Een jaar geleden keek Jason Lowe nog in zijn woonkamer naar het William Hill World Darts Championship. 12 maanden later speelt hij in het Alexandra Palace bij de laatste 16 tegen Devon Petersen.
Lowe (48) stuurde schokgolven door de dartswereld na zijn overwinning op Michael Smith in de tweede ronde van dit WK voor de Kerstpauze.
Lowe had pas afgelopen januari zijn Tour Card bemachtigd nadat hij letterlijk een muntje had opgegooid om te bepalen of hij het überhaupt wel ging proberen.
LOWE: “I actually flipped a coin and it landed on heads, I went into Q School, had a great day the first day and I went through.
I’m not an emotional guy. People ask me ‘why don’t you smile’ but when I’m playing in my match I get in my bubble and I concentrate. I’m not miserable, I just look that way.
He [Smith] was shouting a bit and I thought ‘I’ve got you here’. That made me play better because I knew he was struggling.
I’ve not got to earn a penny at darts. All my bills are paid through my work, so win or lose I just relax, play the darts and there’s no pressure, that suits me.
I wished I’d done it a few years earlier because I really am enjoying it. I’ve always needed a kick up the backside. I don’t know why I put it off. I do massively regret it because I really am enjoying it. I wished I’d done it 10 years ago. I’ve missed a lot.
Every player it’s in the mind that if they’re in the competition, they can win it. There’s never any doubt in my mind that I can progress every round, I’m not here to make the numbers up, I feel as if I’ve got the game to go far.”
William Hill World Darts Championship 2021
Dinsdag 29 december
Middagsessie (13.00)
3x Derde ronde
James Wade v Stephen Bunting
Daryl Gurney v Chris Dobey
Jason Lowe v Devon Petersen
Avondsessie (19.00)
1x Derde ronde, 2x Vierde ronde
Dave Chisnall v Danny Noppert (R3)
Gabriel Clemens v Krzysztof Ratajski (R4)
Michael van Gerwen v Joe Cullen (R4)
© Foto: Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)