You reached the semi-finals of this year's European Darts Championship as the 24th seed. How do you explain your best result at a major tournament so far?
I was seeded 24th so I played Ross Smith in the first round where I already knew it was going to be a tough game but he wasn't having his best day and that played into my hands. The mode is also better for getting into the game, which I did well against Ryan Searle and the round after that against Dirk (van Duijvenbode). I think I ran out of steam a bit against Richie (Edhouse) in the semi-final. There was quite a breeze on stage, which I'm sure a few of the players mentioned. But I was more than happy to reach my first Major semi-final.
Match centre: Dirk van Duijvdenbode vs. Luke Woodhouse
Based on last week, would you say that 2024 was an even better year for you than 2023?
Yes, definitely. It also improved my ranking position and put me in a good position for next year. Until a few days ago, 2023 was really my most successful year, but the Major semi-final turned everything on its head. I've also been travelling a lot on the European Tour this year because of my Pro Tour ranking. So I'm really happy with 2024 and hope that I can continue like this now and move up even further by 2025, into the top 32 in the world and consolidate my place in the top 32.
How do you train before the Majors and now also before the World Championship? Players like Luke Littler swear by their Xbox sessions, what about you?
No, I've never been one for big training sessions. I'll probably train three to four hours a day from now until the World Championships, but that will be split into an hour and a half in the afternoon, an hour and a half in the evening and maybe another hour at night. I practice a lot with my brother, he throws good darts, so I practice with him. There's a youth player who's quite high up in the JDC that I coach, so that's practice for me as well.
I tend to only do what I think is necessary. We play so much on the Pro Tour, so many championships and all these tournaments keep you in shape. We're there three hours before the event and then spend the whole time on the board. I rarely practice at home because it's all done at the events.
From leg to leg to victory
What would you describe as your greatest personal success in your career so far?
Probably the semi-final of the European Championships. Of course I would have preferred to win the tournament, but that was still a great success. Apart from that, beating Michael Smith in my debut year at the World Championships a few years ago is probably still my biggest achievement. I didn't think much about it at the time, but I was still in the final the year before. But if I could make it into the top 32 next year, that would top everything for me personally.
How do you go into these big matches then, do you think about it a lot beforehand or do you go into the match and play from leg to leg?
I've worked a lot on my mental game over the last 18 months and I think that's one of the reasons why my game has become more consistent and I've had more success. I know it sounds clichéd, but I take it one match at a time, I think I can win every match I play. But again, when you're playing against some of the top guys, you might not have a chance in some legs. So you have to think about every leg and just try to stay awake all the time. There's no point in always looking straight at winning, it just makes you nervous.
Threat to the family and future plans
Speaking of mentality, you've made comments on social media to some people who have written or posted to you after matches because you didn't play the way they thought you would and lost their bets as a result. Does that affect you in any way?
Yeah, it doesn't really bother me. However, I have had a few where they have gone after my family and made threats in that direction, and I can't take any of that. I know it's just empty words and it's just about venting their frustration about losing the bet, so as a player it doesn't affect me.
But then to insult and threaten the family is a no-go. It happens in all sports. I recently saw a tweet from Mark Allen, the snooker player, who was vehemently abused. The same thing happened to tennis player Jody Buridge - she was berated for losing matches. It really is the case that people who have obviously put money on you winning or throwing a 180 or whatever and then it doesn't happen, feel the need to take out their frustrations and whatever on the person who was playing.
What they sometimes don't realise is that the person, for example me in this case, if they go off on me, the game could have cost £10,000 in prize money, and nobody wants to win more than the person playing the sport. That's our profession, that's our job. I usually end up blocking these people and hope they leave me alone.
What is your plan for the future now, what else do you want to achieve in darts?
I already mentioned the top 32 would be my first goal and then consolidate my place there and continue to work my way forward. I'd like to play in the World Matchplay again, that would emphasise my consistency. I'm not one to say that I see myself as the number 1 in the world - if I manage to get into the top 16 that would be a dream come true. Then I could say that I really was one of the best in the world. But I'm not looking that far ahead, for a while my goal was just to keep my tour card, now it's to make the top 32 and play more majors. I just want to work step by step and hopefully be rewarded for it.
