Thibault Tricole came from a set down to bookend his debut at the PDC World Darts Championship with a 3-1 sets win over Mario Vandenbogaerde. It was history in many ways for 'The French Touch'.
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The former WDF World finalist became the first Frenchman to adorn the Ally Pally stage after coming so close to becoming the first Tour Card holder in the past, an honour then bestowed onto Jacques Labre coming through Q-School earlier in the year. But now he is the first winner on that stage.
"Of course I'm proud. Mario is one of my good friends on the circuit so it was very strange for me and him. I feel sorry that he didn't play his best game. Win is a win," said Tricole post match.
"It is a first time for him and for me so it is ok. It was 50/50, him or me so I'm so proud to be here.
But this also adds further media spotlight from back home he admits which will help the sport grow. "A lot of media follow me. It will be better to win the first game. It is a good performance for the sport and the competition."
Next up is Rob Cross who he admits he has to adapt his game to face off against, but everything is a bonus. "My first goal was just to win the first game. It is done. I never played Rob (Cross), I play quickly sometimes. I make mistakes when I play quickly and I know Rob plays slowly so I need to adapt my rhythm. I think I will be better against him."
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
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