Darting icon Steve Beaton has opened the door to a possible PDC return, naming key elements of the circuit that he sorely “missed” this year amid his upcoming MODUS Super Series International Pairing with Adrian Lewis.
Beaton, a prominent figure in the sport’s previous generation and a key presence during the PDC’s meteoric rise alongside Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld, surrendered his Pro Tour Card last year.
But, speaking to GB News, the 61-year-old refused to rule out a return, admitting he "missed" the competitive edge.
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“That's the thing I'm missing this year now, I do like the competitive side,” he candidly admitted.
Icon Steve Beaton admitted he has 'missed' the competitive edge this year
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If he were to make a return, a new wave of sensations, ushered in by Luke Littler, have brought a fresh set of standard practices and norms — especially in pre-match preparation, a subject that has recently been in the spotlight.
Icon Gary Anderson pulled no punches in a recent interview, bemoaning a “boring” generation of players. Beaton could see where he was coming from.
While the standard of darts and the money have skyrocketed, and Beaton agreed, he claimed the “chat” or “banter” has not followed the same trajectory.
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Darting icon Steve Beaton is set to play alongside returning Adrian Lewis in the MODUS Super Series International pairs at the end of the month
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The former world champion said: “They’re up there with their headphones in. In our day, I used to sit and have a conversation and a chat, and you go on to practice board, you’d have a chat with the bloke.
“Nowadays, they're in their own little world. Luke Littler is just sitting there on his phone playing his games and things. I see where Gary's coming from.
“But, if that's the way they want to prepare themselves, that's the best for them, I suppose,” he continued, but could he ever prepare in solitary fashion?
“I couldn't - there's no way I could go to a pro day with earphones in and not talk to anyone. Do you know what I mean? It's just not me!”
Beaton, who holds the record for the most World Championship appearances with 33, is due to play alongside the returning Lewis at the MODUS Super Series International Pairs live on Pluto TV, which runs between August 25 and 30.
Canada’s Jeff Smith and the returning Dawson Murschell, South African trailblazer Devon Petersen, German crowd-favourite Rene Eidams, and Swedish star Andreas Harrysson also return, whereas 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor will be part of the presentation team on Finals Night.
Discussing Lewis’ eagerly-anticipated return to the oche, the 61-year-old claimed he wasn’t even aware he would be partnered with his fellow darting icon until recently.
“I didn't actually know I was playing pairs with him until I seen him last month,” the two-time Dutch Open champion declared. “I said, ‘Oh, that's great’. I had an inkling it might be him, he was going to come back, but he's looking forward to it.
“I think he misses the competitive side of it. I mean, the same as me, really."
The competitive edge is not the only thing The Bronzed Adonis has missed. Back in 2024, to mark the icon handing in his tour card and seemingly ending his time on the PDC circuit, a group of darting friends, including Chris Dobey and Nathan Aspinall, donned his iconic mullet look in a proper send-off for the icon.
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The darting legend is known for his iconic perm mullet
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“I honestly didn't have a clue what they were up to,” he proclaimed.
“I do miss them now, I miss the banter on the table and the crack and that lot. So it is a shame I couldn't have gone to a few this year and been played in a few and picked and chosen.”
Beaton, by his own admission, is looking to slowly “wind down” - although he also explained he has “more work than ever” now with exhibitions and the MODUS Series - but a small part of him feels that he could have kept the tour card on one condition.
“This year I probably wouldn't have given my tour card back if I thought I could play a bit of both,” he explained.
“I thought if I could play a bit of MODUS and sort of wind down a little bit, I'd probably have kept hold of my card and gone through a few more tours because they're quite handy, I might fancy going for a few days, another bit of a competition.”
Beaton refuses to close the door on the sport where he retains legendary status, but a return to the oche competitively would mean Q school - a series of tournaments that give players the chance to gain a Tour Card and therefore grant them access to PDC tournaments such as the World Championships and World Matchplay.
With over 30 years of experience in the sport, Q school may not be an attractive option for the former World Masters champion, but if a return is on the cards, it would be the viable route. Could it be possible?
“All I can do now is maybe go to Q school, I don't really fancy going down that line. I don't think. But I'll just see how this year goes first.”
The door to a return crept open, ever so slightly. So would he consider it?
“You never know!” he said, with a glimpse in his eye. Maybe, just maybe.