In the world of professional darts, few players have reached the dizzying heights of Adrian Lewis. The man nicknamed “Jackpot” burst onto the scene in the late 2000s, capturing back-to-back PDC World Championship titles in 2011 and 2012 at the tender ages of 25 and 26. His thrilling matches against mentor Phil Taylor and his record-setting nine-dart finish in the 2011 final cemented his status as one of the sport’s most naturally gifted players.
But then, as quickly as he had risen, Lewis seemed to fade away. By 2021, he had dropped out of the world’s top 32, relegated to grueling qualification tournaments. At the start of 2023, he stopped showing up altogether, vanishing from the oche without explanation. Fans and pundits were left scratching their heads, wondering what had become of the darting prodigy.
The Weight of the World
Now, in a candid interview, Lewis opens up about the personal struggles that led him to step away from the sport he once dominated. “You have to be in a happy place,” he explains. “When you’re up there, everything’s flowing. But when you come off, mentally it takes a lot out of you.”
Lewis reveals that his wife Sarah’s battle with a chronic kidney disease and his daughter’s autism diagnosis weighed heavily on him. The constant travel and time away from his family began to take its toll. “I was leaving the house, not enjoying it,” he admits. “Even when I was winning, I wasn’t fussed. I was basically just going through the motions. Like a ghost.”
Missing the Spark
For a player who once radiated joy and exuberance on the oche, this admission is particularly poignant. Lewis acknowledges that even in his heyday, he often struggled to get himself mentally prepared for big matches. “My ability had never been in question. But my mindset, that was my big bugbear,” he confesses.
I found it hard to get myself up for games, even if it was against Michael or Phil. I dunno. It’s weird. You just go into your shell.
Adrian Lewis
A Glimmer of Hope
But for fans hoping for a triumphant return, Lewis offers a tantalizing hint. He plans to test the waters at a Super Series event in May, his first televised appearance in over two years. If that goes well, a trip to Q-School next January to try and regain his Tour Card could be on the cards.
“I want to do it properly,” Lewis insists. “I want to enjoy the winning feeling again.” While he acknowledges the daunting standard at the top of the game, with young stars like Luke Littler drawing comparisons to himself, occasional exhibitions have shown him glimpses of his old magic.
Only time will tell if Adrian Lewis can recapture the spark that once made him the most feared player on the planet. But one thing is certain: the darting world will be watching with bated breath, hoping for one more bit of “Jackpot” magic. As Lewis says with a laugh, “My happy place is at home. But yeah, in patches, I think I found it. Yeah.”
