The concept of a Darts Ryder Cup is often debated, but a match pitting the top players from England against a truly global "Rest of the World" selection would be the ultimate test of international skill.
The unique team dynamic of the competition would create immense pressure and a level of patriotic fervour rarely seen in the sport.
This article will break down how a Darts Ryder Cup would work, from the format to the highly combustible starting teams, and what the competition would mean for the sport.
This hypothetical event would transcend the traditional individual format, demanding team strategy in doubles matches and putting the world's best players head-to-head under intense flag-waving pressure.
PDC
Team England vs Team Rest of the World line-ups
The teams are selected based on the current PDC Order of Merit, with a total of 12 players for each side.
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Team England (Captain: Phil Taylor)
Luke Humphries,
Luke Littler,
Michael Smith,
Rob Cross,
Stephen Bunting,
James Wade,
Nathan Aspinall,
Chris Dobey,
Ryan Searle,
Joe Cullen,
Andrew Gilding,
Ritchie Edhouse
PDC
Team Rest of the World (Captain: Raymond van Barneveld)
Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands),
Gerwyn Price (Wales),
Jonny Clayton (Wales),
Josh Rock (Northern Ireland),
Gary Anderson (Scotland),
Damon Heta (Australia),
Danny Noppert (Netherlands),
Peter Wright (Scotland),
Martin Schindler (Germany),
Dimitri Van den Bergh (Belgium),
Gian van Veen (Netherlands),
Daryl Gurney (Northern Ireland)
PDC
How the Darts Ryder Cup would work
The Darts Ryder Cup would adopt a format almost identical to its golf counterpart, played over three days for a total of 28 points.
Matches would be a Best of 12 legs, meaning a 6-6 draw results in a crucial half-point.
Formats
Foursomes (Alternate Shots): The most tactical format. Two players per team share one set of three darts, throwing alternate darts until the leg is finished. This format demands extreme composure and requires players to completely trust their partner.
Four-darts (Best Score): Each player throws their own darts, and the team's lowest score wins the leg. This allows for aggressive play, with one player able to 'go big' knowing their partner can clean up any misses.
Singles: The grand finale, where all 12 players go head-to-head. The match-ups would be determined by the captains, creating fascinating tactical possibilities.
The team with 14.5 points wins the cup.
The competition's final day, with 12 singles matches, would create an electrifying atmosphere that would be a major boost for the sport.
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