure on the former Lakeside world title winner, but his game looks in a very solid place at the moment. 

Results in his Pro Tour form has remained reliable, sitting in the top 16 in the averages list and in the top 10 in terms of number of games won in the Players Championship series. 

Stephen’s run to the semis in 2021 saw him hit a huge number of big finishes, and he acknowledges that if he is to produce a similar campaign, his doubling will be the key factor.  The draw has placed him into the very difficult to call second quarter that includes Chisnall, Cullen, Humphries, Heta and Michael Smith.  While he will not have to face all of them, he could face three on the spin, assuming he overcomes American qualifier Leonard Gates or the young Dutchman Geert Nentjes. 
 

Ranking: 25 

Previous best: Last 16 2021 

Opening game: v William O’Connor/Beau Greaves (Wed 21st evening) 

Darts used: Gabriel Clemens Gen 1 23g 

The German number one could be involved in the most high profile match of the second round, if Beau Greaves can mark her Ally Pally debut with victory over Ireland’s Willie O’Connor.  

“The German Giant” has shown spells of great form over the course of the year.  He helped Germany reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, but despite qualifying for every other TV event this year, Clemens has fallen at the first hurdle in all of them except the UK Open. A consistent injury of ‘Bursitis’ in his throwing arm has caused aggravation making a pretty good year, more remarkable and a testament to the character of Gabriel. With the injury now behind him, we are confident a successful major is awaiting. 

The worlds two years ago saw Clemens shock defending champion Peter Wright with a brilliant display on his way to the last 16, which remains his best run at a major event.  It may be time for the top-ranked German player to show everyone again what he is capable of producing.

Ranking: 32 

Previous best: Winner 2007 

Opening game: v Ryan Meikle/Lisa Ashton (Tue 20th evening) 

Darts used: RvB x Echo 25g 

The five-time World Champion has forced his way back into the top 32 in the rankings within two years of making his comeback from retirement, so will enter at the second round stage.  That in itself is an achievement, but it was only confirmed by his sparkling run at the Grand Slam, which saw him make his first major semi-final for half a decade. 

“Barney” will always enjoy terrific support from the fans, but could find himself in a rare position of having just 50% of the crowd if four-time Women’s World Champ Lisa Ashton overcomes Ryan Meikle to record her first Ally Pally victory. Raymond should be boosted by his recent success at the Slam, but being seeded number 32 comes with a danger - you may face the world number one in the third round. 

 
Gerwyn Price is second favourite for the title, but the legendary Dutchman beat him twice in Wolverhampton, so should have little fear in going toe to toe with him once more.  There are still a number of dangerous players in the same quarter, such as Ryan Searle, Jose de Sousa and Danny Noppert, but if “Barney” can summon up the old magic to get through his opening game and then potentially beat Price, fans will start to believe he could become a six-time world champion… what a story that would be!

Ranking: 33 

Previous best: Winner 2011, 2012 

Opening game: v Daniel Larsson (Fri 16th afternoon) 

Darts used: Adrian Lewis 21g 

More than a decade on from winning his last world title, and almost eight years since his last major crown, “Jackpot” heads to Alexandra Palace as an unseeded player for the second year running.  He did, however, end a three year wait for a ranking title by winning a Players Championship event in July. 

 
Two wins on the TV stages this year is part of the reason why he has been unable to force his way back into the world’s top 32 for this year’s World Championship, exacerbated by failing to qualify for both the European Championship and Grand Slam.  When he does get things right though, he remains a dangerous threat, and one of which everyone in his section of the draw will be wary. 

Sweden’s Daniel Larsson is a very capable player, who has won on stage at Alexandra Palace before, but there are a host of tougher tests awaiting if “Jackpot” can make it further.  Australian number one Damon Heta would be the next opponent, and he has suffered similar problems in a number of major events in recent months; it could be a very big game for the pair of them if they do clash in the very competitive second quarter of the draw. Lewis experience and class will be needed for him to get through the early rounds at his ‘favourite venue of all-time’. That will come as no surprise as he made history in 2011 becoming the first – and for now – the only ever – player to record a nine-dater in a World Championship final (2011 vs Gary Anderson). 

Ranking: 45 

Previous best: Last 64 2022 

Opening game: v Grant Sampson (Thu 15th evening) 

Darts used: Keane Barry Gen 1 24g 

The first member of Team Target to take to the stage, facing South African qualifier Grant Sampson in the second game of the opening night, Keane is making his fourth consecutive appearance at Ally Pally.  After losing in his opening game for the first two years, last year saw him pick up a first win, only to then lose a deciding set thriller with the red-hot Jonny Clayton. 

The 20 year old from Ireland continues to make encouraging progress, and remains one of the hottest young prospects in the sport.  His run to the semi-finals of the UK Open was magnificent, and he was similarly impressive in Minehead again last month, reaching the last 16 of the Players Championship Finals. 

“Dynamite” will be fancied to win his opening game again this year, setting up a tie with Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts, and it could be Peter Wright who awaits the winner in round three. 

There are plenty of new heights that this young man will scale in his career, and he has all the ingredients to make it to the top of the sport.  If he can continue his good TV form this year in North London, one of the most exciting young talents in the sport could take another huge step forward in his career. 

Ranking: 66 
Previous best: Debut 
Opening game: v Ryan Joyce (Sun 18th evening) 
Darts used: Scott Williams 25g

A relatively new member of the Target team who seems to learn at an astonishing rate, “Shaggy” will step on to the World Championship stage for the first time in December, and will have to put all that learning into action straight away.  The former forklift driver has been a revelation this year, becoming one of the few players ever to win a ranking title without a Tour Card, and dominating the Challenge Tour to earn his spot on the professional circuit for the next two years.

His TV debut in the PDC came at the Grand Slam, where the adrenaline got the better of him in his opening game, but he improved immediately for the next two - averaging more than 107 in defeating Ryan Searle.  While he may have been eliminated in the group stages, he walks away with huge credit for once again illustrating how big a force he could go on to become in the sport. Scotty’s heavy scoring is a huge asset so you can expect it to be raining maximum’s when he takes the stage. 
 

Ryan Joyce may have come through the last chance qualifier to reach Ally Pally this year, but he is a former quarter-finalist who has hit form in the latter part of the year.  Their clash may be the pick of the first round ties. 

Ranking: 70 
Previous best: Last 64 2022 
Opening game: v Niels Zonneveld (Mon 19th afternoon) 
Darts used: Lewy Williams Gen 1 25g 

 
“The Prince of Wales” made a blistering start to life on the senior PDC circuit last year. Becoming a father for the first time and relocating to Kent may have been undeniable factors in stemming initial progress but Williams is a real talent and will be fighting for every leg at the Palace. 

 
Performances on the youth system have ensured that Lewy he will retain his Tour Card regardless of results at the World’s, so he does have a safety net. It is not one that he would want to be forced into using though and he has huge aspirations to go deep into the tournament and provide for his young family.  

 
A victory over emerging Dutch talent Zonneveld would almost certainly keep him in the top 64 of the rankings, and that will be his number one priority.  If he can do that then he would face the title favourite Michael van Gerwen in what would become a no-lose situation: he would have already secured his spot in the elite, and now gets a chance to claim a famous win over the three-time World Champion.  

Ranking: 95

Previous best: Last 32 2021
Opening game: v Matt Campbell (Sun 18th evening)

“The Gambler” will be hoping to produce his best run at the tournament so he can confirm his place in the world's top 64. 

Danny is the first American player to win his place on the tour through Q School, and the first to win games on the European Tour, he has a list of notable achievements and performances during his time in the PDC - but victories have not come as frequently as required.  His campaign at Ally Pally last year saw him beat Damon Heta and fellow Target teammate Adrian Lewis, and he may need to find a similar level of performance this time around.  Impressive Canadian Matt Campbell is a difficult opening hurdle to negotiate, but Mervyn King looks like a potentially winnable second round tie.

Danny has gone out to fellow Target stars in both his previous World Championship campaigns - Aspinall in round two in 2020, and Durrant in round three in 2021.  When on song, Danny has the all round game to cause what fans may see as 'serious upsets'.

Ranking: 108 

Previous best: Debut 

Opening game: v Jim Williams (Tue 20th evening) 

Darts used: Sebastian Bialecki 22g 

Many would write off the chances of a teenager set to make their debut at a World Championship, but “Bolt” is no ordinary player.  While his opportunities have been limited so far, the 19 year old from Poland has produced moments of brilliance in every TV tournament in which he has played in the PDC.  He hit a nine-darter in his first ever game at the UK Open last year, reached the quarter-finals there this year, and played a key role in helping Poland beat the USA on his debut at the World Cup. 

Another product of Target’s Elite1 training and mentoring system for young players, Sebastian has already won two titles on the Development Tour and another on the Challenge Tour.  With a silky smooth throwing style, and a seemingly unflappable demeanour, he is firmly established as one of the most promising young talents in the sport. 

Jim Williams is an unpredictable opponent, but one who has won a ranking title this year and has produced a number of memorable world championship runs at the Lakeside.  It is a tough assignment for Bialecki, as would be a second round meeting with James Wade, but do not be shocked if the teenager leaves a big impression in his first ever World Championship appearance. 

Luke Littler v Harry Gregory (Mon 19th afternoon) 
 
Before play gets underway on Monday 19 December, the Junior Darts Corporation will host their own final, with two young Target stars battling to be crowned JDC World Champion.  Harry Gregory and Luke Littler are both members of our Elite 1 training and mentoring system and will go head to head on stage at Alexandra Palace, having won through the preliminary rounds in Gibraltar. 
 
17 year old Harry, from Manchester, has already competed on the PDC Development Tour circuit, and managed to beat five players from five different countries in the knockout rounds to reach the final.  Meanwhile, 15 year old sensation Luke “The Nuke” Littler has produced astonishing displays to not only win a whole host of youth titles, but to also pick up senior men’s titles - even earning him a spot at the Men’s WDF World Championship at the Lakeside. 
 
We are immensely proud of both these young men for getting to the final at Alexandra Palace, and cannot wait to see which one of them follows in the footsteps of Target’s Keane Barry, who won the title in 2019. We wish both of our young stars the best of luck.