Devon Petersen: "I am only going to get stronger and stronger"

Nathan Aspinall and Luke Humphries may have stolen the spotlight. But Petersen, along with Brendan Dolan, Ryan Joyce and Ryan Searle, upset the odds to mount a promising run at the Alexandra Palace. The South African beat Wayne Jones in a tense tie, before battling past seeds Ian White and Steve West. Aspinall ended his run at the last 16 stage, but the African Warrior had done enough to retain his PDC Tour Card.
Speaking to Bradford's Telegraph & Argus, the Yorkshire-based thrower expressed his delight at staying on the Pro Tour.
“I knew that I had the game to do well (in the World Championships) but I just had to get on that stage and do it," said the popular 32-year-old.
"It’s a great relief to get back into the world’s top 64 because it means that I don’t have to go to Q School again to stay on the PDC Pro Tour.
"I had no doubts that I would have won my tour card back at Q School but now I can just focus on preparing for the new season.”

The world number 60 had struggled for form before the World Championship, leaving his Ally Pally hopes in jeopardy. Surgery on his throwing arm was a major roadblock. But with some help from a darting guru, Petersen got back on the road to success.
“After the surgery, I thought I could just keep my same throw but after a while I realised that I couldn’t, so I enlisted the help of Wayne Mardle, who analysed my action and pointed me in the right direction.
"I am now starting to reap the benefit of this analysis and I am only going to get stronger and stronger.”

It's that single-minded self belief that drives Petersen's ambitions for the 2019 season. In each of the last two campaigns, the World Championship is the only major he has attended. Now it is time for that to change. “I want to be on that stage more and more. I love it and I feel at home up there. The higher up the rankings I go, the more TV tournaments I will qualify for which will then see me advance up the rankings even more," stated the South African.