Steve Beaton won’t be returning to the Ally Pally stage this year (Image: Getty)
Darts fans have issued one key demand to the after legendary arrowsmith Steve Beaton was denied a spot at next month’s .
Anticipation is building ahead of the showpiece event in the darting calendar, with the draw for the finals having been made on Monday.
But one noticeable omission from the roster is that of former WDF world champion Beaton.
The Bronzed Adonis has been a regular at the Worlds ever since breaking onto the scene during the early 1990s, but Beaton, who is now into his sixties, won’t be afforded an Ally Pally farewell.
That’s because Beaton failed to take advantage of the Tour Card Holder Qualifier, losing 6-5 against Darren Beveridge in the round of 32.
Understandably, given Beaton’s cult hero status in the sport, it sparked a passionate reaction from fans of the sport, with many asking the PDC to make an exception and involve him in the programme.
@itsocheagain replied: “Should have given him a wildcard.”
@ALEXCLARKE_14 jokingly said: “Give Steve a wild card or we riot.”
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Steve Beaton has been a darting stalwart for over three decades (Image: Getty)
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@Taylormills168 added: “Petition for a Steve Beaton wildcard.”
And a frustrated @john21773483 stated: “That’s ruined my day.”
He wasn’t the only big-name casualty from the qualifying round, with Jose de Sousa and Simon Whitlock also missing out on a spot at the Alexandra Palace.
Reflecting on the new era of darts, @SGC501 claimed: “Definitely in the new era now like. Imagine saying 4 years ago that in 4 years time, Whitlock, De Sousa and Beaton wouldn’t be playing in the worlds.”
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Two of the next-gen figureheads of darts, Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, both went head-to-head in the recent Players Championship Finals.
As was the case at last year’s World Championship final, Humphries came out on top, beating Littler 11-7 to defend his Players Championship crown at the event in Minehead.
Commenting on his performance across the weekend, Humphries revealed: “I didn’t feel myself this week playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios but there’s something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player and I enjoy playing him.
“He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up, I never looked back and I’m proud that I didn’t take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for.”
The World Darts Championship gets underway in mid-December.