PDC World Champion Rob Cross and World Number 1 Michael van Gerwen has welcomed the call made by the Professional Darts Corporation today to allow 2 automatic qualification slots for female players for the 2019 PDC World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace.
The decision was made as part of a wide ranging reform of the sports showpiece event and 2 time World Champion van Gerwen was “surprised” by the decision made by the Sports governing body but welcomes the call made to expand the sport.
“I think it’s a big progression for Darts. It is a good step forward, why not? Why can’t women win?”
“I don’t like to lose to a Woman; I don’t want to lose to anyone, but why wouldn’t a woman be as good as a man?”
And the reigning World Champion Cross, who won the tournament on his debut in January, also backs the call as a sign of progression for the sport. “I think it is going to be amazing.”
“For the men the averages is much higher than what the woman are throwing but there’s no real reason why that should be the case.”
“Getting the exposure and doing things like that will bring the women’s game on and everyone will want to go and play at the Alexandra Palace.
“There’s no reason why they can’t throw those averages like the men. It will open the avenues and that is good. The game is only ever going to improve.”
The female competitors will be decided by two separate qualifiers, a UK qualifier and a Rest of the World qualifier which will be held in the build up to the tournament at London’s Alexandra Palace in December.
Henry Deacon Media 