"I want to be in the top 32, or the top 16" - Mickey Mansell looking to build on Grand Slam semi with positive World Championship

Mickey Mansell made hard work of it, but has qualified for the second round of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship. The 51-year-old Northern Irishman did not produce his best against Japan's Tomoya Goto, but took a narrow 3-1 win and will now face seventh-seeded Jonny Clayton.

Mansell seemed to be in complete control of the match after taking a 2-0 lead in sets. However, it was far from scintillating for "Clonoe Cyclone," who, like his opponent, was throwing at an average of around the early 80s. Goto made things exciting by winning the third set and in the fourth set Mansell needed a fifth and deciding leg to take the win. In his ninth appearance at the World Darts Championship, it is only the fourth time Mansell has managed to win a match.

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"Any time you win a game in the Ally Pally is brilliant and that's just what it's all about. You come here and you want to you want to win a game, then everything progresses from there," the recent Grand Slam of Darts semi-finalist explained in his post-match press conference. "I've heard a lot stuff from the Grand Slam about how well I was finishing, but I didn't perform to those expectations tonight. But, I was under a lot of pressure thinking my scoring had to get me there first."

Mansell has been a familiar face in the PDC for quite some time, but has never really managed to ceack the upper echelons of the Order of Merit. "I'm usually too busy looking down the rankings to look up," he admits. "After the Grand Slam though, my attitude has definitely changed. I want to be in the top 32, or the top 16. Look, it sounds good, it's brilliant, but the reality is it's not easy got there."

Mickey Mansell in action at the World Darts Championship 

Mansell returns to action Monday afternoon when he takes on seventh-seeded Clayton. "I've got a few days to go and get ready for Jonny now and I'll to because I know Jonny is going to be ready for me!" Mansell previews with a smile.

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