sportbible
DARTS fans were surprised when the legendary referee Russ Bray announced his retirement — but the microphone will now be passed to a number of talented successors.
Bray, a former player, has spent nearly thirty years in the darts world.
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His unique refereeing style has rightfully earned him the title of ‘The Voice’ of darts.
Nonetheless, Luke Littler’s thrilling Premier League final win over Luke Humphries at the start of 2024 was Bray’s last outing as a referee.
Bray has now stepped away from officiating in the UK, focusing instead on international events in the World Series.
Darts fans can rest assured, as the PDC has revealed the names of those who will fill Bray’s considerable role.
Who’s officiating at the World Darts Championship 2024?
Kirk Bervins
Kirk Bervins kicked off his career in 2010 but rose to prominence in 2009 as the British ‘Countdown’ champion on Channel 4.
His quick calculation skills come from his background as a math teacher, though his true passion lies in being a darts referee.
Before heading to university, Kirk had never viewed a top darts player from afar until trying out to referee at The Assassin Martin Atkins exhibition.
He volunteered on the pro tour for two years before securing a permanent role when Bruce Spendley retired in 2013.
His first major tournament was at the 2014 World Championship.
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Charlie Corstorphine
Charlie Corstorphine is preparing to officiate at the World Darts Championship 2024.
The 29-year-old from Southend began refereeing in the Essex Youth Super League before making his television debut at the 2016 World Masters.
After making a mark, Charlie was invited to officiate at the 2017 Lakeside World Championships.
Corstorphine later joined Team Ref and has regularly officiated matches for England in the British Internationals and Six Nations Cup events.
He reached a personal milestone in 2017 by overseeing his first and only nine-darter, thanks to Paul Hogan.
Now, he is about to realize his dream by officiating at the Ally Pally tournament.
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George Noble
George Noble exemplifies how some of the top referees can start from unexpected beginnings.
Noble’s journey began on stage in 1992 when the regular caller was unwell, and within just two years, he was officiating at darts’ highest level.
This English referee has overseen every BDO World Championship final at Lakeside from 1995 to 2007.
He made the switch to the PDC in 2007, and his first televised nine-dart achievement at Ally Pally came when Raymond van Barneveld accomplished it against Jelle Klassen in 2009.
Since then, Noble has worked with many legendary players and became the first referee to oversee two nine-dart legs in a single match, thanks to Phil Taylor.
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Huw Ware
Huw Ware’s journey commenced in 2010, and by 2012, he had quickly risen to become a distinguished referee.
The Welsh referee made his mark at the Lakeside Country Club during the BDO World Championship before taking on officiating at the PDC UK Open.
Since 2018, Huw has also acted as an ambassador for the LGBTI community within the darts scene.
In February 2014, Ware openly discussed his experiences regarding his sexual orientation and the hurdles he faced related to his identity.
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What’s been expressed?
The skilled referee remarked: “I’m genuinely excited to be making my debut at such a significant event at Ally Pally.
“Last year, I was present at Alexandra Palace working in the fan area with Paddy Power, the sponsors, but stepping onto the main stage is an incredible milestone.
“This will undoubtedly be the largest event I’ve been part of, and I’m eager to get started.”
Is Russ Bray contemplating a return from retirement?
Renowned referee Russ Bray hinted at the possibility of coming out of retirement for a dream World Championship final featuring teenage sensation Luke Littler.
In an exclusive interview with SunSport in November 2024, Bray mentioned: “Luke has the qualities to mirror Phil Taylor and dominate darts for the next two decades.
“Whether he desires that is something only he can decide. However, even at the early stages of his career, his influence on the sport has been remarkable.
“In fact, I can easily picture a future World Championship final between Luke Littler and Beau Greaves.
“And how wonderful would that be? I might even think about coming out of retirement to officiate that one…”
