(INTERVIEW) WDF number one Raman possibly misses World Championship: 'Never doubted participating in Q-School'

The European Q-School starts on Sunday in Niedernhausen, Germany. One of the players looking for a Tour Card is Brian Raman, the 25-year-old Belgian who finished last year as number one on the World Darts Federation (WDF) ranking list.

Raman mainly focused on WDF tour last year. "My goal at the beginning of the year was to be among the direct seeded players for the 2022 World Championship at Lakeside. When I won the first tournament in Selsey, I became number one on the world ranking list and of course I didn't want to give up that position", Raman said in conversation with Dartsnieuws.com.

In early December, however, it was decided to move the WDF World Championship from early January to early April due to rising Covid numbers. "At first I did feel very angry about it for a day, because I had prepared for the World Championship. But after letting it sink in for a moment I realized that I can then certainly participate in all the days of Q-School. I could agree with that and then I switched my preparation to Q-School. That preparation is not really different than that of regular tournaments, I just train as hard."

If Raman conquers a Tour Card he will not be allowed to participate in the WDF World Championship. "Yet I have not hesitated for a second to participate in Q-school. My main goal is still to enter the professional circuit of the PDC. If it doesn't work out this year, the World Championship is something I can use to make it a successful year. Besides that the focus will be on the Challenge Tour and the European Tour, with the Modus Live League as an extra. The WDF Tour I will then most likely not participate fully anymore."

Raman, by his own admission, feels ready for the Pro Tour. "I can still learn a lot anyway but I think the basis is firmly made to assert myself on the Pro Tour. The confidence is there, but everyone knows that in darts it often depends on the form of the day. If I manage to conquer a Tour Card, there is a chance that I will turn pro", concludes the 25-year-old Belgian.