Thibault Tricole likes to take care of himself and cut back before a big event. That’s one of the many insights he gave during a recent interview after a trip across the Channel that he has become accustomed to in recent months.
The Morbihan native was more than happy to chat with us again ahead of the PDC World Darts Championship, a year after he did so on the eve of a historic sporting event for him and fans of this still relatively niche sport in France.
This 2025 edition of the world’s most prestigious darts event marks the second year in a row that ‘The French Touch’ will be taking part.
Now accustomed to the demands of the competition and free of last season’s lack of experience, Thibault Tricole appeared confident and chatty a few minutes after an interview with the BBC.
On Sunday evening, Thibault Tricole will once again be treading the intimidating and ebullient aisle of London’s Alexandra Palace to the sound of Ibrahim Maalouf’s Essentielles for the famous walk-on that is so typical of the sport’s great events.
But for our friends at Flashscore, the likeable Breton didn’t stop at the basics; instead, he took the time to sound out his ambitions and goals and tell us what life is like as France’s top darts player.
Thibault, you’ll be kicking off the PDC World Championship with the first match of the fortnight. Isn’t that an added pressure?
Thibault Tricole: “A little, but I hadn’t thought about that possibility. We’re 96 at the start, even though the top 32 in the world rankings aren’t playing.
“I followed the draw live and when I saw that I was the first player drawn, I didn’t realise that it was for the first match! It’s a real eye-opener and it’s great to get off to such a good start.”
You were the first Frenchman to qualify for the PDC World Championship and the first to win a match. Have you learnt from last year with your special status and can you capitalise on that now?
“Absolutely. Last year I’d already received a lot of media coverage and, subconsciously, that probably put extra pressure on me. When I arrived at the venue, I discovered the place too. Even though I’d taken part in a few televised PDC tournaments before, the World Championship stands apart.
“It’s not necessarily the number of people or perhaps because it’s during the festive season, but people are really into it. They love the event and it was nerve-wracking to play on that stage.
“The same goes for the media protocol. Before and especially after the match, I wasn’t expecting that at all. Already when you go on stage you feel like a rock star, but when you come off it’s like a footballer at a World Cup. If I remember correctly, I had three on-camera interviews and then a press room with ten microphones on the table. That’s when I said to myself that this was the very highest level and another world.”
That’s a perfect illustration of the British darts frenzy…
“Exactly. It’s impressive there, but there are also other countries that are very interested in darts, such as the Netherlands and Germany. I remember being interviewed by the national media the next day too. It takes time and energy, but that’s part of the game.”
Especially as you have to manage everything on your own?
“That’s right. I don’t have a staff, I’m still a darts player with his own resources. At least for a French player.”
Speaking of other players, you recently beat Gerwyn Price, former PDC world champion and currently tenth in the world, at the Players Championship, three weeks after pushing James Wade to the eleventh and final round. Have you ever felt so strong?
“Officially, this is really my first year on the circuit, and I’ve gained a lot of experience playing against PDC players. Off the top of my head, I think I’ve beaten players in the world’s top 20 a good ten times. So some of the big names in darts.
“To answer your question, I didn’t think I was capable of achieving those feats but most of them, apart from Gerwyn Price, were done behind closed doors with no public.
“They were also played in short formats (first to six), which make it easier for a player of my level to achieve the feat. At the World Championships, it’s different (long format with sets). Consistency will make the difference, and that’s the strength of the best players in the world.”
These are very often players who average over 100 points per throw…
“That’s right, and it’s something I’ve rarely been able to show in the past. It’s happened two or three times and now you have to do it in matches that can last more than an hour. It’s hard, but that will be the long-term goal.”
Did Price say anything to you after the match? We know he’s not the most touching player on the circuit.
“Emotions got the better of me and when I saw the footage again, it was funny. He was smiling because, in my opinion, he knew he wasn’t in it and he knew that I could have beaten him much earlier. He’d probably made up his mind, but yes, he’s still an impressive player on stage.
“At first he wasn’t because he wasn’t very good and I started to build confidence. His game came back and then his behaviour changed and I thought ‘wow’.
“I said to myself ‘Thibault, you put him back in the game, you’re going to regret it for a long time’. In the end, he’s not as impressive as he was on TV in real life!”
Small but strong?
“He’s a bundle of nerves but he’s got a hell of a lot of charisma. You feel his presence when you’re playing.”
Without getting carried away, a first-round win would put you in the path of Luke Humphries, the reigning world champion, in his first match. Is it possible not to think about such a match and all that it would entail?
“No matter how much I don’t think about it, the media remind me!”
We apologise, Thibault…
“That’s normal! I think Joe Comito (the opponent in the first round) wants to play Luke Humphries as much as I do. It’s an extra incentive but the trap would be to only think about the second round.
“I’m going to give everything I’ve got to get through the first round on Sunday, but when I saw the draw I have to admit I was a bit disappointed. It gets complicated in the second round and there were better draws, but at the same time, it’s still the world championship and there are only good players.”
In this case, the best player at the moment.
“I’m not seeded, so at some point I was bound to come up against a big player. Unfortunately, he’s the defending champion, world number one and the best player in form at the moment. But if I play him, I’m going to take all the pressure off myself and prepare for that. Especially as most of the pressure will be on him because of his status and his entry into the tournament.
“But it’s also on us because, when you’re up against players like that, you don’t want to be ridiculed, and you want to give it your all. Even if I don’t think about it, and it would be a nice way to put the spotlight on it, I say to myself, ‘If I’m going to be eliminated, I might as well be eliminated by Luke Humphries’.”
You were ranked 146th in the world before the World Championship last season and 79th today. What is your short-term objective?
“My main objective is to finish in the top 64 by the end of next year so that I can keep my PDC Tour Card (which lasts two years) for another year.
“After that, I also want to make my prize money situation sustainable. I’ll be a lot calmer if I reach the €100,000 mark in March. I need to rack up as many wins, prize money and points as possible. I also want to qualify for more televised tournaments, like the European Tour, which I’ve only played in once this season.
“I’ve never been happier in sporting terms, and I can still see myself playing at this level in ten years’ time. But there are milestones to reach.”
How do you organise your life between Brittany and England, where most of the tournaments take place?
“I’ve been playing darts for three years now. Before I joined the PDC Tour, I was on the Challenger and that gave me frequent winnings, as well as having some pretty solid partnerships.
“Since January 2024, my winnings have been higher, but I obviously declare everything in France so that I can contribute. When I talk to players, it’s not the same system, it’s pretty vague in England (sic). After that, I have to find a balance between the constant travelling to England and Germany and my family life. I train alone, which isn’t the best way to work, but every time I go back and forth between central Brittany and the tournaments.”
Last October, you signed a partnership with your favourite football club, Lorient. For the World Championship, you will be wearing a special jersey with the Merlus logo. Can you tell us more about this outfit?
“I’ll be wearing a special shirt with the FC Lorient logo on the back. It’s going to be fairly minimalist because we have a limited amount of space for communication. There will be a bit of orange, but I didn’t want too much because it looked a bit too Dutch! The colour of the shirt will be glaz (the colour of the sea in Brittany), like the third FC Lorient shirt.”
Can you tell us more about this partnership?
“It’s a communications partnership, not a financial one. However, the repercussions could be very interesting for me. The idea is to make ourselves known to their partners. I’ll sometimes be in the VIP area during a few matches this season to give demonstrations. And through their social networks, they’ll be reporting on my performances throughout the year.”
This helps to show that Lorient is more than just a club in the Morbihan department and in Brittany, that it is an institution that is ready to help local athletes and even artists. And they give me visibility and even credit.
It’s an interesting approach…
“Yes, and darts is still a British sport, like football. And it’s clear that in England there are also links between the players and their favourite clubs, so it made sense to link the two disciplines.”
Which brings us back to Gerwyn Price and his partnership with the Dragons in rugby!
“Exactly, but for him it goes even further! He wears the club’s logo on his back, but the rugby club also has Price’s logo on its tunic.”
What can we wish you for the next few days and the big departure for London?
“Good preparation for an event like this. I want to avoid any kind of pressure and be in good mind and body before the start. Once we’re in London on Friday and Saturday, we’ll enjoy the city a bit.”
—–ENDS—-
Article published with permission from the team at Flashscore.co.uk
