Irish darts star William O'Connor has made a passionate plea for the PDC European Tour to stage an event in Ireland, declaring it "a no-brainer" and warning that failing to do so would be "a massive opportunity missed." Speaking during the Poland Darts Open, O'Connor highlighted the sport's growth in his homeland, noting, "There's a huge amount of darts in Ireland and so many young kids coming through." He pointed out the current gap in major tournaments, stating, "We don't have the World Grand Prix there anymore and we don't really have a big event anymore," before adding, "We're part of Europe — so why not?"
O'Connor emphasised the critical importance of the European Tour to his season's ambitions, outlining his goals: "For me, to do what I want to do this year, I want to qualify for the World Matchplay, I want to qualify for the World Grand Prix, and I want to qualify for the PDC World Darts Championship. I want to qualify for most of the big majors this year." He also cited the Grand Slam of Darts as a target, acknowledging, "Obviously, the Grand Slam of Darts isn't as straightforward, but if I put in a solid year then it's within grasp." He stressed that merely qualifying for European Tour events is an achievement due to fierce competition, saying, "It's a huge achievement to be here because it shows the body of work you've put in throughout the year," and adding, "There's no doubt I put in that body of work last year."
The Irishman focused on the need for consistency to achieve his targets, remarking, "To win a Players Championship event you have to be really, really consistent throughout the year. That's what I want to be." His ambition extends beyond just winning titles: "Whether I win one or not, I want to be there and I want to be in contention. That's where I want to be." O'Connor, who reached the final of the World Cup of Darts for Ireland with Steve Lennon in 2019, also highlighted the role of the European Tour in darts' international growth, noting, "It's great, especially when the venues keep getting better and better. That shows the sport is going in the right direction."
