http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/_images/misc/blog_files/rant.gif Adam Leitch talks about the growing gulf between the rival darts organisations.

IF THE BDO didn’t think they had much to worry about they
had better think again. They’re fast becoming the poor relation of the darts world and need to act soon to avoid disappearing.

Every year since the spilt which saw the PDC set up their
own rival tour has been bad news.
At first it was the PDC trying to catch up with the BDO. They had Phil Taylor, pictured below, but many of their select band of players were not that great. Over time, however, and with the money and coverage Sky TV have poured in, the tables have turned.

The PDC overtook the BDO a few years ago and the gap has
since been getting wider.
This year’s PDC World Championship was top drawer. There
were some terrific matches and the standard of the darts wasexcellent. With a qualifier getting through to the final it also dispelled the biggest criticism people ever had of it – that your average guy down the pub would never be able to win it.

Hand-on-heart time now. The BDO tournament is an altogether more pleasant affair. It’s like a good old country fete down at the Lakeside. All the players are affable chaps and the crowd is respectful of the sport.
Over at the PDC it’s often lowest common denominator stuff.

But, after watching the first round games of the BDO tournament, it was impossible not to accept it has fallen a mile behind the PDC. Hopefully this weekend’s final will salvage the competition, as last year’s thriller did. But, sadly, it’s hard to see it coming back and giving the PDC a run for its money again.