Russ Bray officiated at the top for nearly 30 years (Image: Getty)
Iconic darts referee has revealed that Latvian star is the toughest player to officiate. Bray announced his retirement in 2023 and last governed over a televised match during and ’ 2024 world final.
While is known for his quirky checkouts – including double-double finishes and 170s – Bray did not pick Littler or any of his top-16 ranked colleagues as the most confusing and difficult player to oversee. Bray, who held his role as , instead named as the trickiest customer, admitting the 36-year-old’s tendency to fire in odd numbers often doesn’t make sense.
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“Madars Razma is the hardest player to referee because you never know what he’s going to do,” admitted Ladbrokes ambassador Bray. “All of a sudden, he’ll hit a treble 16, say, when he’s on 311, and it’s a number that doesn’t make sense to what his score is.”
Razma first claimed a PDC Tour Card in 2017, having established himself on the BDO circuit, and swiftly made a final at a Players Championship event in 2018.
Three years ago, the Latvian enjoyed a breakout year on tour, making his Matchplay, European Championship, and Grand Prix debuts – the latter of which he made the quarter-finals. He was rewarded with a top-32 spot for his successful year and continues to hover in and around the PDC’s elite with his rather irregular board choices, currently finding himself ranked 44th.
Razma’s unusual board choices made him the toughest to referee for Bray (Image: Getty)
“The modern-day player used treble 19, treble 18, and even treble 17 a lot more now. Michael van Gerwen can go odd ways, as does Rob Cross,” continued Bray.
“Luke Litter, obviously, too… But the worst one for me is definitely Madars Razma – all of a sudden, he’ll switch to 19s or 18s, or he’ll go for a 20, then for treble 16… you just don’t know what he’s going to do. He’s a hard one.”
When it comes to the simplest to referee, however, look no further than former world champion and current PDC No. 2 Cool Hand – whose predictable nature makes it much easier for the official to tally up his scoring.
“Your easiest to referee would be someone like Luke Humphries,” Bray concluded. “Because he’s straight down the line, and generally, you know what you’re going to get or where he’s going to go.”