Tabern looking ahead to MvG-clash: 'I hope he plays well'

Alan Tabern was delighted with his first round victory over Raymond Smith at the 2019 World Darts Championship. Tabern spoke to Live Darts after his match.

‘The Saint’ cruised into a 2-0 lead, before holding off a fightback from his Australian opponent to triumph 3-2. ‘I’m very happy, I’m over the moon,’ the Englishman said. ‘It actually felt better to be up on that stage than it did a couple of years ago, when I was there regularly.’
Tabern, who last appeared at the Alexandra Palace in 2012, did take a while to get used to the biggest stage in darts.
'When I had my nine practice darts on stage before I was in the practice room, the stage felt massive and the board felt 35 foot away. I decided to stand an inch or few back behind the oche in the practice room, so when I got back up there again it felt fine.'
The 2007 quarter-finalist now faces world-number-one Michael van Gerwen in the second round, but is not fearful of the twice world champion: ‘I believe he’s got me next, I hope he’s playing well.’
Click here for more information about the PDC World Darts Championship, including schedules and the prize fund breakdown.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb56rcoHx9I