Hughes confident of chances in World Grand Prix debut: 'I can cause a big upset'

Jamie Hughes will make his debut at the World Grand Prix after a brilliant first full year on the tour but it doesn't get any tougher than defending champion Michael van Gerwen in the first round.

Hughes believes he can shock the World Number One though especially with the short format which is in play and that the confidence is there after his Czech Darts Open win.

"It's quite a short format really, first to two sets," he told The Darts Show Podcast. "It's basically like a Pro Tour, you've got to win six legs. That's the way I'm looking at it. It's quite a short format. If I can hit the ground running, getting into it early hopefully, I can cause a big upset."

"The confidence has always been there, but [the Czech Darts Open title] proved not just to myself but to everyone else how much of a threat I am when I'm playing well," he continued.

"If anything, it added a bit more pressure, because there's a bit more expectation. I'm probably seen as a potential winner of Euro Tours now because I've already won one."

Previous experience in format

'Yozza' though spoke about his previous experience in the double start leagues and so he believes that will help but that no one can really fully prefer for the CityWest tournament.

"I've played most of my darting career in double-in leagues, in lower leagues, so I have a lot of experience," Hughes said.

"I don't try and do anything different [in training]... I just carry on with the same routines. I'm a bit of a creature of habit. I like to get into good routines, and I think that's more important.

"You can throw the form book out the window a little bit when you do mix things up. It [the format] is different. The players aren't going to be in form in that respect.

"It probably will be better for spectators to freshen things up a bit, because it does seem to be the same kind of players playing on the TV the whole time, so it may freshen it up with a few more upsets if it did spice things up a bit."