Darts player Gemma Hayter is set to make her Alexandra Palace debut this Friday, with a mission to inspire a new generation of women to pick up the sport.
An Unlikely Return to the Oche
The 32-year-old will face world number 10 Josh Rock in the first round of the PDC World Darts Championship. This marks a remarkable comeback for Hayter, who only returned to competitive darts in 2024 after an eight-year hiatus. She initially walked away from the game in 2016, disillusioned by the lack of opportunities available for women players at the time.
Hayter admits she never believed she would experience the bright lights of Ally Pally. "It would mean everything, it's something that I never thought I would do," she told the Press Association. "I'm really looking forward to that." She is one of five women competing in this year's first round and hopes to become the first female winner at the venue since Fallon Sherrock's historic run.
A Broader Mission to Inspire
Beyond her own match, Hayter sees her journey as a beacon for others. "I think it's just so important that the women are seen as well," she stated. "That's huge for me. If I've done that after quitting for eight, nine years, I just wish it will encourage more women and more girls into the sport." She believes that if her story achieves that goal, then the entire effort will have been worthwhile.
Her rapid ascent back to the top of the women's game, where she now battles with the likes of Beau Greaves and Lisa Ashton, is impressive. Remarkably, she found her form almost instantly. "I probably would say it was like I had never been away," Hayter revealed, explaining that strong practice sessions at home led her to enter the Women's Series in March 2024, where she immediately reached a semi-final.
Inspiration from a World Champion
Hayter's return was sparked by watching a friend's triumph. She is close with world number two Luke Humphries, having played alongside him in the Hampshire youth league. "When I started thinking about coming back into it was when he won his World Championship," Hayter said. "That was huge, seeing him win that, for me." Humphries subsequently became a key advisor as she navigated her professional comeback.
As she prepares for her match on Friday 19th December 2025, Hayter carries not just her own hopes, but the aspirations of many women in darts looking for greater visibility and opportunity on the sport's biggest stage.
