The PDC World Cup of Darts has moved from England’s title celebrations into a sharper equipment debate after Winmau responded to Gary Anderson’s criticism of the Winmau Blade X board used in Frankfurt.
Anderson’s comments came after Scotland’s 8-0 win over Norway, a result that should have been dominated by the performance of Anderson and Cameron Menzies. Instead, the two-time world champion’s verdict on the match board became one of the liveliest talking points of the weekend and a story with obvious interest for darts fans who watch the fine margins of the elite game.
The issue is not whether Scotland’s run was built on an excuse. Anderson and Menzies produced one of the performances of the tournament before later losing to Luke Littler and Luke Humphries in the semi-finals. The point is that a major player publicly questioned a piece of equipment at a televised PDC event, and Winmau has now put its side of the argument on record.
What Anderson Said About The Blade X
As covered in Nine Dart News’ earlier piece on Anderson’s World Cup board criticism, the Scot said he had switched to black points because of the way the darts were entering the board.
According to reports from GB News and DartsNews, Anderson said: “The dartboards are absolutely rank. They are the worst dartboards ever.”
He went further by suggesting the feeling was not isolated to him, saying: “Not a player on the circuit is happy with these dartboards.” That is a strong claim, and one that naturally carried weight because Anderson has long been one of the sport’s most respected voices on equipment, feel and match conditions.
It also gave the story life beyond Scotland’s result. World Cup pairs darts is already more tactical and emotional than the usual individual format, but when a senior player argues that points, angle of entry and board response are affecting the way he sets up, it becomes a broader PDC talking point.
Winmau Points To PDC Feedback
Winmau’s response was firm but measured. In a statement reported by DartsNews, the manufacturer said: “Feedback from other players and our partners at the PDC on the performance of the Blade X has been positive.”
The company also pointed to independent performance data supplied through the PDC’s official statistics partner, saying the rejected-dart data showed a meaningful reduction across the Premier League season compared with the Blade 6 Triple Core. Winmau added that it remains committed to working with both the PDC and players over equipment standards.
That matters because it gives fans the two competing frames of the debate. Anderson’s argument is based on elite-player feel and match experience. Winmau’s reply leans on wider feedback and performance data. Both can exist at once without turning the issue into a simple right-or-wrong shouting match.
For players, board response is not a cosmetic detail. The angle at which a dart enters can affect grouping, cover shots and confidence, particularly when doubles and trebles are being attacked under television pressure. For manufacturers and the PDC, consistency is just as important, because a flagship event needs equipment that players and viewers can trust.
Why The Debate Will Keep Running
The timing only increased the attention. England went on to beat the Netherlands 10-5 in the final, with Littler and Humphries completing a sixth World Cup title for England, as covered in Nine Dart News’ report on the World Cup of Darts final. The official PDC report also recorded England’s title win in Frankfurt.
But the Blade X discussion has not disappeared with the trophy presentation. Anderson’s comments gave voice to a concern that fans had already been debating online, while Winmau’s response makes clear the manufacturer does not accept the idea that the board has failed its PDC test.
The fairest reading is that this remains a live equipment conversation rather than a settled controversy. Anderson’s criticism was unusually blunt. Winmau’s answer was equally clear in defending the Blade X. What happens next will depend less on one interview and more on whether more players speak openly, and whether the PDC or its partners choose to address the matter again during the next run of televised events.
For now, it adds another edge to a World Cup weekend that already produced England’s redemption, Scotland’s strong showing and a fresh reminder that, at the top level, even the board itself can become part of the story.
