INTERVIEW - Pressure is off for Van de Pas after second round win: 'I'm sure I will play better during my next match'

Van de Pas' victory was a small highlight in a disappointing darting season for the Dutchman. The 25-year-old not only beat the Canadian qualifier Long, he also conquered himself. The winner of three PDC ranked events played at the Players Championship Finals recently, which was his first TV appearance since January at The Masters. This was possibly a decisive factor in the run-up to the PDC World Darts Championship, he told . ''That was very important, because I received my current darts two weeks ahead of the Players Championship Finals. I lost that game, but I found out that I was throwing to quick. Since then, I'm playing a bit slower.'' His current darts are not the only darts where 'Big Ben' has played with this season. After his disappointing exit at last years World Championship, he was looking for a new set of darts to find his way back to the darts elite. ''During the first three months of this season, I played with the same darts as twelve months ago, but just with more weight and shorter shafts. That didn't go for me, so I switched back to my old set-up, which didn't go badly. But I didn't show good results with them. I beat Michael Smith with 106 average, but then I lost next round, that's useless.'' ''My darts sponsor came to me eight weeks ago with about 30 or 40 different sets of darts to practice with and I ended up with my current set of darts. These darts are helping me, because I dont't have many bounce outs anymore. I just need to play better with them.'' And he is going to play better against Toni Alcinas in the third round of the World Championship, he promised. The pressure is off for Van de Pas, as achieved his main goal in Alexandra Palace. ''I'm not going to think too lightly about that game, because Toni played fantastic against Peter Wright. Also I'm not having my best season, so I think Alcinas is the favourite for this match. But I'm sure I will play better against him then I did against Long. That was a final for me, because I wanted to return after Christmas and I have done that.'' for more information about the PDC World Darts Championship, including schedules and the prize fund breakdown.