Dartsnews.com recently had the opportunity to catch up with Kyle McKinstry in an interview after his win at the England Open a few weeks ago and this was done yesterday.
The
interview was about how he got into darts, the
BDO and a potential switch to the PDC and what that would mean for McKinstry. When asked who he admired growing up he replied: 'It was Phil Taylor and I would have watched Lakeside every year. But I watched Phil Taylor a lot growing up". He claimed the England Open last week and for him he thought he played really well all weekend. ''I played really well all weekend, I played steady. I played down to the Last 8 on the Saturday and I thought if I got down to the Last 8 and through to the Sunday that I fancied my chances when I looked at the players left". When asked about making his BDO World Trophy debut and reaching the Quarter-Finals as well as potentially using that to have runs later in the year said: "I have sort of got used to the stage now and that cameras and the lights sort of don't effect me as much as they did. Hopefully World Masters and Lakeside I can give it a real good go this year. Last year I had a slow start, I was 2-0 down and I think it was a bit of nerves". Continuing on with Lakeside, he speaks about playing on that historic stage. "To walk out onto that stage and think of the players that have played on there and to say you have played on that stage is amazing".
Photo: David Gill/DG Media
Potential switch
Kyle also gave his thoughts on the BDO and a potential switch to the PDC in the future. "I think the BDO is a good organisation but if they gave the players more televised opportunities like you only really have the big ones. Depending on Lakeside and how that goes I will be trying the PDC next year".
Recently he quit his job as a window fitter to focus on his darts and whether he admitted the work has put in is helping. "Definitely I am putting the work in and I can see that coming out in my game where as when I was working I could only do an hour".
"To me you have to put the effort in to compete nowadays, the standard even in the BDO on the floor has risen tremendously".
After the question about the switch, the question was asked on his thoughts of no entry fees and expanded World Championship in the PDC and whether he thinks further switches will happen. "I think it is a good thing, I definitely do and yes I think so".
Northern Ireland reached the final of the Six Nations Cup this past weekend and he gave his thoughts on captaining his country in Selsey: "It was an honour to be captain of your country but I was gutted for the other lads. I did say though that If you were offered the final coming, you would have took it".
Finally he talks on travelling in the BDO. "Times are tough and you miss the kids going round Europe all the time. Going to the England Open I was away ten days, you miss your home and you miss your family".
Interview conducted by Samuel Gill, writer for Dartsnews.com