At tomorrow’s finals night, which follows the rounds of the Open earlier in the day and the Classic which takes place today, comes the prospect of new winners being crowned at the Mermaid Tavern.
Jersey cleaned up all four of the major titles last year, with young Lewis Bell winning the men’s Open and Classic as Jenna Avrill took the women’s counterparts.
Avrill will not be present to defend either title, instead being among Jersey’s representatives at the WDF Europe Cup in the Faroe Islands, but Bell has declined that high-level event to battle for some of the Bailiwick’s most prized darts silverware.
Yet there will be plenty of strong players – led by new and returning visitors – aiming to claim the throne from him.
Tom McGhee and Steven Ferguson both missed nine-darters narrowly last year and are among the top UK threats, along with unknown quantities like Jason Neville and Matt Winzar.
Organiser Caroline La Touche has highlighted both the quantity and quality of the men’s field.
‘We’ve got a really good number for the men,’ she said.
‘Who knows?’
Guernsey will be missing the Allez brothers and several other top competitors, but La Touche has described teenager Rory Gill as the ‘dark horse’, which is backed up by his current league form.
‘He is beating them all. It’s whether he can hold his nerve.’
Avrill’s absence opens up the women’s competition significantly.
In a smaller women’s draw of 17, La Touche has backed her own chances of doing well should she overcome her dartitis, while highlighting the presence of 2025 finalist Kate Flood.
She has also tipped Guernsey Darts Association president Yvonne Le Gallic as probably having her best shot she will get of winning a title in Herm.
‘This is Yvonne’s chance this year.’
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