INTERVIEW - Edgar wants to end Van Barneveld’s World Championship career

In our series of interviews ahead of the PDC World Championship, DartsNews.com recently spoke to Matthew Edgar about a variety of topics.

These included his thoughts on his season. Edgar said about this it was a step forward and that he has built a good foundation.
“It’s been a step forward this year. I was seeded for the UK Open back in March and reached the fourth round. I qualified for three majors in total and started playing in Euro tour events again. Although I feel I should have been in more.”
He added: “I broke my hand a year ago and to be honest wasn’t sure if I would be able to fully achieve my goals for this game. However I went to Q-School got my Tour Card and kicked on from the start. Things are looking good right now and 2018 has allowed me to build a very solid foundation.”

World Championship

Edgar at the PDC World Championship. If he wins, then 'Prime Time' faces Raymond van Barneveld in the second round. After being part of the PDC for some time, he admitted it has been a long time coming to qualify for PDC's showpiece event. “It’s been a long time coming. I’ve had many near misses so it’s great to cross the line at last. Now I’ve done that you can expect me to be a regular in the event now. I’m looking forward to the event and I’m having so much fun with it. I’ve stopped trying to be something I’m not now and just letting my personality and my real way of life take over.” “This is the World Championship and a life changing event. But we are also in front of a huge audience who have paid money to be entertained and I also know the value of that. My goal is to entertain and to put on a show.”

Ending Van Barneveld's career at the World Championship

On that potential Van Barneveld clash, the Northamptonshire ace admits that he has a lot of work to do first. It is a match that he believes he would win.
“I must have the hardest run in World Championship history. It’s a path of world champions round by round but as I’ve said before not top trumps. It’s a game of darts on a given day. The Van Barneveld clash I feel I will take.”
“This could be his last World Championship and I want to be the guy who has the tag of putting him out of his last event. I was a darts fan before I became a player so always looked up to guys like Taylor and Van Barneveld. Having the chance to possibly end his World Championship career is something I want.”
But Edgar has to battle past Labanauskas first before he meets the Dutchman. He sees the match against the Lithuanian as a tight clash.
“I don’t know much about him. I’ve done some research and seen he wins a lot of titles. Who that’s against I don’t know. I saw he won one recently against a 22 average so it’s hard to go on really.”
“I seen he had a good run at lakeside and a Euro Tour event in the PDC. I’m expecting it to be tight and a good game. Although I’d love the Van Barneveld match I’m aware I have a lot of work to do first.”

Next season

Finally he spoke about his aspirations for next year and said he is looking likely to keep his Tour Card and that he wants to make the World Matchplay. “I’m looking very likely to make the top 64 in the near future this will extend my Tour Card to a third year. I feel as there’s more to come in the future too so when I defend 2018 I think I’ll be going up still rather than down.” “I’d love to make the World Matchplay aswell. The goal is to ensure UK Open, Players Championship Finals and the World Championship. These three events I should be in every season and then look to add others along the way through more Euro Tour events.” Interview conducted by Samuel Gill, writer for