Rodriguez on reason behind resurgent darting rise: "I wasn't in the right position in my private life"

Rowby-John Rodriguez was a finalist at the European Darts Matchplay last weekend. The 28-year-old Austrian, who only recaptured his Tour Card at the beginning of this year, has now moved up to 75th place in the world ranking.

Two of Rowby-John's brothers are also active in darts with another brother also up and coming but he believes he is the best. "Silly question, of course me," laughed Little John. "Roxy-James beat me once in the PDC but that's it. When it matters I'm there."

"I was always looking up to him (Mensur Suljovic). He drove me to the tournaments back home in Austria, I never paid anything as a youth player, he was just like let's go to this tournament. He kept me in the tournaments, he's like a second father for me. When I had my biggest problems, he was there. It's not a friend, it's more like family to me."

Despite all the recent success, it has been a tumultuous few years for the Austrian as he recounted his highest highs and lows.

"All the last year 2021 because I played really good, didn't finish 64 in the rankings but I had a decent year. Biggest low was between 2018 and 2020. Wasn't into darts and wasn't having fun, wasn't practicing too much. I wasn't in the right position in my private life. I went through suffering times on my own and I went to a professional who helped me out."