When we think about sports being suspended it isn’t often that darts springs to mind — but the wildly-popular UK sport is suffering even more than most thanks to a new, unforeseen problem: Bad WiFi.
Pro darts players are missing online tourneys because their WiFi is too bad
The pitfalls of online tournaments ...
Photo by Lewis Storey/Getty Images
James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
Two of the sports best competitors, two-time World Champion Gary Anderson, and No. 6-ranked Daryl Gurney had to pull out of the “PDC Home Tour” event, which saw players from around the world competing over 32 nights from their homes, using cameras to stream their shots. Alas, Anderson and Gurney had to withdraw because their internet was just too bad.
Unlike other sports trying to compete online using internet-connected bikes or rowing machines, darts didn’t have that kind of specialized technology on hand. Instead the contest was leaning on players competing on standard dart boards, and streaming video of them playing. Alas, with an upload speed of 0.97 Mbps, the result would have been a choppy mess.
Livestream services like Twitch and YouTube recommend users have at least 6.2 Mbps up in order to prevent streams cutting out. Obviously, Anderson’s was well below this. It highlights a problem in trying to replicate sporting events from home: A lot of people simply don’t have the infrastructure in place to allow it.
This wasn’t a case of Anderson needing to spring for higher-speed internet either. Anderson’s management company indicated he is a “rural dweller,” who simply didn’t have access to any faster internet. So now, one of the world’s best is unable to compete. He’s taking it in stride, however, both Anderson and his managers are getting a kick out of “Gary’s WiFi” trending on Twitter, and welcome “normality being resumed” so darts can return.
See More:
