ADRIAN Lewis has revealed he won’t be looking for any ‘handouts’ after losing his PDC Tour Card.
Last year, the two-time world champion revealed he would be taking a break from darts.
However, he is set to lose his status as a pro in January because he hasn’t played.
There has been a clamour for Lewis to get a free pass – given his standing in the game.
Former PDC chief Barry Hearn claimed the four-time World Cup of Darts winner would have to go through Q School, a qualifying event, to get it back.
Reacting to Hearn’s comments on social media, Lewis insisted he wasn’t looking for any freebies.
“I’d never want any handouts and I’d never ask for one,” Lewis wrote on X.
“I’ve taken 21 months off the PDC circuit for my own personal reasons hence why I aren’t playing at this year’s world championships.
“Hope everyone enjoys the tournament and enjoys the festive period.”
Hearn told us last week Lewis wouldn’t receive any special treatment.
He said: “[He will receive] absolutely none. Nor can there be [any special dispensation handed out].”
He added: “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.”
For now, Lewis, who was called the game’s biggest cheater by rival Michael Van Gerwen, is planning his return to the sport in 2025.
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“I’m delighted to be returning to the sport that I love, and to be backed by Modus Sports Management going forward,” he said.
“I feel refreshed and re-energised, and I’m looking forward to seeing what the future holds for me.
“I will not be rushing back to Q-School just yet, but I am not ruling it out in the future. Firstly I shall be looking to play the Modus Super Series in 2025 as my pathway back to the professional circuit.”
ANNOUNCER John McDonald is the voice of darts, building up the excitement and tension before the players step up to the oche.
Here we take a look at the fan favourite‘s life, career and family.
John McDonald was born in London on August 7, 1960.
The prominent sports announcer is best known for his work with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
He has been the master of ceremonies for the PDC since February 2007, taking over the role from the legendary Phil Jones.
John’s distinctive voice and boxing-style announcements have become a hallmark of major darts tournaments.
Before his career as an announcer, John served as a paratrooper in the British army.
However, an accident led him to change his career path, initially working as a freelance photographer between 1982 and 1994.
But wishing to work in the world of sports, John decided to put his vocal prowess to work and become a master of ceremonies.
During his glittering announcing career, he has worked in boxing, snooker, pool and bowling — he even reportedly introduced the anglers at the Fishing World Championships.
His debut in darts came during an event called The Showdown in November 2004 — a one-off special match between Andy Fordham and Phil Taylor at the Circus Tavern, Purfleet, Essex.
He subsequently worked on the 2005 World Matchplay and the 2006 Premier League before becoming the PDC’s full-time announcer.
John works for Sky Sports and ITV, covering competitions all over the UK, while his roles with Matchroom and the PDC have taken him to massive sporting events all over the world
John’s first World Darts Championship as the PDC announcer was in 2008.
Regarding his personal life, John is indeed married.
He and his wife have four sons together.
But he prefers to keep his family out of the public spotlight, so little other information is currently available.
Beyond his announcing career, John has been engaged in various charitable activities.
He has been particularly involved with thos supporting British paratroopers.
John is also a co-founder of a non-profit, as indicated by his social X/Twitter profile, which reads: “Husband and father and grandad, former paratrooper and PDC Mc .co founder of http://futurepathway.co.uk.”
Future Pathway provides fully-funded educational course for veterans and their families, as well as sports men and women both active and retired.
John’s popularity extends beyond his live announcing work.
He offers personalised video messages through platforms like Memmo.
This means fans can request custom greetings, birthday wishes or shoutouts featuring John’s unique vocal delivery.
CHRISTMAS is nearly here and there’s still time for gadget fans to get those wish-lists in to Santa.
I spend a lot of time testing tech – so here’s what I’m hoping to find under the tree on December 25.
Near the top of my list is Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg‘s latest virtual reality headset.
The Meta Quest 3S debuted earlier this year, and I had a chance to try it out.
These space-age goggles let you step into imaginary worlds, playing video games, visit distant places, and even meet up with people – all in a computer simulation.
It serves up fantastic visuals, and gives you a glimpse of a future where we might all regularly be visiting the metaverse.
I will add that it’s especially good fun for gamers – even if you’ve only got a casual interest.
During a trip to Meta HQ in California, I demo’d Batman: Arkham Shadow in the headset,
It was stupendous to run around as the caped crusader, especially when it came to using my actual hands to strike down virtual baddies.
But my favourite VR game remains Beat Saber – it’s like Guitar Hero or Dance Dance Revolution but with lightsabers, and it’s a must-play. It might be worth buying the headset alone.
Importantly, this is one of the best-value-for-money VR headsets on the market at £289.99.
That puts it at less than half the price of the new £699 PS5 Pro, and even cheaper than the regular PS5.
You can use the headset as a personal telly, a gaming machine, and so much more – and everyone in the family can have a go.
This is a proper Christmas gift: the kind that you’re thrilled to open, and desperate to unbox.
And really, it’s a small price to pay to become Batman.
It’s not going to happen, but Santa, I want a Peloton Bike. Please.
Even putting aside the problem of the indoor bicycle not fitting down a chimney (and forgetting the fact that I don’t actually have a chimney), these hi-tech fitness bikes are expensive.
So my fingers are crossed, but I won’t get my hopes up.
I’ve been pedalling away on a Peloton at the local gym relentlessly for the past six months, and I’ve become totally obsessed.
That’s why I now want the freedom to cycle at home too. I could watch a bit of Boxing Day telly and ride through the Californian hills at the same time.
And after my plans to devour enough food to feed several families over Christmas, having one in the living room would probably do me some good.
In all seriousness, the Peloton is a brilliant fitness device.
It’s easy to use, very low impact, is accessible for beginners but scales to be as hard as you’d like it, and the brilliant trainers can guide you along – or be switched off entirely for a bit of peace.
A new Peloton will set you back £1,599, or you can grab a refurbished one for £1,299. Hardly a stocking filler – but it does deliver fitness fun for all the family. Santa, I’ve been good, I promise.
Probably my top pick on this year’s Christmas list is a lightbulb.
Yes, really. It’s called then Nanoleaf Matter Essentials E27 LED Bulb. Appealing, I know.
For a start, it’s way cheaper than a Peloton at £14.99.
And it’s not just any old lightbulb – it’s actually a smart bulb.
You plug it into a regular lamp then connect it to your Wi-Fi. Once that’s done, you can control it with your phone.
It can be dimmed or brightened at the touch of a button, as well as switched on or off.
And you can even change it to almost any colour you can imagine.
You can use your phone’s smart home apps to set up routines so that it comes on when you’re home, or goes off at a certain time.
And it’s even possible to control it with your voice using AI helpers like Apple’s Siri or Google.
I’ve actually already got four of these, and I can’t get enough.
I won’t stop until every lamp is converted. So that’s my wish, Santa: another bulb. Thanks.
Here's where you can buy these top tech picks...
Meta Quest 3S
Meta Quest 3S at Currys for £289.99 – buy here
Peloton Bike
Peloton Bike at John Lewis for £1,599 – buy here
Nanoleaf Bulb
Nanoleaf smart bulbs at Amazon for £14.99 – buy here
All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we may earn affiliate revenue.
All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed.
Always do your own research before making any purchase.
MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly embroiled in a row with Arsenal over their FA Cup ticket allocation.
The two clubs are set to meet in the third round on Sunday January 12.
Under FA rules the away side is granted 15 per cent of the ticket allocation, meaning there could be 9,000 Red Devils packed inside the Emirates, which is a 60,000-capacity stadium.
But United have been given just under 8000 tickets according to the Daily Mail, which is not acceptable for club officials.
As a result, they have raised the issue with the FA with the aim of getting their full allocation.
United reportedly raised concerns with Arsenal and gave them time to address the issue, but a solution has not been reached.
Sources at the club are said to feel that the match being brought forward to 3pm should avoid any crowd problems.
The Red Devils have even had to delay placing their tickets up for sale, which was initially scheduled to take place on December 13.
They blamed Arsenal for the delay in a statement which read: “Arsenal have not provided us with the relevant information required to open applications as planned at 8am tomorrow for our away game in the FA Cup.
“We’ll update here as and when this is received and will also add updates to our game information on the ticketing website.”
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AFTER drawing each other in the third round of the FA Cup, it will be the 17th time Arsenal and Manchester United have faced off in the competition.
They previously met in the 1997 and 2005 finals, both won by Arsenal.
The last match came in 2019, which was won by United.
Overall Arsenal have six wins while United have eight, while they share two draws.
United’s tally of 22 goals is also superior to Arsenal’s 20 in these games.
Wayne Rooney is the top scorer in the fixture, with three of his goals against the North London side coming in the FA Cup.
Bukayo Saka leads Arsenal’s tally at the moment with six goals, though these have all been in the Premier League.
United’s trip to the Emirates is the biggest tie of the third round and is a baptism of fire for Ruben Amorim, who will be managing his first game in the competition.
The two clubs have a lengthy history in a tournament and this will be their 17th meeting.
Two of those matches came in the final, with the Gunners coming out on top on both occasions, in 1979 and 2005.
FORMER Premier League winner Jesus Navas broke down in tears as he said an emotional goodbye to Sevilla.
The 39-year-old legend is hanging up his boots at the end of this calendar year.
Navas, who has been on Sevilla‘s books for 20 years, played the last home match of his career last night as his side beat Celta Vigo 1-0.
And after the game, the veteran was given an incredible send-off at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.
Navas broke down in tears as he and his family were given a guard of honour by his team-mates.
Supporters chanted his name and held up banners for him as the emotional Spaniard waved goodbye.
On his way around the pitch, Navas showed his class by stopping and kissing the ground where his former team-mate Antonio Puerta suffered a cardiac arrest during a match in 2007.
Puerta sadly passed away three days later.
Navas was 18-years-old when he made his Sevilla debut and went on to play for his boyhood club 704 times.
He lifted two Copa del Reys and four Europa Leagues, with two of the successes coming while captain.
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A Prem-winning four years at Manchester City from 2013 to 2017 came between his spells at Sevilla.
Navas initially announced he was leaving in May but chairman Jose Maria del Nido then offered him a lifetime contract.
Despite managing 71 minutes in his final appearance, the versatile winger hangs up his boots due to a chronic hip injury.
Navas admitted he “can’t take” playing through the pain anymore.
On the international stage, he won the World Cup and two Euros with Spain.
MASON MOUNT suffered more Manchester United misery as he was hauled off injured against City.
The former Chelsea star came off injured after just 13 minutes of the Manchester derby – replaced by Kobbie Mainoo.
Mount has suffered large spells out of the squad this season amid a hamstring problem.
And his withdrawal against City at the Etihad is the midfielder’s latest setback in United red.
Mount joined from West London in a £60million move last summer under Erik ten Hag.
But he has failed to hit the same heights that saw him lift the Champions League at Chelsea.
In fact, over the 18 months he has been at United, Mount has played a full 90 minutes of football ONCE – against Newcastle in the League Cup in November 2023.
United also travelled to the Premier League champions without Marcus Rashford or Alejandro Garnacho.
And manager Ruben Amorim appeared to suggest it was down to performances – both in training and on the pitch.
He said: “We try to evaluate everything training performance, game performances, engagement with team-mates, push their team-mates up.
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“Everything is on the line when we analyse and try to choose the players. It is my selection. Simple.
“I don’t want to send a message it is simply an evaluation and they know it. The players are really, really smart.
“Everybody understands my decision and I have to choose. It is simple selection.
“Of course the context is difficult because we have to win games and we have a difficult situation now.
“I pay attention to everything, the way you eat, the way you put your clothes to go to a game. Everything. I make my evaluation and then I decide.”