Madars Razma will return to
European Tour action this afternoon at the
International Darts Open in Riesa and like many, he is looking forward to getting back onto the stage especially after the curtailed nature of recent years on the European Tour.
"I think every player in tour can’t wait to be back on European Tour stage again, because we couldn't enjoy European Tour atmosphere last year and we hope to play full season in 2022," he said to DartsNews.com.
"It’s great to play in the opening event this season. If there will be good start for me, I’m sure it will help me get positive feeling for the next events. At the same time I can’t forget, this weekend will be my first steps for race to the European Championship of course."
Start to 2022 season
In terms of the start to Razma's season, he believes his game is in a good place and that playing PDC Nordic and Baltic helped before the main tour kicked off.
"I had a good start after a long holiday in January. Definitely the PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour in Denmark helped me to get winning feeling before the first PDC Pro Tour events in February," he continued.
"I know, I lost a few games, where I missed many darts at doubles, but at the same time I won games, where my opponent missed match darts, for example against Jonny Clayton. In general, I feel well, because I won all my 1st round games in Pro Tour and qualify for the European Tour event in Munich. But still many tournaments to go this year and it’s too early to start to count something in the rankings."
Standard of PDC Nordic and Baltic
In terms of the PDC Nordic and Baltic, the standard has been ever improving and like Razma alluded to, it helps to give him good practice to fulfil his ProTour ambitions.
"For the last few years the PDC Nordic & Baltic Tour has given me practice at a quality level, because I don’t have a many options to practice darts in Latvia. The same reason I’m playing in the Swedish league. There is many high level games against quality players to get a winning feeling for the main ProTour events. The last few years I was good enough to qualify for the PDC World Championship from Pro Tour, but of course, if something is going wrong in Pro Tour, then the PDC Nordic & Baltic tour gives me a second chance to qualify for Ally Pally."
One player who has already ruffled feathers is Vladimir Andersen with the Dane who is coming off a ban in his native Denmark claiming a Tour Card. He hasn't been seen on the tour yet due to COVID-19 but played in Nordic and Baltic tournaments.
Facing Razma in one of the early events, the Latvian took to Twitter to say that he will keep the DRA busy.
"First, my post on twitter was just my things! I don’t have any pretensions against him. He played better than me and he won. I had thought that I’m emotional player and sometimes to aggressive for the PDC floor tournaments. Many players know that and some players have already went to the referees after the game against me.
"But against Vladimir Andersen, I just felt he is more aggressive than me and if he will play in the Pro Tour same like against me, he will be a client for the DRA. I’m sure! Just what I can’t understand.. Why Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and others can play aggressive with comments after every 3 darts, but I can’t? Maybe, because I’m not a World champion.."
Brilliant nine-dart finish
'Razzmatazz' has also had in his locker multiple nine-dart finishes including a memorable effort which saw him juggled the dart before pinning the double on the streaming board.
"It’s good to remember my first streamed nine dart leg. Just my perfect leg wasn't planned like that and I was ready to go straight, but my last dart slipped out and I had to focus again. Now I'm open for new challenges and achievements in my career."