Maximus Decimus

Highest running average all year. I really thought he was in with a shout. Of the big names so far, only MVG has looked comfortable. A really weird tournament so far.

Who Nijman? I watch a fair bit of Edgar. Nice bloke who's dropped way down over the last few years.

I quite like Joe but I couldn't understand his problem. He'd just upset the bookies and won 3-0 playing well. I can only think that he felt aggrieved about something, maybe even personal with the interviewer.

Usyk would be mad to continue in my eyes. He's 38 and he's done it all. Why carry on to potentially get caught by a big shot from a Dubois or another up and comer. He could have retired last time, and very little would have been said. One of the ridiculous things I heard from the biased BBC team was that after the first fight, you'd have thought Fury won because team Usyk was down knowing he'd been in a tough battle. If that was the case, he wouldn't have rematched. This wasn't Lewis-Klitschko where people felt he'd got lucky and then retired rather than giving him a rematch. He'd nearly KO'd him. As for Fury? That was a very decent version of Fury IMO and of course the AJ fight would be a big draw and I think he'd win it pretty comfortably tbh.

I'm so sad that I watched it again and tried to score it. I had it 7-5 to Usyk, but that was with a couple of rounds being generous to Fury. You could argue he won the first 3, but it didn't seem like Fury was winning comfortably and I had it 2-1 Fury. I had Fury 3-2 up after 5 but he only clearly won 1 round after that. Anybody who says that Usyk won but the scorecards were harsh, are basically arguing over 1 swing round.

I think people have been conditioned to believe that that is great boxing. Judging has always said about quality and quality of clean punches and effective aggression, with defence and technique. That was my point about Mayweather or Canelo. People go into it expecting that Fury is this boxing genius and see it through that lens. I remember during the Mayweather-McGregor fight they gave the first round to Mayweather despite not landing a punch. That's why the AI is a good indicator here. If you actually train it to look for those things, then it sees the obvious: Usyk's punches were far cleaner and more eye-catching, he was far more accurate and he was almost always the one hunting for Fury after about round 4.

Apologies, I didn't see the crying, I was just hoping it was over so I could see the boxing! Maybe the fear/embarrassment of losing first up after everything that's happened was what gave him the extra nerves. It's been an odd tournament so far tbh, a lot of favourites have played really badly in their first game. I'm having a shocker betting wise.

I think people forget how that's only actually 2 rounds. If they changed their mind about 1 round, then it's 115-113. It was weird that all judges had it the same, but I think that's just coincidence more than anything. The AI had it 118-112. Obviously it's not a science but it's trained to judge based on clean and effective shots and sustained pressure. It's hard to eliminate bias and expectations. If Usyk was a huge draw like say a Mayweather or Canelo and fighting a relative unknown, nobody would be calling that fight extremely close.

But he got through it and came very good in the end. He's spent all year dealing with this sort of expectation and done very well. The longer form matches will only suit him more. Humphries really struggled last year until about the quarters.

Well he is taller too. Most boxing people seem to be of the opinion that the extra weight is the route he needs to go down, and to actually use it.

He's clearly up to tricks IMO. He's either wearing weights and trying to make is seem like he's heavier or is heavier and he's trying to make Usyk doubt it.

The last set was epic. Bit gutted for Smith, he seems to be a player who struggles with the mental side of it at times and if it isn't going well gets into a bit of a funk. Probably the most impressive so far was Callan Rydz yesterday, but he's another player who is great when it's working and not when it isn't.

Chargers, Chiefs, Ravens, Falcons, Lions, Panthers, Jets, Eagles, Bengals, Seahawks, Bills, Raiders, Dolphins, Buccs, Packers

I've actually watched quite a lot already, and it is two different tournaments before and after Christmas really. There have been a few underdogs who've over-achieved but they always seem to do well for a set or so and just can't keep it up. Last nights was an interesting game. Peter Wright was second best for large swathes but won 3-1, with it actually being 9-9 in legs and Wright having a lower average. It seemed to mean a lot to him, but he also seemed a bit hammered at the end...

There are some players who just can't seem to perform at the Worlds. It's so unlike other tournaments pressure wise. Whereas other events are one of a longer sequence of regular titles and TV titles, there is only one chance a year to become World Champion. I'm for Littler. He's probably been the best player this year, and the longer form games definitely suit him. His recent win over Anderson was the point that made me take the plunge and stick a few quid on him.

So good I'm on it twice! Finally off the bottom

One week until the epic rematch between Fury and Usyk. I've been watching a lot of the build-up and here's my two pence. The narrative of the first fight seems to be more than a bit skewed. It is talked about as if it was a razor-thin close fight, and often that Fury was bossing it until he was caught with a punch that changed the fight. You also often hear that he was clowning around and having too much fun. This simply isn't reality. Usyk won something like 8-4 rounds on any remotely fair scorecard with a knockdown. Also, the 9th round didn't come out of the blue - Fury had been caught a number of times in the 2 rounds leading up to it, the momentum had already changed. As for the clowning, this was clearly a masking tactic to try and make it look like he was boxing more impressively than he was. With regards to the rematch, my gut says Fury will win. I don't believe any of this nonsense that he'll box the same way but more disciplined. He's coming out aggressive IMO, and he's going to use his weight (including some gain by all accounts) to bully Usyk. They haven't been letting people in to watch his workouts etc, which suggests they want to keep it under wraps. Something tells me he just might do it. As good as Usyk is, and as much as I'd like him to win, there's something about Fury that finds a way.

Didn't upload in time. Seeing as though I was going for the 49ers anyway, I'll take that loss... 49ers, Commanders, Chiefs, Bengals, Texans, Ravens, Jets, Panthers, Chargers, Broncos, Broncos, Cardinals, Bills, Eagles, Packers, Vikings, Falcons

So the PDC have setup a fantasy Darts thing for the Worlds, where you pick a team of players from the tournament and get points etc. It seems pretty good and you have to pick a mix of players. Also the points scoring seems like there is a lot to pick up. It always frustrates me on Fantasy PL, that you only really score for goals, assists and clean sheets barring token points for playing. I'm thinking of setting up a TotalRL League for the tournament starting Sunday. Pop a like if you'd be interested in joining it and I'll set it up if I get enough.

I'm rooting for Detroit, but would like to see either them or the Bills do it for the first time.

They have been remarkably lucky so far, and it seems improbable that they can win playing this way. They're like the opposite of the Jets, who despite being 3-10 have lost 7 of their games by less than a score and are only -49 in points difference. If you take out the Arizona game, this is -23 over a 3-9 record.

Can't see him winning it, but you never know. He's genuinely a phenomenon. Since I started following darts closely during lockdown, there hasn't really been a consistent dominant force like Taylor was. I think I picked it up just after the MVG years, because he was always like the residual star as if everybody kept expecting him to come good at every tournament. I think Littler could become that dominant force. It's obviously early days but he just seems go effortlessly natural and like he can hit what he wants.

He didn't win in the end. It was a sad tournament really. I followed it a bit two years ago, when Thibault Tricole made the final and it seemed a bit better then. I caught a video of Lim in the QF and the place was empty. One look at the tournament and it's a lot of 80 averages and the odd 90. It's very telling that the boys event has not dissimilar averages.

I had a dart for a 12 darter the other day*, and I was playing double-in. Ended up at 17... *On a Granboard.

Lions, Steelers, Giants, Dolphins, Titans, Vikings, Eagles, Buccs, Cards, 49ers, Bills, Chiefs, Cowboys