Issue 21 (May 20, 2016)

Friday 20 May 2016

Darts Weekly

MVG cruises to a second Premier League title at The O2 ◊ Report and reaction - Pages 2-3 ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●

BDO struggling to fill seats for World Trophy next week Page 7

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Friday 20 May 2016 Darts Weekly

Van Gerwen caps ‘amazing’ Premier League campaign with title triumph at The O2 Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Michael van Gerwen capped off an ‘amazing season’ in the Betway Premier League by dropping just seven legs on finals night to win the title for the second time.

The world number one, who had lost in the previous two finals at London’s O2 Arena, took home the £200,000 prize in style as he swept past Adrian Lewis, and then Phil Taylor, last night.

MVG was the clear favourite to win his first Premier League title since 2013 having finished top of the table in the league phase, with his 7-5 triumph over Taylor in Rotterdam last week handing him the new £25,000 bonus for ending the season at the summit.

“It’s been an amazing season for me and I’m so proud to win this title again,” he said. “Behind the World Championship, this is probably the biggest tournament and it was one of my goals this year to win this trophy.

“It’s extra special for me after losing in the final for the last two years. I could have won those games but I let myself down and I can’t ask for anything for more than this, because to beat Phil is a pleasure in itself as he’s the greatest player who’s ever lived.

“I was really solid tonight and I didn’t make many mistakes. I did the right thing at the right moments and I’m really glad with this result.

“It’s not all about tonight, but about the last 16 weeks. You put so much effort in and try to do well and it’s paid out by winning this trophy.”

The top four players in the PDC Order of Merit made it through to The O2 last night and many said it was too close to call a winner.

But in the end van Gerwen made light work of Lewis and Taylor and dropped just seven legs across the

two games, which is the lowest number of legs conceded by a Premier League winner in the end of season play-offs.

The previous record was held by Taylor, who in 2006, 2008 and 2010 dropped nine legs on his way to winning on finals night.

Van Gerwen kicked off the night against Lewis and ran out a 10-4 winner to reach his fourth Premier League final in a row.

Missed doubles proved costly for Jackpot in the early stages, as MVG raced into a 6-1 lead. Lewis had chances to win three of the legs won by the Dutchman, but could not capitalise on them and found himself a long way behind.

The two-time world champion showed his fighting spirit by winning three legs on the bounce to close the gap to 6-4, with the

“Behind the World Championship this is probably the biggest tournament” break which followed certainly coming at the wrong time.

Van Gerwen was able to regroup and two 11 darters in the next four legs helped him close out a 10-4 win and a place in the final.

The second semi-final proved to be a much closer affair as Taylor just managed to get the better of defending champion Gary Anderson 10-7.

The Power looked on course for victory when he won four legs in a row to go 8-4 up, but missed doubles and a brilliant 11 darter saw Anderson fight back to cut Taylor’s lead to 8-7.

But the six-time Premier League winner set up a repeat of the 2013 final by winning the next two legs.

A good start was vital for Taylor in the final and he appeared to have settled well when he held throw twice to go 2-1 up.

Few could have predicted what

Double delight: Van Gerwen celebrates his second Premier League title. PICTURE: LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC was to follow as van Gerwen won 10 of the next 11 legs to sweep past Taylor with an 11-3 win.

After MVG won five successive legs to go 6-2 in front, the Power threatened a potential comeback when he took out 80 in two darts and then left tops in the next leg.

But van Gerwen quickly ended those hopes with an excellent 100 checkout with two double tops.

It was the start of another five leg burst for the Dutchman, who in Taylor’s words ‘beat me up’ to win his second Premier League crown.

“I’m very proud to have got through to the final,” Taylor said.

“Michael beat me up, put me under pressure and made me miss doubles. I did my best, but I just couldn’t react against him. His scoring is good but his finishing is phenomenal and that’s where he hurts you.”

Darts Weekly Friday 20 May 2016

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Klaasen pulls out of potential World Cup of Darts debut Jelle Klaasen has announced that he will not be making his debut in the Betway World Cup of Darts next month due to ‘personal commitments.’

The Cobra’s run to the quarterfinals of the HappyBet European Darts Matchplay at the weekend saw him climb above Raymond van Barneveld in the PDC Order of Merit, making him the second highest-ranked Dutchman.

It put Klaasen in a strong position to make his debut in the World Cup in two weeks, where he would partner world number one Michael van Gerwen.

The pair’s fractured relationship has been well-documented and was evident to see when the two faced off in the quarter-finals of

the European Matchplay in Hamburg on Sunday night.

Before and after the match, which van Gerwen won 6-5, there was no handshake or interaction of any kind between the two.

A statement was released by The Sportsman Management Company on behalf of Klaasen on Tuesday, confirming the 2006 Lakeside champion would be unavailable to partner van Gerwen in Frankfurt.

It read: ‘Jelle Klaasen has confirmed he will unfortunately be unavailable for selection for the World Cup of Darts due to personal commitments.

‘The Dutch sensation admits he is disappointed to be missing out on the 2016 tournament but would like to wish the Netherlands’ representatives the very best of luck in the competition.’

Klaasen’s withdrawal opens the door for van Barneveld to partner van Gerwen once again.

Barney has won the tournament twice before, with Co Stompe in 2010 and then with MVG in 2014.

Wade ends van Gerwen’s Euro dominance then lifts the trophy James Wade ended Michael van Gerwen’s unbeaten run on the European Tour as he went on to win the HappyBet European Darts Matchplay at the weekend.

The Machine took home the £25,000 first prize at Hamburg’s InselParkhalle with a thrilling 6-5 victory over Dave Chisnall in the final on Sunday night.

After seeing his Betway Premier League play-off hopes end in the penultimate round in Manchester two weeks ago, Wade bounced back in style to claim his second title on the European Tour.

The 33-year-old began his titlewinning weekend with a 6-4 win over Jonny Clayton in the second round on Saturday, before showing his credentials with an impressive 6-2 win over reigning world champion Gary Anderson in the last 16 on Sunday afternoon.

A narrow 6-5 victory against Benito van de Pas booked the lefthander a place in the semi-finals, where he took on defending champion van Gerwen.

MVG had won all three European Tour events so far in 2016 but his unbeaten run came to an end after Wade came out on top 6-2, with a deciding leg triumph over Chizzy in the final handing him his first tournament win of the season.

“It’s a lovely feeling,” he said. “I don’t win often enough now so it means a lot to me when I do.”

“I believe I played solid darts all weekend, and in the next three to four months I can be dangerous.”

Euro winner: James Wade PICTURE: PDC EUROPE

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Friday 20 May 2016 Darts Weekly

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

“Development Tour wins have restored my belief and my confidence is through the roof”

Ross Twell tells Alex Moss that his success on the Development Tour has been a humbling experience

fter winning two events on the PDC Development Tour in Wigan last weekend, Ross Twell is quick to admit his recent achievements are still sinking in this week.

The 23-year-old, from the Lincolnshire market town of Sleaford, now sits at the top of the Development Tour Order of Merit and has put himself firmly in contention for one of the tour cards on offer to the two highestplaced finishers later this year.

“I’m over the moon,” he said. “It wasn’t part of my plan this year to be the number one.

“The achievement I wanted to do was to try and win one of the Development Tour events and qualify for the World Youth Championship, because I missed out on it last year.

“The top two on the Development Tour at the end of the year get a tour card. I lost my tour card this year.

“I previously played on the Pro Tour for two years, but I didn’t go back to QSchool this year.

“I needed a bit of time away from it and to concentrate on one tour. Trying to do the Development Tour and the Pro Tour got a little bit too much at the time.

“I refocused myself for the

A

Development Tour this year and it seems to have worked at the moment.

“There are players on the Development Tour who also have tour cards and they are thriving.

Keegan Brown, Max Hopp are two players going far.

“There are so many good players on the tour and it’s still a huge learning curve for me. I’m learning every time I play.”

Twell tested himself on the PDC Challenge Tour in the summer of 2013, and despite not finding immediate success he entered QSchool the following year.

A run to the final qualifying round on the second day was enough to earn Twell a two-year tour card in the PDC. It turned out to be a tricky two years for the Sleaford thrower, who picked up £2,500 on the main tour and subsequently lost his tour card. His best run came at the end of last year, when he beat Mervyn King to reach the last 32 of a Players Championship event in Barnsley.

Twell decided against going to Q-School in January to try and win back his tour card, instead focusing on playing the Development Tour and trying to regain the confidence lost

Darts Weekly Friday 20 May 2016

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from a barren two years on the PDC’s main tour.

A 4-2 win over Adam Hunt sealed his first win on the Development Tour in Germany last month, with that maiden success followed by a double in Wigan last weekend.

“I’d like to admit it’s a bit surreal to be fair,” Twell said. “(Winning two events at the weekend) is by far the highest achievement I’ve ever done.

“To win one of them and then to win two in a weekend is an absolute privilege, but three in such a short space of time is a bit of a dream come true.

“You’ve got the best youth talent in the world at these events. The names speak for themselves.

“Rowby-John Rodriguez, Dean Reynolds, Kurt Parry, they all play at these events.

“They’re so difficult to win. The scoring you see there is just unreal at times.”

After losing 4-1 to Jimmy Hendriks in the second round of

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the first tournament held on Saturday, Twell got revenge on the Dutchman by beating him 4-2 in the final of the second event later on that day.

“Lighting kind of struck twice with that,” he reveals. “My first win on the tour in Germany I lost to Adam Hunt in the first round and then I beat him in the final in the next event.”

Twell would have to come from behind to complete his Wigan double on Sunday though, battling

On the up: Ross Twell won two titles on the Development Tour in Wigan. PICTURE: SLEAFORD STANDARD

“Last year I was suffering on the Pro Tour - I didn’t believe I could do it” back from 3-1 down to beat Luke Humphries 4-3 in the final.

“It was a good comeback but also Luke did miss a couple of match darts,” he said. “Luke is such a nice lad, you’ve got a lot of friends there but you’ve got to forget about that.

“I rode my luck when he missed

darts at 90 to win it and then after that he didn’t get another shot.

“It’s been a very humbling experience so far. There’s a bit of a break now before the next Development Tour weekend.

“I’m 23 now so this is my last year on the Development Tour. If a tour card comes my way at the end of the year it would be brilliant, if not I’m definitely looking to go back to Q-School and getting back on the Pro Tour next year.

“Last year on the Pro Tour I was suffering where I didn’t believe I could do it. I didn’t think I could mix it with the top players.

“My confidence is through the roof now and confidence is a key part of darts. I believe 99 per cent is in the head, if you are mentally right it helps you in difficult situations knowing you can take out the big finishes in matches.”

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Friday 20 May 2016 Darts Weekly

Mitchell edges decider to win Welsh Open for the first time Scott Mitchell edged past Glen Durrant 6-5 to be crowned Red Dragon Welsh Open champion for the first time on Sunday.

Scotty Dog had earlier beaten former world champions Martin Adams and Scott Waites to book his place in the final, where he took on the BDO’s top seed and defending champion Durrant.

Duzza took out 132 in a deciding leg to get the better of Dave Parletti in a high-quality semifinal, but looked like his title defence had run its course when Mitchell went 5-3 in front in the final, held at the Prestatyn Sands Holiday Park.

However, back-to-back legs from Durrant forced a deciding leg which he would throw first in.

Scotty Dog then produced an excellent final leg, hitting double tops to finish off a 13 darter against the throw to claim the Welsh Open title for the first time.

Buoyed by winning the Denmark Masters only two weeks earlier, Durrant looked to make a quick start when he hit a maximum in the opening leg, but eight missed darts at doubles cost him dearly.

Mitchell stepped in to take out 25 for an early break of throw, before checking out 74 to double his advantage in 14 darts.

Duzza hit back in the third leg

Teams revealed for Six Nations Cup in Ireland next month England have announced the squad which will be aiming to retain the Six Nations Cup men’s crown in Ireland next month.

Newly-crowned Red Dragon Welsh Open champion Scott Mitchell will lead the England men’s team, with Jamie Hughes, Mark McGeeney, Dennis Harbour

with a 101 checkout for a 12 darter, but missed doubles would again prove costly for him in the next leg, as the England captain hit double 10 to establish a 3-1 lead.

Durrant’s heavy scoring ensured he regained some momentum in leg five, checking out 72 on tops to cut the deficit back down to one.

And after Scotty Dog spurned four darts to go 4-2 up, the BDO number one hit double 10 to break back and level the match up at 3-3.

However Durrant’s inconsistency on the outer ring crept in again in leg seven, as after he missed two

darts to go ahead for the first time, Mitchell coolly finished off 64 to break again to go 4-3 in front.

The 2015 Lakeside champion then comfortably held in the next leg to move to within a leg of the title, before Duzza battled back to win consecutive legs and take the final into a decider.

In the final leg Mitchell hit tops at the first time of asking to wrap up a brilliant 13 darter.

Elsewhere, Deta Hedman kept up her recent winning run by beating Sharon Prins 5-4 to win the Welsh Open ladies title.

and James Hurrell completing the line-up for the current holders.

Lisa Ashton, Deta Hedman and Lorraine Winstanley make up the ladies team, who will be looking to regain the trophy they lost to Wales last year.

Rhian Edwards will captain the Wales ladies side, which includes Katie Bellerby and Rhian Griffiths.

Martin Phillips leads the Wales men’s team and is joined by Jim Williams, Nick Kenny, Wayne Warren and Mark Layton.

Scotland are set to be led by Ross Montgomery, with Alan Soutar, Steve Ritchie and Steve Mitchell

completing the men’s line-up and Frances Lawson, Lorraine Hyde and Kate Smith comprising the ladies team.

The Republic of Ireland team sees Michael Meaney joined by Thomas Concannon, John Flood, Gerry O’Hara, Dave O’Connor, Steve Lennon, Linda Harte, Robyn Byrne, Veronice Skeffington and Olive McIntyre.

Davy Glenn heads the Northern Ireland squad, which includes Neil Duff, Kyle McKinstry, Rodney Greer, Colin McGarry, Grace Crane, Kayleigh O’Neill, Gail Mullen and Charlene Kane.

Darts Weekly Friday 20 May 2016

Less than half the tickets sold for next week’s World Trophy There could be quite a few empty seats at the BDO World Trophy next weekend.

With less than half of the tickets sold and only eight days before the tournament kicks off, there are growing fears that the £150,000 event could be played in front of a sparse crowd at the Lakeside Country Club.

Ticket sales have not been helped by the disorderly organising of the tournament, which was moved from the Victoria Warehouse in Manchester to the infamous venue at Frimley Green three weeks ago.

The BDO released ticket details a week later and, in an effort to try and fill up Lakeside, have priced tickets at £10 with the addition of a Current holder: Belgium’s Geert de Vos won the World Trophy last year £2 booking fee. The three-day event begins a week tomorrow and is being screened live on free to air broadcaster Dave.

But as we went to press last night the ticket sales for the tournament looked worrying, with less than half of the total 2,241 seats across the Bank Holiday weekend snapped up by darts fans.

The opening day begins with top seed Glen Durrant facing former world champion Andy Fordham in the pick of the first round ties, with tickets for Saturday’s action so far proving to be the most popular.

Sunday sees the first round reach its conclusion, before the men’s last 16 and ladies quarter-finals are contested to round off the penultimate day.

As it stands the final day on Bank Holiday Monday has sold the least amount of tickets, with just over 250 seats taken up to watch the men’s quarter-finals, semi-finals and final and the ladies semi-finals and final all in one session.

7 Database PDC HAPPYBET EUROPEAN DARTS MATCHPLAY (legs) (InselParkhalle, Hamburg) First round - A Gilding (81.70) 1-6 R van Eijden (85.75), D Gurney (87.70) 6-4 K Painter (86.48), R Eidams (80.95) 6-4 R Williams (81.22), J Artut (84.94) 4-6 C Dobey (85.91), V van der Voort (99.13) 6-2 J Robinson (87.93), A Norris (88.13) 6-5 R Corner (88.27), D Petersen (90.96) 3-6 J Clayton (91.78), A Welge (81.97) 3-6 M Langendorf (82.88), D Webster (87.58) 6-1 J Worsley (75.68), J Caven (96.15) 6-5 J Payne (94.79), J Murnan (91.76) 5-6 M Hopp (87.36), C Reyes (84.44) 3-6 M Caris (84.14), J Cullen (90.62) 5-6 R Meulenkamp (89.22), M Webster (93.75) 5-6 J Henderson (84.14), R-J Rodriguez (86.82) 6-4 M van der Horst (85.91), D Johnson (86.61) 3-6 M de Decker (87.70).

Second round - M van Gerwen (98.78) 6-2 R van Eijden (89.34), M King (99.05) 3-6 D Gurney (104.25), A Lewis (90.43) 6-4 R Eidams (84.47), J Klaasen (97.40) 6-5 C Dobey (92.94), K Huybrechts (85.68) 2-6 V van der Voort (92.00), B van de Pas (107.35) 6-3 A Norris (98.79), J Wade (100.88) 6-4 J Clayton (98.33), G Anderson (90.70) 6-3 M Langendorf (87.21), P Wright (99.31) 6-5 D Webster (93.58), S Whitlock (90.15) 3-6 J Caven (96.07), I White (82.99) 2-6 M Hopp (89.60), T Jenkins (92.05) 6-1 M Caris (85.67), D Chisnall (100.63) 6-2 R Meulenkamp (92.64), R Thornton (85.63) 4-6 J Henderson (91.28), M Smith (91.58) 6-1 R-J Rodriguez (78.00), M Suljovic (95.94) 6-0 M de Decker (84.24). Third round - M van Gerwen (101.76) 6-4 D Gurney (92.91), A Lewis (86.51) 4-6 J Klaasen (89.79), V van der Voort (89.57) 3-6 B van de Pas (93.44), J Wade (100.92) 6-2 G Anderson (96.73), P Wright (99.89) 6-3 J Caven (91.08), M Hopp (95.98) 6-3 T Jenkins (90.23), D Chisnall (100.87) 6-4 J Henderson (89.61), M Smith (89.57) 5-6 M Suljovic (91.53). Quarter finals - M van Gerwen (106.75) 6-5 J Klaasen (100.43), B van de Pas (96.04) 5-6 J Wade (90.79), P Wright (96.27) 6-4 M Hopp (94.20), D Chisnall (101.13) 6-4 M Suljovic (98.09).

Semi finals - M van Gerwen (97.19) 2-6 J Wade (95.03), P Wright (86.30) 3-6 D Chisnall (93.81). Final - J Wade (92.71) 65 D Chisnall (93.55).

PDC UNICORN DEVELOPMENT TOUR (legs) Robin Park Tennis Centre, Wigan) Event Nine quarter finals - B Kirk 4-3 A Dyer, A Hunt 4-1 D van Duijvenbode, N Kenny 4-3 F Herz, D Reynolds 4-3 C Loose.

Semi finals - B Kirk 4-1 A Hunt, D Reynolds 4-1 N Kenny. Final - D Reynolds 4-3 B Kirk.

Event 10 quarter finals - A Kirk 4-2 M Dicken, R Twell 4-1 B Kirk, J Hendriks 4-2 J McCarthy, D van Duijvenbode 4-3 K Brown. Semi finals - R Twell 4-2 A Kirk, PDC BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE

J Hendriks 4-0 D van Duijvenbode. Final R Twell 4-2 J Hendriks.

Event 11 quarter finals - A Kirk 4-3 R Twell, B van Peer 4-3 R Roberts, J de Zwaan 4-1 B Holmes, K Brown 4-1 H Ward.

Semi finals - A Kirk 4-3 B van Peer, K Brown 4-2 J de Zwaan. Final - A Kirk 4-3 K Brown.

Event 12 quarter finals - L Humphries 4-2 S Head, J de Zwaan 4-0 D Jensen, R Twell 4-0 C Bowler, D Van den Bergh 4-3 L Devries. Semi finals - L Humphries 4-0 J de Zwaan, R Twell 4-2 D Van den Bergh.

Final - R Twell 4-3 L Humphries.

PDC BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE (legs) (The O2 Arena, London) Play-offs semi finals - M van Gerwen (103.19) 10-4 A Lewis (95.47), P Taylor (98.21) 10-7 G Anderson (96.86). Final M van Gerwen (104.68) 11-3 P Taylor (98.84).

BDO RED DRAGON WELSH OPEN (legs) (Pontins, Prestatyn) Men’s last 32 - G Durrant 4-1 M Stocks, M Atkins (York) 4-2 J Van Egdom, D Fitton 1-4 D Harbour, R Rickwood 2-4 D Noppert, S Robertson 0-4 D Parletti, M Brooks 2-4 A Beck, P Williams 4-0 J Bass, A Bell 4-2 J Hughes, S Waites 4-0 B Kirk, S Verdonck 2-4 D Reynolds, S Stainton 2-4 S Wens, R Joyce 4-1 J Williams, S Mitchell 4-0 N Perry, D Bird 3-4 M Phillips, G de Vos 4-2 P Blackwell, W Yaes 2-4 M Adams.

Last 16 - G Durrant 4-3 M Atkins (York), D Harbour 4-0 D Noppert, D Parletti 4-1 A Beck, P Williams 2-4 A Bell, S Waites 4-2 D Reynolds, S Wens 1-4 R Joyce, S Mitchell 4-2 M Phillips, G de Vos 3-4 M Adams.

Quarter finals - G Durrant 4-1 D Harbour, D Parletti 4-3 A Bell, S Waites 4-3 R Joyce, S Mitchell 4-2 M Adams. Semi finals - G Durrant (99.23) 5-4 D Parletti (86.63), S Waites (91.77) 2-5 S Mitchell (95.64). Final - G Durrant (96.22) 5-6 S Mitchell (96.07).

Ladies last 16 - L Ashton 4-2 T Wright, S Prins 4-1 E Pearce, A Dobromyslova 0-4 R Edwards, B Greaves 3-4 A de Graaf, A M Potts 4-3 R Griffiths, K Hutchinson 0-4 L Winstanley, T Gulliver 4-1 L Hyde, S McGlimpsey 1-4 D Hedman. Quarter finals - L Ashton 3-4 S Prins, R Edwards 2-4 A de Graaf, A M Potts 2-4 L Winstanley, T Gulliver 1-4 D Hedman.

Semi finals - S Prins (87.42) 4-2 A de Graaf (81.06), L Winstanley (74.73) 1-4 D Hedman 75.78). Final - S Prins (69.64) 4-5 D Hedman 67.26).

For any advertising enquiries please contact Ben Chambers on 01903 899942 or email ben@chambers.media

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Friday 20 May 2016 Darts Weekly

RICKY WILLIAMS A DARTER’S DIARY x

Watching back my defeat in Hamburg has helped me Some players never watch their games back on TV, but that is exactly what I did this week.

Last Friday I made my first appearance on the European Tour this year and lost 6-4 to René Eidams in the first round.

I was 4-0 down to René and I just gave myself too much to do. I fought back well and ended up with an 81 average, but I tried not to dwell on the negatives.

I already know what I did wrong but it’s also good to watch the game back, which I was able to do with the European Tour being streamed on the internet.

I didn’t realise until I watched it back how negative I actually looked while I was on the stage.

When I was up there you don’t see it. You just think you’re only negative in your head, but when I watched it back I could see I showed negativity and René was able to jump on that.

It hurts to lose but the one thing it has done is made me want to knuckle back down again.

I’ve had a couple of months now where I think I was being lazy, using my bad back and shoulder as an excuse for why I’m not playing well at the moment.

It’s time for me to go back to basics and start again. I’ve stopped going to the chiropractor now because it was messing my head

up too much. Last week was the kick up the backside I needed to knuckle down.

It was good to be back playing on the stage again. If anything I prefer playing on the stage.

In the past it has been on the

stage where I’ve played some of my best darts.

For me I forget about the nerves when I play on stage because I’ve already done something to get there. Either by coming through a qualifier or being there by right because of your ranking.

I don’t play county anymore so

it had been a while since I last played on stage. Every now and then I’ll get up there at a local tournament when you get to the latter stages.

One thing I’ve realised this year is how important preparation is. I always knew when you’re playing at this level you’ve got to get things right in order to compete.

Ages ago I used to think if I practised a week before I played in a tournament I would be fine.

But now you really need to be preparing for it a month in advance, which is what I will be trying to start doing.

I’m in quite a weird situation going into this weekend and the latest European Tour qualifiers and Players Championship events.

I’m going with no expectations but I’m ready to go again.

his first ranking title in the BDO? 3 How many times has James Wade reached the semi-finals of the PDC World Championship?

4 What was the last TV title James

Wade won and in what year?

Last week’s answers - 1. King’s Hall, Stoke-on-Trent; 2. James Wade; 3. Raymond van Barneveld (28); 4. Eight.

“I didn’t realise until I watched my game back how negative I looked on the stage”

Darts Weekly Quiz 3 1 What was the first nickname James Wade used while playing in the PDC? 2 Who did James Wade beat in the final to win the 2002 Swiss Open,