"He says I’ve got nothing to thank him for, but I really do": David Davies pays tribute to Mark Webster after Ally Pally dream debut, Luke Littler awaits

David Davies admitted he is still trying to process the scale of what he has just achieved after marking his debut at the PDC World Darts Championship with a straight-sets victory on the Alexandra Palace stage.

The Welshman sealed a 3–0 win to move into the second round at the PDC World Darts Championship, and while the scoreline suggested a comfortable passage, Davies revealed the nerves were very real behind the scenes.

“I don’t really know how I’m feeling,” he smiled afterwards speaking to the media including DartsNews. “Just coming off and people asking me to go here and there and stuff. Being on that stage was iconic in itself. To get the win as well — it looked comfortable, but inside it definitely wasn’t. I’m just so happy to get the win and move on to the next round.”

Davies kept his composure to close out the match, eventually landing double four after a tense finish. “As everyone could see, playing the game I look cool and calm,” he said. “But when you realise you’ve got match darts and you’re going for the double, yeah, I did feel it towards the end, especially with the crowd. You know how the crowd is. Luckily for me, Mario missed, then I had a second opportunity and the double four went in. It was just a sign of relief that I’d played on that stage and got the win.”

A whitewash on debut was beyond even his own expectations. “If you’d said I was going to win 3–0, I would have told you you’re a liar,” he laughed. “I don’t think Mario played the best he could, but neither did I. I’ve got loads more in the tank. But first time on there, I’ll take 3–0 and move on.”

That win now sets up a second-round clash with defending champion Luke Littler, but Davies is realistic about the challenge ahead. “No game’s easy here. We’re all here because we deserve to be,” he said. “But Luke’s a different breed, isn’t he? He’s blown the sport into a different dimension. Every game’s going to be tough. I’m going to be the underdog in every game I play. I haven’t got a tour card, people say this and that, but I deserve to be here. I’ve won my first game and I’ll try my best and see what happens.”

The victory capped a remarkable nine months for Davies, which has included a Wales debut, a Challenge Tour title, Red Dragon Championship success and qualification for the sport’s biggest event.

“At the very top,” he said when asked where this moment ranks. “Every dart player watching the sport wants to play on this stage. Thankfully I’ve got to do it, and to get the win on my debut is absolutely massive. Even if I didn’t win, just to play on the stage is huge. To get the win is that little bit of cherry on the top.”

Having previously attended the World Championship as a fan, Davies said the experience as a player is on a completely different level. “I’ve been here as a fan, but as a player it’s a whole different dimension,” he explained. “In the back room it’s a different feeling knowing you’re going into battle. I’m trying to take it in my stride, not get excited and not overthink it. You’re here because you’ve done those things. Being here is massive and the win is an absolute bonus.”

Earlier in the year, Davies had questioned whether he truly belonged at the highest level, but a series of strong results have transformed his confidence.

“Winning the Challenge Tour was massive for me,” he said. “Then I went to the Pro Tour, got to a last 16 and won a few first rounds. I’m not going to get ahead of myself and I still don’t know what I’m going to do next year, but playing on the Pro Tours gave me a massive boost coming into today. Knowing the feel and being around those players helped. I did look cool and calm — until I had three darts in my hand at double four.”

The win guarantees Davies at least £25,000 in prize money, but he insists finances were not on his mind when he stepped up to finish the match. “The money is massive, but I’ve never really thought about it,” he said. “If you look after the titles, the money looks after itself. I’ve got a massive sponsor and a few local lads backing me where I live. It’s a massive boost for next year, whatever I decide to do. I haven’t got anyone backing me massively and I’ve got a full-time job, so the money is obviously huge for what I’m doing in the game.”

Davies currently works for the NHS and admits the decision of whether to turn professional full-time will not be straightforward. “It’s the NHS at the end of the day,” he said. “I joined because I want to provide for people. It’s a really difficult decision. But it’s also about self-belief and how far you can go in the professional game. The standard is ridiculous — people are losing with 100-plus averages. We’ll cross that bridge later. My priority right now is the World Championship, and I’ll make that decision in January.”

Even juggling annual leave has become part of the challenge. “We play Sunday,” he explained. “I booked Friday off thinking it was Saturday, so that’s already done. I’ll change it to Monday and travel back. I’ve got minimal annual leave left, but if I do take unpaid, that £25,000 will come in handy.”

Davies also won over the Ally Pally crowd with his Oasis walk-on, Cigarettes and Alcohol, after previously experimenting with other choices. “I lost when I walked out to Ozzy Osbourne — definitely the song’s fault,” he joked. “I really like Oasis and spent hours looking at intros. It gets me going and gets the crowd going. If you get the crowd on board, they do take to you. I do think the walk-on does you justice.”

Reflecting on the draw, Davies revealed he found out his opponent while on holiday. “I was on a cruise ship in Barbados trying to buy Wi-Fi to watch the draw and it kept stuttering,” he said. “A friend texted me saying, ‘You’ve got Mario.’ I didn’t even see it live. No disrespect to Mario, he’s still dangerous, but there could have been tougher opponents. I backed myself. I’ve had a great year, so why not?”

That belief, he says, stems from a breakthrough moment earlier in the season. “It was that first Challenge Tour win,” he explained. “I always felt something was brewing, then once I got that first big win, everything clicked. You realise you can do it, and everything’s fallen into place.”

Davies also paid tribute to former world finalist Mark Webster, who has played a key role in his development. “Mark’s been here and done it,” he said. “I’ve known him since we were 15 or 16. When I started taking darts seriously, he was always there. He says I’ve got nothing to thank him for, but I really do. Having someone who’s been there and done it in your corner is massive.”