INTERVIEW - Steve Beaton discusses European Tour success after strong start to 2019

Steve Beaton is in high spirits as European Tour outings have helped him start 2019 in style.

He is to have qualified for every European Tour event to date. Having played in the first seven, Beaton will appear next at the Danish Open in June. Among his results are a semi-final showing at the European Darts Grand Prix, and an Austrian Darts Open quarter-final. Speaking to during the recent Dutch Darts Masters, the former world champion spoke about his mission to keep up the 100 per cent record - and the fact that his reputation precedes him. "It's funny. The last time I went through qualifying, I knew I was alright. I wanted to do eight out of eight, just to prove a point really. "I thought 'nobody's done it yet. Go for it'!" "They [qualifying opponents] all know. "To them, they've got to think that there's more pressure on me to lose, really, than them to win.

Top 16 dream

An ever-present in the PDC Order of Merit upper echelons, Beaton's stock has risen this year. Starting 2019 at 21st in the Order of Merit, he now sits 19th. The 55-year-old has set his sights higher; when asked if he was aiming for the top 16, his response was clear-cut.
"Definitely, yeah. I'd like to get back in the top 16 again. I've never been out of the top 32, so it'd be nice to get in that 16," he said.
"It's alright being in the top 16, as long as the rest of your record's good.
"Once you drop out, if your Pro Tour's not so good, then you'll plummet."

Keeping on

Beaton has been asked a number of times if he plans to call it a day, and the answer has never changed. Even with contemporaries like Raymond van Barneveld retiring, and other elder statesman sliding out of the picture, the Bronzed Adonis still has big plans for his golden years.
"Nothing else to do, I suppose!" Beaton joked, when asked about his longevity.
"At the start of the year, I just wanted to keep my Tour Card.
"I wanted to stay, but that's what you want to do every year.
"I think I'm up for the next couple of years. As long as I'm competing and my averages are good, I'll be here for a long time."