Sometimes, to quote Ferris Bueller “life moves pretty fast and if you don’t stop and look around once in a while…”
It’s never easy having a lean spell and it’s especially tough to swallow when you know you have been throwing well. So, instead of being over worried and trying anything radical, a pause, and a re-focus on some new goals, seemed to have remarkable effects.
A few very good, old school practice sessions and conversations with my close team enabled me to focus on what’s right in front of me as well as some long term goals for my career.
Perhaps the only downside of the opportunities now available outside the PDC is that they are spread about so that there is less overall structure. It certainly pays to give it some thought and build your own!
During my latest trip to Portsmouth, for the MODUS Super Series, I was playing the Thursday and Friday evenings rather than the full week of early starts and long days that Group A can offer.
The week began with an almost perfect game. I defeated the talented Adam Lipscombe, hit multiple sub 15 dart legs and averaged around the 100 mark overall. It was a smooth flowing performance that boded well for the night ahead. Or did it? I only managed one more win all night!
Friday was much better overall, my experience and underlying form meant I grabbed the 2nd qualifying spot quite simply and went into the Saturday final in good order.
There had been a lot of talk of record setting behind the scenes and in an interview I had done prior to Thursday’s play. But, after a couple of mixed finals nights and was determined to get this one right.
After edging out Peter Hudson, who I have known for a long time, I was unlucky not to defeat former World champ Christian Kist. I repeated my Friday win over Martijn Dragt and prepared to play Kist again.
This time I knew I had to get in early and hit a 12 dart first leg to let him know I was there! Despite some very good scoring from CK I held true and claimed the win with a double 10 and, as a result, I am justly proud to be both the holder of the most games played, at 426 and, jointly, of the most weekly wins.
The various MODUS Series have done a great service for our game. They helped very much during covid and have now been developed into a development stage, for players to gain huge experience, or even a recovery path for those who have dipped out of the top level.
Now I am off to spend a few days in sunny Spain to celebrate another birthday! Hope to see you all soon.
—–ENDS—–
Words: Colin Osborne
Images: PDC (and Darts World)
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