Grand Slam semi-finalist unhappy as he has ‘missed out on income’ because of PDC change

Grand Slam of Darts semi-finalist Mickey Mansell secured himself a five-figure sum which he'll usage to marque up for immoderate of the income he's mislaid from the revised Pro Tour calendar

Mickey Mansell has voiced his displeasure implicit the PDC's determination to clasp non-televised events connected weekdays.

The 51-year-old Northern Irishman reached the semi-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts astatine the play - the archetypal clip he'd made the last 4 of a large successful his career. His tally successful Wolverhampton was ended by Martin Lukeman, who was aboriginal defeated successful Sunday's last by Luke Littler.

Despite his 16-12 loss, helium pocketed £53,500 for his efforts. It's a five-figure sum which isn't to beryllium sniffed at, but for Mansell, overmuch of it volition beryllium utilized to supplement mislaid income having had to ditch his full-time time job.

The revised PDC Pro Tour schedule, which has seen each level events determination from the weekends to during the week, has scuppered his erstwhile work-darts balance. And helium called retired PDC main Barry Hearn for that determination during his Grand Slam run.

Mansell told Sportsboom: "I enactment during the week, I'm a joiner. Barry threw a spanner successful the works moving everything into the mediate of the week. I utilized to enactment successful the week, but present I’m trying to screen the costs erstwhile I person to play successful the week

"There was an income ever coming in, erstwhile I could ever enactment successful the week, but present connected those Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays, if I don't win, there's nary income. I'm playing to effort and screen what I'm missing retired on."

His caller winnings person elevated him to 43rd successful the PDC Order of Merit, bringing his net to £145,750 implicit the past 2 years. Despite this success, helium inactive sits implicit £100k abbreviated of the coveted apical 32 mark.

Mansell acknowledged that the fiscal windfall volition bash wonders for him, adding: "I'm moving arsenic a joiner; you cognize what I mean? Last week I was laying floors, you cognize what I mean? It's a monolithic magnitude of wealth to me."

Littler, meanwhile, present sits 5th successful the rankings aft securing the apical £150k prize. The 17-year-old looked to beryllium joining Mansell successful falling astatine the semi-final stage, but helium claimed triumph from the jaws of decision against Gary Anderson successful a thrilling lucifer up.

Then travel the evening session, Littler soared past caller 37th effect Lukeman with a stunning 107 mean and added different rubric to what has been an bonzer archetypal twelvemonth connected the elder circuit.