World Darts Championship final: Why are there no walk-on girls and what have the former girls said about the decision?
Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith will go head-to-head in the World Darts Championship final.
The pair will be battling for £500,000 prize money - but there will be no-walk on girls at this year's competition.
Why are there no walk-on girls at the World Darts Championship?
IN JANUARY 2018 bosses decided to scrap walk-on girls at darts events.
It followed the aftermath of the Dorchester hostess scandal and resulted in chiefs at the Professional Darts Corporation scrapping the models participation in players' entrances.
A PDC spokesperson said: “This move has been made following feedback from host broadcasters.”
As such, there will be no walk-on girls at this year's World Championships, where a total of 96 players will compete for the £500,000 winner's cheque.
What have the former girls said about the decision?
AFTER the initial decision earlier this year, a number of walk-on girls spoke out against the ban including Charlotte Wood and Daniella Allfree.
The pair went on This Morning, where Charlotte revealed: "It’s a very enjoyable job and we feel very honoured to do the job."
Writing for SunSport, former walk-on girl Daniella revealed how she was 'gutted' to not be involved in this year's championship.
She said: "I’m absolutely gutted I will not be working at this year’s PDC World Darts Championships.
"It has been my Christmas routine for the past six years, so it feels really strange not being there. I’m still involved in the sport, attending many darts exhibitions and presenting for Live Darts TV. I love the sport.
"Taking the walk-on girls away was a really bad decision from a viewers’ point of view. The walk-on remains a big part of darts.
"We brought fun and personality to it. Darts is a show and by removing us it has definitely taken part of that away."
