Brown had to fight past a major obstacle to defeat Jelle Klassen in the second round. It wasn't the
PDC world number 24 who was the biggest threat; instead personal issues have very much occupied the 26-year-old's mind. With his wife recently undergoing surgery for a punctured lung, Brown was very clear on where his priorities lie.
"My primary focus is my wife, she's not been very well. Ten minutes before (going on), I must have asked her 15 times if she was OK!" he told
Live Darts. "Tonight, I'm very lucky to get through, but my primary focus would be my wife."
Klassen edged the first set at the Ally Pally. But from there, the Dutchman faltered and Brown kept his nerve to see out the win.
"It was hard. It's the first time I've ever played darts and my wife has not been at the barrier. She was downstairs, supporting me - it's been hard," said a visibly emotional Brown.
Next up for him is a third round tie against James Wade, in what could be a highly charged affair. Brown is keen to put victory above all else in a game against the man he dumped out at the first round stage of last year's World Championship.
"Hopefully I'll play a lot better on Sunday than I did today!" he quipped.
"If I win with a 35 average, it doesn't matter, as long as I win.
"I've won now - that was the toughest match."
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