HIT THE JACKPOT
Why isn’t darts star Adrian Lewis playing at the World Darts Championships 2024?
The two-time world champion is set to miss out for bizarre reason
ADRIAN LEWIS announced his return to darts earlier this year but will miss out on the World Darts Championship for a new reason.
Lewis took an "indefinite break" from darts due to personal reasons, making an emotional statement to fans.
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Caring for his ill wife and the stress of the darts circuit led to 'Jackpot' taking a break in April 2023.
In September 2023, Lewis posted:
"Dear all, in particular my fans, I feel that your loyalty deserves an explanation for my absence from tournaments.
"After 20+ years I feel I need a break from the professional circuit for now. Massive thanks for the support from my fans & sponsors. Also I'd like to thank @OfficialPDC @PDPA--darts for the opportunity and last but not least my family. Cheers folks Ade."
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Why is Adrian Lewis not competing at the World Darts Championships?
The two-time champion is set to lose his PDC Tour Card at the end of the year.
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Lewis' current PDC Tour Card expires at the end of 2024, and by deciding not to play in the qualifiers he is allowing his Tour Card to expire due to inactivity.
Will Adrian Lewis compete in darts again?
Despite being unable to compete at PDC events if his PDC Tour Card expires, the darts legend still has plans for a return to the sport.
The Modus Super Series recently propelled darts prodigy Luke Littler into the limelight after he won the third season in May 2023.
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Modus X announced Lewis' return to the boards saying: "Jackpot is coming... Keep your eyes peeled!"
Speaking about the Modus Super Series, Jackpot said: "I'm delighted to be returning to the sport that I love, and to be backed by Modus Sports Management going forward.
"I feel refreshed and re-energised, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me."
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Likely citing similar reasons to his personal break, Lewis plans to return to the sport slowly and on his own terms by not rushing back to the PDC Tour.
Speaking to iconic darts commentator Wayne Mardle, Lewis said: "Obviously I'll do the Modus next year, see where I'm at see where my games at and if I'm enjoying it.
"Then obviously, I'd love to go to Q-School."
Matchroom chief Barry Hearn also stated that the two-time World Champ will not be given any special favours or legs up to fast track a return.
Hearn told SunSport: "Absolutely none. Nor can they be.
"It’s not about what you used to do – it’s about what you can do.
"Does he have to go through Q School? Yeah. We’d welcome him back with open arms.
"He’s a great lad and a great player. He has had his own personal problems.
"Which he has to come to terms with.
"But they are not our problems, they are his problems and it is up to him to solve them."
Darts World Championship full draw
Second round draw (seeded vs first-round winner)
- Luke Humphries vs Thibault Tricole or Joe Comito
- Raymond van Barneveld vs Nick Kenny or Stowe Buntz
- James Wade vs Jermaine Wattimena or Stefan Bellmont
- Peter Wright vs Wesley Plaisier or Ryusei Azemoto
- Stephen Bunting vs Alan Soutar or Kai Gotthardt
- Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Madars Ramza or Christian Kist
- Damon Heta vs Connor Scutt or Ben Robb
- Mike De Decker vs Luke Woodhouse or Lourence Ilagan
- Luke Littler vs Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock
- Ritchie Edhouse vs Ian White or Sandro Eric Sosing
- Danny Noppert vs Ryan Joyce or Darius Labanauskas
- Ryan Searle vs Mensur Suljovic or Matt Campbell
- Rob Cross vs Scott Williams or Niko Springer
- Gian van Veen vs Ricardo Pietreczko or Xiaochen Zong
- Nathan Aspinall vs Cameron Menzies or Leonard Gates
- Andrew Gilding vs Martin Lukeman or Nitin Kumar
- Michael Smith vs Kevin Doets or Noa-Lynn van Leuven
- Krzysztof Ratajski vs Richard Veenstra or Alexis Toylo
- Chris Dobey vs Stephen Burton or Alexander Merkx
- Josh Rock vs Karel Sedlacek or Rhys Griffin
- Jonny Clayton vs Mickey Mansell or Tomoya Goto
- Daryl Gurney vs Florian Hempel or Jeffrey de Zwaan
- Gerwyn Price vs Kim Huybrechts or Keane Barry
- Joe Cullen vs Wessel Nijman or Cameron Carolissen
- Michael van Gerwen vs James Hurrell or Jim Long
- Brendan Dolan vs Chris Landman or Lok Yin Lee
- Gary Anderson vs Jeffrey de Graaf or Rashad Sweeting
- Ross Smith vs Jim Williams or Paolo Nebrida
- Dave Chisnall vs Ricky Evans or Gordon Mathers
- Gabriel Clemens vs Niels Zonneveld or Robert Owen
- Dimitri Van den Bergh vs William O’Connor or Dylan Slevin
- Martin Schindler vs Callan Rydz or Romeo Grbavac
Adrian Lewis' darts record
Adrian 'Jackpot' Lewis began his darts career as the Stoke-on-Trent protege to 16-time world champion Phil Taylor, as the pair shared a hometown.
Lewis made his television debut in 2004 at just 19-years-old, and coined his nickname 'Jackpot' the following year.
Lewis was given the nickname after hitting a casino whilst jackpot gambling in Las Vegas, but was unable to collect his winnings as he was under the legal age of 21 - so it was back to the boards.
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Jackpot went on to win four PDC majors, with two world championships, the European championships, and the UK Open.
Lewis remains a great in the sport, and will be severely missed by darts fans across the globe.
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