A former PDC Tour winner has announced his retirement from professional darts midway through a match, having failed to keep up appearances among the sport’s elite for some time now
Former Players Championship winner Paul Nicholson has confirmed his retirement from playing darts(Image: Dave Benett, Dave Benett/Getty Images for Fitzdares)
Former PDC Tour champion Paul Nicholson has announced his retirement from darts, making the revelation during live commentary. ‘The Asset’ was working on a recent MODUS Super Series event when he disclosed that his playing career had come to an end.
The 46-year-old reached his pinnacle around 2010, capturing his sole televised title at the Players Championship that same year. He subsequently made it to the final of the 2011 Championship League final and finished as runner-up at the 2012 World Cup of Darts.
Though he had never formally declared his career over, the Newcastle-born ace has now officially confirmed his departure as a competitor. The former World Championship quarter-finalist was providing commentary for a Seniors Showdown clash between Johnny Haines and Terry Jenkins when he stunned audiences with his announcement.
“I can actually tell you, at this point in time, I’ve never said this out loud until now, I am retired,” he said. “I have decided to not play darts anymore.
“That is something I’ve said to myself over the new year. I am 100 per cent media now and I’ve decided not to play darts anymore.”
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The news may not surprise everyone given Nicholson has been absent from the sport’s elite level for considerable time. He hasn’t featured in the PDC since 2019, when he chose to bypass Q School to focus on improving his game.
However, a comeback has never materialised, and now never will. Nicholson, who understands how rapidly one can slip from the spotlight, will instead aim to channel his flair for theatrics more effectively by operating behind the scenes.
Besides claiming the Players Championship, The Asset also drew notice for his extravagant stage entrances, along with his short-lived rivalry with darts icon Phil Taylor. The duo had several heated confrontations spanning a couple of years and engaged in some verbal sparring through the press.
Nicholson memorably beat ‘The Power’ to secure a quarter-final spot in the 2011 UK Open, following which he boldly chose to gesture the legend off stage. This would prove to be a misjudged move, though, as Taylor never suffered another defeat to Nicholson throughout his career.
Indeed, following losses in their initial two meetings in 2010 and 2011, Taylor began a remarkable 14-match winning run against Nicholson. The 16-time world champion also described his opponent as “very, very silly” and claimed he had “a big mouth” that he found difficult to control.
Nicholson served as something of a pantomime antagonist during his peak and embraced the dramatic elements of the sport. Nevertheless, he hasn’t had an opportunity to demonstrate this in recent years after slipping from prominence.
He competed for his adopted country, Australia, and even faced Taylor in a World Cup final. His appearances often incited a chorus of boos from spectators, many of whom were eager to see him falter.
However, those skills could be effectively utilised with the former PDC regular taking up commentary duties. Despite his retirement from playing, fans haven’t heard the last of him.
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