"They said: 'you can't be here. I said: 'I have to be on stage in ten minutes!'" - Thomas Banks discloses memorable story ahead of clashing with Price at UK Open

For young Englishman Thomas Banks, darts has never been just another game. From his grandfather's pub to the MODUS Super Series stage, his path through the circuit reflects a rare combination of level-headedness, perseverance and analytical insight. In MODUS Super Series' Tungsten Talk column, Banks talks candidly about his development, the lessons of a difficult year and that one unforgettable encounter with Gerwyn Price.

"My grandfather had a pub," Banks begins with a smile. "I often sat there bored, and then I'd just pick up the darts or a cue. That's how it all started." That youth, surrounded by rough but warm pub life, shaped him. "You learn a lot about people there," he said. "There are nice people among them, but also difficult ones. You learn how to handle situations, and that still helps me - not just behind the board, but in life."

Although he now plays in professional settings, that pub background still feels like his foundation to Banks. "Darts remains in my mind a pub sport. Of course everything has gotten bigger and better, but when I think back to how it started, that's still my foundation."

The MODUS Super Series plays a crucial role in his development. "It has improved my game tremendously," he said. "From winning to losing - here you learn to deal with everything. You come here to enjoy yourself and to throw at the highest level you have in you at the time."

In fact, according to analyst Matthew Edgar, present at the interview, the Super Series is a catalyst for the new generation. "This is where you see the best players without a Tour Card," Edgar said. "You can literally look every January to see who has played here - it's all guys who later grab their Tour Card." Banks nods in agreement. "You look around and see guys you practiced with who are now breaking through. Then you know: so it really can be done."

During his first participation in the Super Series, Banks shared the practice room with players such as Harry Ward and Jamie Lewis. "That was special," he said. "I used to watch them on TV, and suddenly you're throwing next to them. If they can do it, so can I."

His first major success at Portsmouth came after going through a deep valley physically. "The first time I came here, I had glandular fever. I had lost almost 20 pounds and could barely stay balanced," he said. "But I came back, qualified again, and then won the week. That felt like a personal victory."

That week many remember well. The atmosphere, the excitement, the noisy fans - Banks enjoyed it. "Half the room was for Conor Heenan, half for me. I loved it. The more noise there was, the better I played." His father, friends and local dartmates were there. "They saw me as a little kid starting out, and now as a winner of the MODUS. That was emotional," Banks said.

Still, things did not go smoothly after that. In Champions Week, things did not go as hoped. "I was honestly bad," he admits. "Everyone was throwing better, averaging two points higher. My dad said, 'You just went down two points.' That sums it up well."

It marks the mature way Banks deals with adversity. "You can't always peak," he said. "Sometimes it's just not your week. Then you have to raise your hands and say, it is what it is. There's always going to be another opportunity."

A striking recurring theme in Banks' story is his self-image. "I always think I'm the underdog, even when I'm not," he said. That attitude helps him deal with pressure. "If I go into the group as a favourite, I feel too much tension. If I start as an outsider, I play more freely. Then I think, 'nobody expects anything from me,' so I can just do what I want."

He has not always had that modesty. At his first Q-School, he immediately qualified for the second stage. A year later, he wanted to repeat that success - but the pressure became too much for him. "I put so much pressure on myself that I just collapsed," he said. "After that, I learned: what's past is past. You have to play in the now, not in the past or in the future."

His philosophy sounds simple, but it is thoughtful. "Everything takes time," Banks said. "You don't have to achieve everything right away. If you take your time, you will eventually become the best version of yourself."

One of the most talked about moments in his young career came during the UK Open, when Banks got to take the stage against Gerwyn Price. "It was bizarre," he laughs. "I was sitting in McDonald's when I heard I had drawn Price. I didn't believe it. Everyone told me, but I thought they were kidding me. Until I saw it on Twitter: 'Thomas Banks vs. Gerwyn Price - main stage.'"

He remembers well the frenzy that followed. "We had to run to get to the board in time. No one recognised me at the entrance - I was 16, had my darts in my pocket, and was standing among the crowd. They said, 'You're not supposed to be here.' And I said, 'I have to be on stage in ten minutes!'"

Once on stage, it felt surreal. "I still practiced with Price. Just surreal. And from that moment I knew: I want to do this for the rest of my life."

Another moment many fans remember is his three-bulls finish in the Super Series. A wonderful final touch to a difficult week. "I just didn't want to finish last," Banks laughs. "I told Steve, 'I'm going full out.' He won the first leg, and then I thought, 'Now I have to give it my all.' And then that finish came. We could all laugh about it." For analyst Edgar, that illustrates exactly what the Super Series is all about. "It's not just about winning, but about those special moments. And that was one of those - pure darts joy after a tough week."

Banks considers 2025 a year of transition. "It was tough," he said honestly. "But I got to have fun again. That's the most important thing. Next year I want to flame out again."

Whether Q-School is back on the schedule, he does not yet know. "Probably not," he said soberly. "I want to focus on the Development Tour, the ADC and some Vault events first. Just enjoying the game again." He closes the conversation as he began it - quietly, soberly and with a smile. "I want to win, of course. But more important is that I find myself back behind the board. And if I do that, the rest will come naturally."