“I didn’t practice darts for eight months” – Madars Razma opens up on chaotic year behind Ally Pally return

On the opening night of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, Madars Razma booked his place in the second round with a controlled 3–1 victory. The Latvian, known for his calm demeanour and tactical approach to the game, came through his opening match but made it clear afterwards that it had been far from straightforward. Not because of the opponent alone, but due to pressure, circumstances, and a turbulent year behind the scenes.

Razma appeared relieved and drained as he spoke to the media after the match.

“I feel a bit sad and happy at the same time. Of course I’m happy to win, but the problem was that a lot of my friends expected an easy win. They sent me a lot of messages, and it was probably my mistake to read all of them.”

“But yeah, I’m happy to win. He played nervously and then I started playing nervously as well in the second and third sets. Still, I’m happy to win and I’m happy to be here.”

According to Razma, the match developed in an unusual way. “He played nervously and then I started playing nervously as well in the second and third sets.”

The Latvian began strongly but admitted that his focus drifted as expectations crept in. Despite that, he managed to stay composed enough to close out the match. “The most important thing is that I won the game.”

For many players, appearing on the opening night of the World Championship brings additional mental strain. Razma, however, does not see it that way. “Not always, no. Today I knew my opponent very well. I’d seen his practice and his body language before the game. I said to myself that this was a game I should win.”

“But it was very tough. I didn’t expect it to be like that.”

In round two, Razma will face either Dimitri Van den Bergh or Darren Beveridge, but he is deliberately avoiding looking too far ahead. “I’m not thinking about round two at the moment. I respect my opponents. I’ll think about it tomorrow or the day after, but not right now.”

Interestingly, Razma was particularly pleased with the scheduling of his match, not because of the timing on stage, but because of what it allows him to do afterwards. “I’m happy with my draw because I don’t need to stay in England for three or four days. I can go home, relax, spend time with my family and my kids. That’s very positive for me.”

He admitted, however, that playing the final match of the evening, directly after Luke Littler, was not ideal. “I wasn’t happy to play the last game of the night. Of course I know the reason why Luke played earlier.”

When asked whether playing after Littler added pressure, Razma was clear. “It’s not about playing after Luke. It’s about managing my practice and my time. I love to manage my schedule properly.”

“This year I played a lot of first, second and third games on the European Tour, and it’s very easy to manage your preparation then. Tonight it was harder because the games before were quick. I like to be perfect with my timing, and that was the hardest part of this match.”

Much of Razma’s uncertainty this season stems from a serious setback away from the oche. A fire at his home left him unable to practise properly for months. “I didn’t practice darts for eight months.”

“I’m thankful to my friends because I played in Latvian ranking tournaments, and that was part of my practice. It wasn’t possible to practise at home, so I found a few quality opponents in Latvia to play good darts against.”

The lack of preparation had clear consequences. “I didn’t qualify for many European Tours either, maybe two or three.”

Despite being back on the practice board in recent weeks, Razma admits he still does not know exactly where his level is. “I honestly don’t know how good I am right now. That’s a big question for everyone.”

Razma’s performance against van den Herik reflected that uncertainty. He began brilliantly, lost rhythm in the middle, and finished strongly, even threatening a nine darter. “I started too well, maybe. Even with experience, sometimes you think about the wrong things.”

“At the end, maybe there was money or prize money on my mind, but the most important thing is that I won the game.”

He also acknowledged the role of experience against a debutant opponent. “I saw his body language from the practice room to the stage. He felt nervous. That gave me confidence, but at the same time I started playing nervously as well.”

“That’s why I played the first set around 90 to nearly 100 average, and by the end maybe it was around 89 or something like that.”

While many players speak openly about deep tournament runs, Razma remains grounded. “I love what I do. I do what I love. I’ll try to enjoy every dart I throw on this stage.”

“This is an amazing tournament with amazing organisation. I love being here. Year by year I’ll try to come back, because this is the best tournament I’ve ever played in.”