Jonathan Liew
@jonathanliew.bsky.social
Pinned
A brutal schedule, merciless crowds and always on the road: is professional darts all it’s cracked up to be?
For many of the performers in the 12-month circus, the tour can be soul-destroying and lonely with only the promise of untold wealth to keep them chasing the dream
www.theguardian.com
"it's a lonely place". "soul-destroying". "it's just a job". "i'm playing it for the money". "there's a lot of guys suffering". "i fell out of love with the game".
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
“you’ve seen the tottenham, now fuck off home” feels like a pretty appropriate message all round tbh
December 28, 2025 at 6:28 PM
“you’ve seen the tottenham, now fuck off home” feels like a pretty appropriate message all round tbh
Reposted by Jonathan Liew
Watched England win an #Ashes Test in Australia doing what they used to do that made this all make sense.
Would recommend www.espncricinfo.com/story/ashes-...
Would recommend www.espncricinfo.com/story/ashes-...
December 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Watched England win an #Ashes Test in Australia doing what they used to do that made this all make sense.
Would recommend www.espncricinfo.com/story/ashes-...
Would recommend www.espncricinfo.com/story/ashes-...
Reposted by Jonathan Liew
"As always, the best way to understand the greatness of women’s tennis is to watch women’s tennis."
As usual, @tumcarayol.bsky.social sticks the landing.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
As usual, @tumcarayol.bsky.social sticks the landing.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
New Battle of the Sexes is cynical bid for attention and own goal for Sabalenka
World No 1’s clash with Nick Kyrgios is on track to being one of the most inane tennis events ever conceived
www.theguardian.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:59 PM
"As always, the best way to understand the greatness of women’s tennis is to watch women’s tennis."
As usual, @tumcarayol.bsky.social sticks the landing.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
As usual, @tumcarayol.bsky.social sticks the landing.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
mad that this shambolic, nihilistic farce of a series is - by dint of this single stupid win - now in england’s top ten greatest men’s ashes tours since WW2
December 27, 2025 at 6:26 AM
mad that this shambolic, nihilistic farce of a series is - by dint of this single stupid win - now in england’s top ten greatest men’s ashes tours since WW2
ian bell once spent an entire ashes series batting at no6 because everyone ahead of him was even better. anyway, brydon carse has just gone in at no3
December 27, 2025 at 4:01 AM
ian bell once spent an entire ashes series batting at no6 because everyone ahead of him was even better. anyway, brydon carse has just gone in at no3
I’ve never seen The Traitors but I assume it’s basically what Bryson Carse has been doing this series?
December 26, 2025 at 1:05 AM
I’ve never seen The Traitors but I assume it’s basically what Bryson Carse has been doing this series?
and indeed merry christmas to *all* the group chats, everywhere
December 25, 2025 at 12:33 PM
and indeed merry christmas to *all* the group chats, everywhere
Reposted by Jonathan Liew
Punditing your own failure
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
English cricket meets Spinal Tap as Rob Key delivers latest Ashes autopsy | Barney Ronay
The England men’s cricket MD offered a postmortem that didn’t address the nuts and bolts of the system he manages
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Punditing your own failure
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Reposted by Jonathan Liew
"it's a lonely place". "soul-destroying". "it's just a job". "i'm playing it for the money". "there's a lot of guys suffering". "i fell out of love with the game".
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
A brutal schedule, merciless crowds and always on the road: is professional darts all it’s cracked up to be?
For many of the performers in the 12-month circus, the tour can be soul-destroying and lonely with only the promise of untold wealth to keep them chasing the dream
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:12 AM
"it's a lonely place". "soul-destroying". "it's just a job". "i'm playing it for the money". "there's a lot of guys suffering". "i fell out of love with the game".
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
"it's a lonely place". "soul-destroying". "it's just a job". "i'm playing it for the money". "there's a lot of guys suffering". "i fell out of love with the game".
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
A brutal schedule, merciless crowds and always on the road: is professional darts all it’s cracked up to be?
For many of the performers in the 12-month circus, the tour can be soul-destroying and lonely with only the promise of untold wealth to keep them chasing the dream
www.theguardian.com
December 23, 2025 at 9:12 AM
"it's a lonely place". "soul-destroying". "it's just a job". "i'm playing it for the money". "there's a lot of guys suffering". "i fell out of love with the game".
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
darts is bigger and more lucrative than ever. so why are so few players enjoying themselves?
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
rob cross came into his press conference yesterday wanting to talk. he hasn't spoken about his struggles before. but talking helped him, and he reckons it might help someone else too. on the pain and redemption of darts, and why he stopped taking his medication
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Rob Cross opens up on struggles after second-round win against Ian White
Rob Cross cruised into the third round of the PDC world darts championship but spoke about how life away from darts has been much more difficult
www.theguardian.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
rob cross came into his press conference yesterday wanting to talk. he hasn't spoken about his struggles before. but talking helped him, and he reckons it might help someone else too. on the pain and redemption of darts, and why he stopped taking his medication
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Reposted by Jonathan Liew
between a quarter and a third of all the tickets at Ally Pally have been sold to Germany. they are everywhere! how did a country with no darting heritage and zero major winners go mad for the darts? I tried to find out!
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
‘They like a good night out’: German darts fans find a (mostly) friendly rivalry at Alexandra Palace
Around a quarter of all tickets for the PDC world championship were sold to visitors from Germany. How did a country with no world-class player get hooked?
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:39 AM
between a quarter and a third of all the tickets at Ally Pally have been sold to Germany. they are everywhere! how did a country with no darting heritage and zero major winners go mad for the darts? I tried to find out!
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
australia weathering their way to another ashes win is it
December 20, 2025 at 9:17 PM
australia weathering their way to another ashes win is it
between a quarter and a third of all the tickets at Ally Pally have been sold to Germany. they are everywhere! how did a country with no darting heritage and zero major winners go mad for the darts? I tried to find out!
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
‘They like a good night out’: German darts fans find a (mostly) friendly rivalry at Alexandra Palace
Around a quarter of all tickets for the PDC world championship were sold to visitors from Germany. How did a country with no world-class player get hooked?
www.theguardian.com
December 20, 2025 at 10:39 AM
between a quarter and a third of all the tickets at Ally Pally have been sold to Germany. they are everywhere! how did a country with no darting heritage and zero major winners go mad for the darts? I tried to find out!
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Reposted by Jonathan Liew
beau greaves is one of the greatest talents in darts. she's beaten luke littler and josh rock this year. she also hasn't played the world championship since 2022. we talked shifting mentality, the lure of money and why she finally thinks she can beat the top men.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Beau Greaves: ‘I started beating better players and the penny dropped: I can be good enough to do this full-time’
Back at the PDC world championship for the first time since 2022, the women’s world champion means business, she tells Jonathan Liew
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:02 PM
beau greaves is one of the greatest talents in darts. she's beaten luke littler and josh rock this year. she also hasn't played the world championship since 2022. we talked shifting mentality, the lure of money and why she finally thinks she can beat the top men.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Reposted by Jonathan Liew
Closing out the year with my latest newsletter, this one focused on COP30 and how it's a pretty terrible process (no surprise there). But also a shoutout to civil society orgs doing immense work against the odds - e.g. the just transition mechanism.
lossanddamage.substack.com/p/reflection...
lossanddamage.substack.com/p/reflection...
Reflections on COP30: What happened? And what next?
Includes contributions by members of the Loss and Damage Collaboration
lossanddamage.substack.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Closing out the year with my latest newsletter, this one focused on COP30 and how it's a pretty terrible process (no surprise there). But also a shoutout to civil society orgs doing immense work against the odds - e.g. the just transition mechanism.
lossanddamage.substack.com/p/reflection...
lossanddamage.substack.com/p/reflection...
beau greaves is one of the greatest talents in darts. she's beaten luke littler and josh rock this year. she also hasn't played the world championship since 2022. we talked shifting mentality, the lure of money and why she finally thinks she can beat the top men.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Beau Greaves: ‘I started beating better players and the penny dropped: I can be good enough to do this full-time’
Back at the PDC world championship for the first time since 2022, the women’s world champion means business, she tells Jonathan Liew
www.theguardian.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:02 PM
beau greaves is one of the greatest talents in darts. she's beaten luke littler and josh rock this year. she also hasn't played the world championship since 2022. we talked shifting mentality, the lure of money and why she finally thinks she can beat the top men.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
well this is quite embarrassing isn’t it
December 19, 2025 at 12:16 AM
well this is quite embarrassing isn’t it
oh batting day is it? cool cool
December 18, 2025 at 11:50 PM
oh batting day is it? cool cool
David Munyua comes back from
2-0 down! He is a vet! He keeps getting his sums wrong! The Darts remains undefeated!
2-0 down! He is a vet! He keeps getting his sums wrong! The Darts remains undefeated!
December 18, 2025 at 4:33 PM
David Munyua comes back from
2-0 down! He is a vet! He keeps getting his sums wrong! The Darts remains undefeated!
2-0 down! He is a vet! He keeps getting his sums wrong! The Darts remains undefeated!
lighting a small candle here for everyone who went to bed at the end of the morning session
December 17, 2025 at 2:16 AM
lighting a small candle here for everyone who went to bed at the end of the morning session
none of the Covid darts really counts, does it
December 16, 2025 at 9:56 PM
none of the Covid darts really counts, does it
Reposted by Jonathan Liew
take a guy with a history of mental health issues. put him in front of a crowd actively trying to push him over the edge. throw in some petty English nationalism and a recent bereavement. and you get what happened to cameron menzies, today
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Cameron Menzies cracks in the cauldron as darts faces an uncomfortable truth | Jonathan Liew
The Scotsman is a wry, slightly daft ex-plumber who wears his heart on his sleeve. So why does the Ally Pally crowd enjoy goading him?
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:42 PM
take a guy with a history of mental health issues. put him in front of a crowd actively trying to push him over the edge. throw in some petty English nationalism and a recent bereavement. and you get what happened to cameron menzies, today
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
take a guy with a history of mental health issues. put him in front of a crowd actively trying to push him over the edge. throw in some petty English nationalism and a recent bereavement. and you get what happened to cameron menzies, today
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Cameron Menzies cracks in the cauldron as darts faces an uncomfortable truth | Jonathan Liew
The Scotsman is a wry, slightly daft ex-plumber who wears his heart on his sleeve. So why does the Ally Pally crowd enjoy goading him?
www.theguardian.com
December 15, 2025 at 11:42 PM
take a guy with a history of mental health issues. put him in front of a crowd actively trying to push him over the edge. throw in some petty English nationalism and a recent bereavement. and you get what happened to cameron menzies, today
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
Reposted by Jonathan Liew
when stephen bunting takes the stage at a darts tournament, something extraordinary happens. I spoke to him about it.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
‘I messaged Sia on Instagram. She didn’t get back to me’: cult darts hero Stephen Bunting on his viral walk-on
The world No 4’s entrance to the song Titanium has become a quasi-religious moment in darts, but while he loves the attention he tells Jonathan Liew that what he really wants is the world title
www.theguardian.com
December 13, 2025 at 8:55 PM
when stephen bunting takes the stage at a darts tournament, something extraordinary happens. I spoke to him about it.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/d...