Fellow Dutchman Berry van Peer struggled with dartitis during the bwin Grand Slam of Darts last week. What are your thoughts on that?
“I don’t know how it is to have dartitis but I have seen it before, most of the time it is with the weaker players. I have never seen a really top performing player get dartitis. Maybe they have to work on the mental aspect a bit more than the practising. Maybe that will help him.”
There are quite a few up-and-coming players bursting onto the scene. Are there any in particular to watch out for?
“You need to look out for anyone because no-one expected Rob Cross to be doing so well a year ago. You always have to make sure you are ready for anyone but I just need to make sure I keep focusing on my own game. I don’t have time to look at other people’s games, I have to make sure I am on the practice board while they are playing as well.”
Do you have your eyes on breaking some of Phil Taylor’s records?
“I think that’s nearly impossible. Times are so different. He was there for 20-odd years. You can’t compare me with him – it was different years, different level, different players.”
How important is it to have characters like yourself and Peter Wright in the sport to give something to the fans?
“That’s for the fans to decide! I just want to make sure I do my thing and to play as good as possible. The only thing I can do is to make sure I keep practising and playing really good darts.”
