"I didn’t want to sit in the middle for a ten-hour flight": Unexpected flight motivation for Adam Sevada in dream Ally Pally debut

Adam Sevada admitted his victory on his PDC World Darts Championship debut felt like both a breakthrough and a relief, as he finally translated his prolific North American floor form onto the sport’s biggest stage at Alexandra Palace.

The American, who has enjoyed a hugely successful year on the CDC circuit, producing five ProTour titles, opened his World Championship campaign with a composed and clinical performance, holding his nerve in the key moments to see off Matt Campbell and book a place in the second round. “It feels amazing. It feels great,” Sevada said afterwards.

For Sevada, simply walking onto the Alexandra Palace stage was a milestone years in the making, and one he felt ready for. “I felt good coming in,” he said post match. “I mean, yeah, I felt good.”

That confidence was built on a dominant season in North America, where Sevada has consistently shown his quality on the floor. The challenge, as he openly admitted, was always about bringing that level to the stage. “I just know if I could throw like how I do on the floor and bring it to the stage, I could hang with most – I won’t say all, but most,” he explained. “I’m just glad I was able to bring my floor play to the stage today. It’s no secret that the past two years at Madison Square Garden weren’t too great, so I’m glad I was able to do it today.”

While sympathetic to his opponent, Sevada admitted there is always satisfaction in sensing that momentum has shifted irreversibly. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a big match like this or a league match at the pub,” he said. “Everybody wants to win, right? So yeah, it’s a great feeling.”

There was also discussion around pressure, with Campbell playing to retain his tour card while Sevada arrived at Alexandra Palace as a debutant with fewer external expectations. However, Sevada was keen not to overplay that narrative. “Everybody’s different,” he said. “Everybody’s going to take it differently. That’s what you guys say or think, that there’s more pressure on them than on me, but we all go up there to do a job and win. Whatever happens, happens. Whether he wants to retain his card or not, that’s up to him. I don’t know.”

Beyond the immediate result, the significance of finally producing his best darts on a major stage was not lost on Sevada, who believes it could be transformative for his career. “It does a lot,” he said. “It’s a confidence booster. Everybody wants to do that. Going into the next match with Charlie, hopefully I can carry on the same form, or even better.”

Despite the enormity of the occasion, Sevada revealed he felt little in the way of nerves, something he believes leaves room for even greater performances to come. “Honestly, I wasn’t even nervous,” he said. “Even at Madison Square Garden I wasn’t nervous. There’s probably some words I want to use, but I can’t. But no, I wasn’t nervous at all.”

With that mindset, he is convinced his ceiling is still much higher. “Absolutely,” he added. “I could throw a lot better than I did today.” When asked where the win ranked in his career, the answer was immediate. “Yeah, for sure,” he said. “It’s my first time here on the world stage.”

Reflecting on previous setbacks at Madison Square Garden, Sevada suggested those experiences had helped shape his progress on the CDC and now at Alexandra Palace. “I think so,” he said. “The experience I gained there showed me what I need to do, and I just brought it here. I felt really good coming into this.”

Off the oche, life logistics are also part of Sevada’s World Championship adventure. Ahead of his second-round clash with Charlie Manby, accommodation plans are still to be finalised. “We’ll figure that out,” he smiled. “I’ve got to take my daughter to the airport tomorrow and then we’ll see where I’m going.”

There were moments during the match where Sevada had to dig deep, particularly during the tense third set, and he believes the contest reinforced a simple truth about competition. “We all have a fighting chance,” he said. “No matter what it is, we all have a chance.”

Perhaps most revealing was the mindset that helped him reset after a scrappy opening set. Sevada joked that the prospect of an uncomfortable journey home provided unexpected motivation.

“I had a flight booked home for tomorrow,” he said. “I booked my seat because I’m not the smallest guy in the room, and my assigned seat was in the middle. I didn’t want to sit in the middle for a ten-hour flight. So yeah, that was my motivation – I didn’t want to sit in the middle.”

With confidence boosted and a long-awaited breakthrough secured, Sevada now returns to the Alexandra Palace stage knowing he belongs – and believing there is much more still to come.