Jamie Hughes thinks he can shock Michael van Gerwen at the World Grand Prix following a strong year that owes much to staying in occupation.
Since 2019 dawned after he worked in 2018, his big break came – the Englishman sealing his PDC excursion card thanks to a display at Q School in January. He has not looked back since.
In June, he scooped his PDC title, beating on Stephen Bunting in the Darts Open closing, which ensured him a place in the World Matchplay. He will have taken heart although he bowed out in the first round in Blackpool, losing 10-7 to finalist Michael Smith.
The isnt lacking confidence going into his major.
Its quite a brief format really, first to two groups, he told The Darts Show Podcast. Its essentially just like a Pro Tour, you have got to win legs. That. Its quite a brief format. If I could hit the floor running, getting into it early , I could lead to a significant upset.
He has no reason to lack impression.
The assurance has ever been there, however, [that the Czech Darts Open name ] proved not to myself but to everyone else just how much of a threat I am when Im playing well, he continued.
If anything, it added a bit more pressure, because theres a bit more anticipation. I am likely regarded as a potential winner of Euro Tours today since Ive won one
Players must acclimatise to thedouble-in arrangement of this World Grand Prix in Dublin, but the BDO World Championship semi-finalist wont be unsettled by it.
I have played my darting career in double-in leagues, in lower leagues, so Ive a whole lot of expertise, Hughes said.
I dont try and do anything else [in training]… I just continue with the exact routines. I am a tiny creature of habit. I love to get into great patterns, and I feel that is more important.
You can throw away the form book out the window just a little bit if you do mix things up. It [the structure ] differs. The players are not likely to be in shape.
It probably will be easier for audiences to freshen up things a little, since it does appear like the same kind of players playing on the TV the whole time, so it might freshen it up with a couple more upsets in case it did spice up things a little.
For Hughes, hell revert to kind – it has gotten him this far. While many players choose to commit to the oche,Yozza has stayed in employment.
Because he proceeds to climb through the ranks, staying occupied has worked a deal for him. By playing 2, his game was never suited.
Id try this about 12 weeks before I switched [to the PDC], he clarified. It didnt work really, and it was too much darts. There was nothing [else]. It was 24/7. It was a bit too intensive. Thats the reason why I went back to do the job. I wished to take my head off the game.
I was putting myself under far more pressure since I had been putting much more time , expecting to have a lot more out. That wont necessarily work like that.
I have discovered my sport popped up when I started working again. It is one of those sort of functions. You want to balance it. You will need to provide yourself a rest time as well as obtaining the practice in, and of course the matches and travelling.
If you have the balance right, then fantastic. I think that the balance isnt too bad in the minute.
Hughes knows what works for him, and he has no lack of belief. Hell be seeking to show what hes capable of in the days in Citywest.
You can listen with Jamie Hughes about the latest episode of The Darts Show Podcast.
Coverage of seven days in Ireland gets Sky Sports Arena by 7pm on Sunday and lasts during the week until the closing at the Citywest Hotel on Saturday.
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