"When we're in the back room I'm just going to follow him around and shadow him": Leonard Gates jokes about mind games to get potential Aspinall revenge

It was another very exciting and intriguing contest in this 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, with Leonard Gates managing to just defeat Mickey Mansell 3-2. After the match he spoke to Dartsnews.com in his press conference about his outfit choice and possible return to Q-School in 2026.

It was by far an easy task to get past the Northern Irishman. After dominating the first set, before being instantly pegged back. Once again against the throw he won set three but 'The Cyclone' reeled him back in to force a final leg decider. Gates would fare better, winning the final three legs to send him through to round two. Gates was a happy man after getting the job done on the Ally Pally stage. "It feels great. Knowing that I had a chance to win the game, and then taking it out and winning it, that’s a confidence builder, definitely."

It is not the first winning experience he has had, previously making the second round in his two prior appearances in 2023 and 2025. "Basically, it’s getting my mind prepared for who I’m playing and what I have to do at the beginning," he stated. "In the middle, and at the end of the match to succeed and move on to the next level."

Mansell is recognised as a tough player to play against due to his methodical way of playing. Nevertheless, this did not faze Gates one bit. "It wasn’t difficult at all. I tell myself I’ll give my opponent a certain amount of time to throw," he said. "If it’s too long, I’ll turn around and do something else. But I didn’t have to do that. He fell right into it. For players who throw fast, it might be a problem, but I didn’t have an issue."

Despite this, Mansell is about as easy as it is going to get for Gates on the oche. He will face either Lourence Ilagan or Nathan Aspinall in the next round, with 2024 world champion Luke Humphries a possible opponent after that. "I’m looking forward to playing Luke Humphries. So what does that say about the rest of the guys? No, just kidding," he joked. "Whoever I play next, I’m going to prepare even more. They have to play each other first, and then they’ve got to think about playing me. I’ll be ready, and when we play, we’ll see what happens."

Albeit he said that if it is Aspinall, he will employ special tactics to try and beat him. "I'm going to be very determined. But when we're in the back room, in the player's room, I'm just going to follow him around. I'm going to shadow him. I'm going to let him know, hey, my hand is in your pocket. Let's go. You know, let's get a drink, whatever."

"I'm going to do something to disturb him and throw him off his game, you know?"

It was also a fifth match in front of the Ally Pally faithful, something he relished playing in front. "This being my third year here, I know the crowd is feeling the 'soldier,' so it’s a confidence booster. The crowd is wonderful. Whether they’re against you or for you, they’re just great. That’s all I can say – they’re great."

It was especially great when the crowd chanted 'USA' around the room. "I’m happy that the European crowd recognises USA darts," he acknowledged. "I don’t know how it was when Darren Young, Ray Carver and those guys came over, but I want it known that the USA is trying to make a mark. We had four Americans and two Canadians from North America here. We’re trying to get a foothold in the game and build from that."

On his walk-on and at the end of the match, the 55-year-old boasted a ski mask on his head. He gave the reason for this odd wardrobe choice: "I told people it was just something special. I’m not usually flashy, but I thought, 'You know what? I’m going to add a little razzle-dazzle.' I call them my 'hater blockers.' Anybody out there hating – that’s what those were for."

It was not just the ski mask, but a stamp that got everyone's attention. "That’s my personal stamp – it’s me with glasses on and my name underneath," the former baseball player said. "I ordered it in America and thought, 'Yeah, I’m using this at the World Championship.' The officials just looked at me like, 'Oh my God, it’s this guy.' That scoresheet is probably gone now, but that’s fine – I’ve still got the stamp."

Gates was very confident that more players will join the tour via Q-School from North America. "Oh yeah, definitely," he confidently stated. "There are guys watching this and thinking, “What can I do?” The answer is simple: get on the oche and throw darts. We’ve got the avenues to qualify and come over here. Guys like Alex Spellman, Adam Sevada – the sky’s the limit for North America right now."

However, they could have been more of a threat if they had taken it more seriously earlier. "It can be great. Players are watching what we’re doing over here and taking the game more seriously," Gates said. "They were already involved, but now they’re really committing, which they probably should have done earlier."

North America have just lost a once staple of the tour in Matt Campbell who after his loss to Sevada in the World Championship sees his tour card disappear. It is a big blow for the continent, but a boost for them could be Gates having another shot. He first tried in 2021 and while he made it past stage one, he could not get a tour card. "That’s something I’m still thinking about. It’s a bit conflicting right now. I’m dealing with some hip pain. If I get that sorted and everything calms down, who knows? The sky’s the limit," hinted Gates.