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Wales Online
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Welsh darts legend admits he's 'skint' in bluntly honest post-match interview
Welsh darts legend admits he's 'skint' in bluntly honest post-match interview Richie Burnett, the former world darts champion, reached the semi-finals of the Modus Super Series on the World Seniors Darts tour this past weekend - and he had a very honest reason for his return Richie Burnett made it to the semi-finals of the Modus Super Series (Image:) Richie Burnett admitted his motivation for returning to the oche was financial, stating he was "skint" after making it to the semi-finals of the Modus Super Series. The darts star, nicknamed the 'Prince of Wales', featured in the World Seniors Darts tour over the last weekend, as fans enjoyed his return to the televised event. The 58-year-old's most recent success in darts was at the 2023 UK Open, where he overcame the then-world number two Peter Wright to advance to the quarter-finals. His appearances on the tours have been sporadic since then, but his victory in the PDC Challenge Tour in 2024 was momentous. This past weekend, the former world champion competed in the Super Series event, where he defeated Simon Whitlock and John Henderson to reach the semi-final. During his post-match interview, Burnett revealed the stark reality that propelled his competitive return. He said: "Yeah, I mean look, it's hard. You're going to have good legs and bad legs, but I'm digging in there and I want to win because I'm skint, you know. I need to win." Content cannot be displayed without consent Article continues below His frank admission evoked some laughter from the audience, even as the seasoned star downplayed his own successful performance en route to the semis. Burnett added: "Like I say you know, years go past and you should get better as the tournament goes on but I'm not saying nothing. I'll leave it at that please, thank you." The Welsh darts legend has returned to televised darts (Image:) Sadly, the Welsh darts icon was knocked out in the semi-final by Richie Howson, with a 6-4 defeat seeing the Englishman progress to the final against eventual champion Ross Montgomery. Burnett's participation in the World Seniors Darts tour would have been a welcome sight for many supporters who have followed his career over the past 27 years. Throughout his nearly three-decade-long darts career, Burnett has competed across various tours, clinching victories at the World Masters and Dutch Open in 1994 under the British Darts Organisation banner. A year later, the 'Prince of Wales' became the King, winning the World Championship title with a 6-3 victory over Raymond van Barneveld in the final. Richie Burnett returned to televised darts this weekend (Image: Tom Shaw/ALLSPORT ) In 1999, Burnett transitioned from BDO to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), where he spent the remainder of his career. Article continues below During this period, he triumphed in several tournaments, including the Challenge Tour and the Players Championship, and also participated in the World Darts Federation tour.
Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I want to win because I'm skint' admits darts legend as he returns to TV event
Richie Burnett was back on the oche as he made it to the semi-finals of the Modus Super Series to face Richie Howson – but he's not just playing darts for the love of the game Richie Burnett boldly claimed he was back on the oche trying to succeed "because I'm skint", as he stormed to the semi-finals of the Modus Super Series at the weekend. The darts legend, nicknamed the 'Prince of Wales', appeared on the World Seniors Darts tour this past weekend, impressing fans with his skills throughout the event. Burnett last had some success in darts at the 2023 UK Open, defeating then-world number two Peter Wright on his way to the quarter-finals. However, the 58-year-old hasn't been seen often on the darts tours, apart from winning the PDC Challenge Tour in 2024. This weekend, the ex-world champion took on the Super Series event, defeating Simon Whitlock and John Henderson on his way to the semi-final. During his post-game interview, the veteran darts star confessed the true reason behind his return to the oche. Burnett said: "Yeah, I mean look, it's hard. You're going to have good legs and bad legs, but I'm digging in there and I want to win because I'm skint, you know. I need to win." This response elicited plenty of laughter from the crowd, as Burnett continued to downplay his performance on the way to the next round. He added: "Like I say you know, years go past and you should get better as the tournament goes on but I'm not saying nothing. I'll leave it at that please, thank you." Unfortunately, the Welsh darts legend was put out in the semi-final by Richie Howson, losing 6-4 as the Englishman advanced to the final to face eventual overall winner Ross Montgomery. Burnett's appearance on the World Seniors Darts tour would have been a welcome addition for many fans who have followed him for most of his 27-year career. In a successful darts journey spanning almost three decades, Burnett appeared across various tours, winning the World Masters and Dutch Open in 1994 while playing under the British Darts Organisation umbrella. One year later, the Prince of Wales became the King as he won the World Championship, defeating Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 in the final. In 1999, Burnett switched BDO for the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), and spent the rest of his career playing on this tour. During this time, he won various tournaments – including the Challenge Tour and the Players Championship – and also competed in the World Darts Federation tour as well.
The Guardian
31-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
The million-pound dart: PDC doubles prize money for world championship
The Professional Darts Corporation will award the 2026 world champion a record £1m prize – double the amount Luke Littler received in January for claiming the 2025 title. The biggest prize-money increase in the history of the PDC has been confirmed, with an expanded 128-player field at the 2026 World Darts Championship competing for a £5m prize fund at Alexandra Palace in London. Confirming the sport's biggest pay day yet, the PDC chief executive Matt Porter said: 'The £1m prize for the world champion reflects darts' standing as one of the most exciting and in-demand sports in the world, and the historic total will rightly attract headlines as the biggest prize ever paid out in the sport. 'The increased prize funds announced today [also] demonstrate our commitment to growing earning potential for players at all levels within the PDC system,' Porter added. 'Expanding the player fields for the World Darts Championship and Grand Slam of Darts will provide more opportunities than ever before for players around the world to feature in televised PDC events.' 'The incredible growth of the PDC in recent years has seen darts elevated to levels never seen before both in terms of playing opportunities and global interest, Porter added. 'This is a huge moment for all players with the ambition to make it to the very pinnacle of the sport.' The darts grapevine has been buzzing in recent weeks about talk of a record prize money boost, with interest in the sport fuelled by the impact of 18-year-old Littler, who reached the 2024 world final as a qualifier, losing to Luke Humphries before winning his first title in January, beating Michael van Gerwen in the final. 'It's been £500,000 for the past however many years, but I think that's the next big step for us players,' Littler said recently when asked about the possibility of the world championship winner receiving a £1m cheque. The increased prize money will also increase the impact that the sport's flagship tournament has on darts' world ranking, the PDC Order of Merit, which is based on tournament winnings. 'Whoever wins it, they'll obviously go straight to number one,' added Littler, who has risen to No 2 in the world behind Humphries. The first PDC world championship, formed as a breakaway from the British Darts Organisation (BDO), awarded a total of £64,000, with winner Dennis Priestley taking home £16,000. Phil Taylor was the first champion to win £100,000 in 2006, with Van Gerwen collecting £250,000 in 2014. Since 2019, the tournament has featured 96 players with the first prize holding steady at £500,000, part of a total prize pot of £2.5m available at the Ally Pally. In total, PDC prize money across next season will be up £7m on this year's figures. The Premier League prize pot will increase to £1.25m from 2026, with £350,000 for next season's champion. A £1m prize fund will also be on offer at two televised 'majors': the World Matchplay and Grand Slam of Darts. The latter event will also expand to a 48-player field in 2026 to mark the 20th staging of the tournament. Four other top-tier events – the World Grand Prix, Players Championship finals, European Championship and UK Open – will all increase to a £750,000 prize fund, with the World Series of Darts Finals and the World Cup of Darts (a team event) each adding a further £50,000 to their respective pots. European Tour event prize funds will increase to £230,000 for the 14 tournaments to be held next year, while the top prize at all 34 Players Championship 'floor' events will rise to £150,000. Beyond the Pro Tour there will also be a £5,000 per event increase for Challenge Tour, Development Tour and Women's Series events. The Women's World Matchplay will carry a £40,000 prize fund and there will be a 50% rise in funding for global affiliate tours and overseas development.
