Darts fans confused as ‘retired’ legend is back on screens just 15 days after World Championship finale
RUSS BRAY has left darts fans perplexed after he was spotted refereeing the Bahrain Darts Masters.
Bray, 66, had announced he would retire from darts following the PDC World Darts Championship which concluded earlier this month.
However, just 15 days after the end of the Alexandra Palace tournament, Bray was spotted in Bahrain, where the likes of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries are in action against Asia’s finest players.
And the sight of the “voice of darts” had fans scratching their heads.
Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan said: “Swear Russ Bray retired???”
A second said: “The hell is Russ Bray refereeing in Bahrain Darts Masters? Wasn’t he supposed to retire .”
A third said: “Short retirement for Russ Bray.”
Another said: “Russ Bray immediately coming back on the next event is exactly how we all saw it going tbh.”
Despite the confusion, fans were happy to see Bray back in action.
One fan added: “A good reason to watch the World Series Darts events is because we’ll have Russ Bray!”
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A second said: “Nice to see Russ Bray coming out of retirement , or was he not retired .”
Back in November, Bray said: “30 years in, old age pensioner now.
“We’ve got some cracking youngsters coming through so, for me personally, I think it’s now time to turn around and say ‘let the youngsters come through’.
“I’ve had a magnificent career so far and hopefully I can carry on in the background.”
The man himself took to social media to squash retirement claims, saying on X in response to a fan: “I have NOT retired mate.
“I have stepped down from all the Major tournaments, Worlds, Matchplay, Prem League etc.”
“I still do the Asian Tour and some of the World Series.”
Bray had been a caller for the PDC since 1996.
Prior to his refereeing career, he was a county player, with his start as a caller coming when the regular referee failed to show up for a match.
One of Bray’s side hustles – sending fans messages on Cameo for £31 a pop – has seen the iconic darts caller bag thousands of pounds.