"Maybe I should take a towel up next time" - Dave Chisnall made to sweat in the Ally Pally heat by Cameron Menzies

Although not at his brilliant best, Dave Chisnall was able to overcome the challenge of Cameron Menzies (3-1) on Saturday afternoon, ensuring his World Darts Championship return after Christmas.

"I'm over the moon. It turned out to be a really tough game for me. I know Cammy can play, he's a good player but the first set I just wasn't there, I just couldn't find anything," 'Chizzy' recaps in his post-match press conference. "When I went off at the break I said to myself, 'You're throwing too fast, you need to slow down a bit' and I did."

Although the first set was admittedly a slow start, Chisnall grew into the game, reeling off the next three sets to secure victory. "I started the second set well, I went two up but it just went from there. I got too hot, I was sweating. Maybe I should take a towel up next time," he says with a wry smile.

Although his form has been impressive on the European Tour and the Pro Tour, 2023 has been a difficult year for Chisnall as far as TV majors go. "I've not really played that bad to be fair in most of them. Except Gary Anderson in Blackpool, that's probably the worst I've played on stage," he recalls. "I know I'm playing good darts. The European Tours are big stages but it's hard work up there, especially when it's warm as well."

A former Lakeside finalist and a PDC World Championship semi-finalist back in 2021, could this be the year 'Chizzy' takes that illusive TV title. "Not playing like that," he laughs. "But every game is different."