"I was a nervous wreck so to get a straight sets win is mad" - Rhys Griffin stars on Ally Pally debut

In a very impressive PDC World Darts Championship debut, Rhys Griffin played some of his best darts of the year on the Ally Pally stage on Saturday afternoon, taking a straight sets victory over Karel Sedlacek to set up a round 2 showdown with Josh Rock.

The Welshman took advantage of his Czech opponent's many missed doubles, but with his average of over 91 and hitting eight 180s during the contest, Griffin more than made a positive impression at the Alexandra Palace.

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Despite the composed nature of his performance, Griffin revealed in his post-match press conference that he wasn't quite so cool under the surface. "I was a nervous wreck," he explains. "I felt great all morning, practice was going really well, but the second I got out to do that walk on my nerves were shot. I couldn't feel my entire body so to get a straight sets win is mad!"

When it was pointed out that Griffin had seemed calm and composed from the outside, the Welshman laughs: "I've got a good poker face haven't I," in reply. "The most comfortable I felt, was in the last set because he missed all them doubles to win the second set and I thought just bury him now, just get rid of him."

Griffin in action

Since winning his Tour Card in January of 2024, it's fair to say that Griffin hasn't made the biggest impact. The Welshman failed to qualify for the World Darts Championship via the Pro Tour, having to rely instead on the last chance qualifier last month. Having now played so superbly on the Ally Pally stage though, can Griffin kickstart his PDC career with a run at the Worlds?

"I can improve massively. I know I can average in the hundreds," he says determinedly. "I know I've not done it on the Tour this year, but I expect it of myself, to average near 100 or around the 100 mark, so I know I can do it. It's just getting up there and doing it. I might have to do it against Josh Rock, that's thing."

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