INTERVIEW: Rowby-John Rodriguez ahead of his return to the Grand Slam of Darts: "I want to get my confidence back on stage"

Rowby-John Rodriguez is experiencing what is supposed to be the hardest year of his professional career. The Austrian was unable to qualify for any European Tour event this season, is in danger of missing the World Darts Championship and has to fear for his Tour Card. However, thanks to a sensational final appearance at the World Cup of Darts, Rodriguez will return to the prestigious Grand Slam of Darts this weekend.

Before Little John starts the tournament in Wolverhampton on Saturday evening, the 30-year-old talks about his ambitions for the Grand Slam of Darts 2024 in an exclusive interview with our German language channel, Dartsnews.de. Rodriguez also gives an insight into a season full of setbacks, comments on a possible Tour Card loss and sends a challenge to his competitors;

Follow the Grand Slam of Darts 2024 via our LIVE SCORE!

Read also

"My life is darts... You're all stuck with me!" - Gerwyn Price has darting epiphany during enforced break

Mr. Rodriguez, you are known as a player who loves the big stages, interacting with the fans and putting on a bit of a show. This year, however, you have only played in two TV tournaments - does that make you a little more nervous in the run-up to the Grand Slam of Darts?

Rowby-John Rodriguez: Definitely, the more often you play on stage, the easier it gets and the more confident you feel. I've only played the World Cup of Darts (and the UK Open, ed.) on stage this year, but there I had Mensur in the background to back me up. It will definitely be different, I haven't played the best season. But for me the tournament is a bonus and I will enjoy being on stage again. Whether I put on that much of a show will be decided on the day - depending on how well I feel and how the warm-up goes. It's not planned, it'll come spontaneously.

You've already mentioned the World Cup of Darts as one of the few major highlights of your season. Both your doubles partner Mensur Suljovic and you are experiencing a complicated period in your careers. How did you both manage to play your way into a major final despite this slump in form?

We can rely on each other and know each other's game inside out. We know how to help each other in certain situations with just a few words - that's only possible when you've known each other for decades. It was our second World Cup final, so we were already aware that we work well together at the World Cup. In 2021, when we reached the final for the first time, Mensur in particular also went through a difficult phase, but the World Cup spurred him on again - and it was the same this year. Things went very well for Mensur after the tournament, but unfortunately I fell ill straight afterwards, so I couldn't take this run with me. But we are definitely proud to be back at the Grand Slam.

Read also

Schedule Grand Slam of Darts 2024: Beau Greaves headlines opening session

"I want to get my self-confidence back on stage"

The Grand Slam of Darts is characterized first and foremost by the special qualifying criteria that allow for a field full of Major champions, finalists and tournament winners. How special is it for you to return to this unique event?

I'm really looking forward to it, the Grand Slam of Darts is probably the most difficult major tournament of the year in terms of qualifying due to these criteria. The good thing for me is that I definitely have three stage matches to push myself up and get my confidence back. Anything can happen in the best-of-9 legs format of the group stage, so every leg is very important in this tournament;

You were drawn in Group A with world champion Luke Humphries, three-time finalist James Wade and Mickey Mansell. What is your assessment of this group? Is there a game you are particularly looking forward to?

I'm definitely looking forward to the clash with Luke Humphries. I just recently got a message saying I beat him in the final of a Development Tour event seven years ago - I'd definitely take that 5-4 win on Saturday night. Like I said, I'm not in a good place at the moment, I haven't had any good results, but for me it's about having fun on stage again and soaking it all up. I know already that I have to go to the World Darts Championship qualifiers at the end of the month and until then I want to take this motivation with me, find the fun in darts again and practice more. I'm just happy to be back on stage.

The last time you took part in 2021, you also beat two big names, Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey, to reach the last 16. Will this positive experience also help you before the start of this year's tournament?

I definitely have good memories of the Grand Slam as I've beaten Adrian Lewis in the past and also played against Phil Taylor. The Grand Slam is one of the best tournaments for me because you're on stage at least three times. It gives you the opportunity to put your own game on stage and show people what you can do. That's the good thing for me because, as I said, I'm not yet qualified for the World Championships and have to go to the Tour Card Qualifier at the end of the month.

With what ambitions are you starting this year's Grand Slam? When would the tournament be a success from your point of view?

The tournament would be a success for me if I made it through the group. I would be very happy with that. After that, anything can happen, because I'll have already played three good games to progress and then my self-confidence will increase very quickly. Of course I'm an underdog, but the others know very well that I can play darts at any time.

The Grand Slam is a highlight for you in an otherwise extremely complicated year. How would you rate your season at this point in time?

Just bad (laughs). Of course I'm disappointed, but I've been on the circuit for a long time, the quality is getting better and better and it's getting harder and harder to gain a foothold there. I also had a very strong year in 2022, which I now had to defend in the rankings. But personally, I'm more or less done with this year. If I lose the Tour Card, I'll definitely play Q-School in January and I'm very confident that I'll make it back on the Tour there. But I can't undo the last few months, so I have to put it behind me and get on with the tasks that lie ahead.

Read also

PREVIEW: Who will win the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts?

"I will reach a peak phase again"

You've already mentioned your strong year in 2022 - but what was probably the best phase of your career was then followed by the statistically weakest years of your professional career. Can you explain how this extreme development came about?

Quite simply, the sport of darts also takes place a lot in your head and many people simply don't know what's going on in your private life. I did have this peak period in terms of playing, but at the same time my little daughter had to have an emergency operation. Of course, that takes its toll on you and then I also have clear priorities. At the time, I canceled a European Tour tournament that cost me my Grand Prix qualification. But there are priorities in life and then it's not darts that comes first, but my family. And situations like that just take their toll on you - nobody can imagine what's going on inside me. But: I know that I'll reach a peak like this again.

So you are confident that you will be able to build on your strong performance from 2021 and 2022 in the future?

Definitely, and there is much, much more. I admit it quite openly: It's my own fault. I'm not the most diligent when it comes to training, but I'm sure that there will be another Rowby John Rodriguez next year. At least one who is no longer so lazy (laughs).