"When people recognise me it's: 'you're that guy who didn't go for 170'" - David Pallett states that iconic 'Big Fish' moment is more well-known than major semi-final appearance

On MODUS Super Series' Tungsten Talk, David Pallett sat down for a candid conversation. About the boy who started darts in his parents' pub, the county years and the jump to the PDC. About peaking on big stages, an infamous 170-finish, loss and grief, dartitis and finally regaining the desire to play. "When people recognise me, it's, 'you're that guy who didn't go for 170.' But I did more than that," he says with a grin.

Pallett's dart life began in a small village outside Cheswardine. "My mom and dad had a pub there. I was five or six years old when I first grabbed a dart. After school I was aiming at the board until the place opened in the evening. That's how it started." Not much later, the family moved back to Newport and he immediately rolled into the Newport League. "First triples with older guys, then doubles, and a year later singles. Step by step."

That learning in the league changed tone once he got into the county structure. "Shropshire is where I'm from and I loved playing for that, but then they were playing in Division Four. My dream was to make it to the English senior team (under the BDO). For that I had to come out in a higher division." The decision to move to Cheshire was painful but necessary. "There were SO many class players there: Tony O'Shea, Daryl Fitton, Robbie Green, Gary Robson... to get into that A-team, you had to throw 29/30 average, on a stage, with man-of-the-matches in the B-team. That forced me to get better."

At county weekends and BDO tournaments, Pallett is maturing quickly. A key role is played by Ricky Evans. "We lived on the same street in Kettering for a while. Fantastic training partner - you really want to beat him. His natural talent is one of the best I've ever seen. And as a friend: every trip became fun with him."

His first TV experience came at the World Masters, against teammate O'Shea. "Work hadn't actually given me time off," Pallett laughs. "I went anyway. Came on stage, enjoyed, lost, but then decided: I'm going to try Q-School."

The move to the PDC follows logically from ambition. "You want to play against the best, and at the time most of the world's top players were at the PDC. I was throwing good averages, so I wanted to test myself." With his Tour Card in his pocket, Pallett immediately established his name - not only with results, but also with his unconventional finishes. "Against Dave Chisnall I had 60 left with one arrow. Instead of single 20 I went for double 14. My darts were a bit up then and I wanted to avoid a 'bust': hit is double 16 over, miss is 14 and then 46 over - six and tops. I didn't particularly like tops. It worked and the commentators frowned. Lovely."

He is also thriving at Euro Tours. "Qualifying was the hardest, but if you were there, it was good money and above all: playing on the stage. That's where I come out best. In Germany, Holland, Austria, Gibraltar - I had fun everywhere. When I enjoy myself, I throw my best darts."

Twice Pallett gets to appear at the World Championship at Alexandra Palace. The first time against Adrian Lewis delivers a harsh lesson. Pallett takes the first leg, turns around and says, "I'm the man! With that, he seemed to have riled Lewis, who then averaged 120 in the set. "I fired it up a little too much," Pallett admitted. "You learn: never challenge your opponent without a reason."

A year later, he is calmer against Kim Huybrechts, and cooler. In the deciding set, he polishes off 132 and 122 checkouts for the match. "Only a day later I realised I won six legs in a row. Sometimes everything falls right: the scores, the doubles, the feeling."

Next awaits Mensur Suljovic, still in top form at the time. Pallett misses the double for a nine darter. "I got the chance, which was already nice. The arrow felt great that I released it, but the double didn't hit. Super game, but just fell the wrong way."

After those World Championship experiences, things are going his way: Pallett is in the top 50. Yet at one point it falters and he loses his tour card. "Painful, but you can only do one thing: get up and move on." He does so in unforgettable fashion at the UK Open, in a tournament without a crowd because of snow. "I was in blood form. It helped that it was so cold and quiet - you focus on staying warm and your own game. In the end, I didn't go down until the semifinals against Gary Anderson."

Pallett later recaptures his Tour Card, but it feels different. The results are lacking, and one moment lingers: against Daryl Gurney, he throws triple 20 twice, but then fails to go for the bullseye. "Yes, the infamous 170. I choose a big 18 at that moment, lose the leg and eventually the match. People remember that. Not the semifinals at the UK Open, not the wins over big names, but that clip. Oh well, that's how it goes."

That stage symbolises his feelings on Pro Tours. "I had no fun. You drive there, lose early, look at the clock and think: around 1 p.m. back at the hotel. That saps you. You have to have fun and get back to basics."

Privately, problems are also piling up. His father Ian falls ill and becomes confined to a wheelchair. Pallett moves several times and has to care for his father. "It puts everything in perspective. You come home from another bad weekend. He asks how it went, bad news again. And then ... one day you have to say goodbye."

Those years were tough, but also precious. "We lived together for a long time at the end. I'm grateful for that." Meanwhile, David and his partner Bobby are building their family and having two children. "Now I want to make him proud. That's the fuel."

As if the problems with his father weren't enough, he later developed dartitis. "I kept throwing for half an hour sometimes, but it didn't work out. I won another local tournament, but then two weeks later it was nothing again." Then he put the arrows aside for several weeks. "When I picked them up again, suddenly everything felt right again. I haven't put them down since. I asked MODUS for another chance - I should have let them know earlier that it wasn't going yet - and I got it. For that I am grateful to them."

Pallett doesn't call it a comeback but a new buildup. "Every week you play, you have to give 100 percent. Next year I'm going back to Q-School. I feel ready to compete with those guys again. Just getting in is tough, competing for the marbles is another thing. But I believe it can be done."