“To still play at that age is absolute respect" - Resurgent Mensur Suljovic inspired at World Darts Championship by legendary Paul Lim

Mensur Suljovic is back. On the Alexandra Palace stage at the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship, the Austrian claimed a much needed victory and showed that, despite a difficult period in his career, he can still compete at the highest level.

As so often with Suljovic, the post match conversation was not really about averages or statistics, but about feeling, life experience and love for the game.

“It’s a brilliant feeling,” Suljovic said after his 3-1 win over Canada’s David Cameron. “Every time I play here, it feels special. This is my fourth time here really, and I look at this as something for next year and the next. I played well, I felt good, and I hope next year I’m here again.”

It was a very Mensur Suljovic type of moment, open, sincere and delivered with his trademark warmth.

The win came at an important moment. The past few years have been far from easy for Suljovic, who even failed to qualify for the World Championship two years ago. Returning to the biggest stage in the sport and winning straight away added extra weight to the occasion.

“That’s life,” he said. “Life goes up and down. I do everything for myself, and for my dad. I practise every day. I hope tomorrow is better, maybe next year is better. I do this every day, only for me.”

There were no grand promises or bold statements, just the words of a veteran who knows how unpredictable a darts career can be.

On the board, his performance was solid. An average just under 95 looked impressive on paper, but Suljovic was quick to downplay its importance.

“The average means nothing,” he said. “You can play better and miss doubles. Everybody talks about a 95 average, but maybe an 80 average is better if you finish the game. The average is nothing. You win the game, you feel good in the moment. You finish the game, that’s the best thing.”

It neatly summed up his philosophy. For Suljovic, darts is not about numbers, but about control, timing and closing out the leg.

Next up is Joe Cullen, a player Suljovic has faced many times before. He spoke with obvious affection about the Englishman.

“Joe Cullen is my friend. I really like him. He’s a very nice guy,” he said.

At the same time, he was typically honest about their current form.

“At the moment, he’s not good, I’m not good. Two players not good. Maybe one will be good,” he said, before quickly adding: “Joe Cullen is one of the best players in the world.”

It is classic Suljovic. Critical, but always respectful.

The world rankings remain a complicated subject for him.

“The ranking is different,” he explained. “Your career feels different in the moment. Right now, I feel good. I hope in 2026 I am a new man and I come back.”

Letting go of poor results from earlier in the year is not always easy, but Suljovic views each event on its own terms.

“Every tournament is different,” he said. “Every tournament is different, the World Championship is different.”

That contrast has sometimes been painful.

“I stay at home, I watch the Players Championship and I’m not playing. That’s crazy for me. This is my life,” he admitted.

Age also came up during the press conference, prompted by Paul Lim, who is still competing on the World Championship stage at 71. Suljovic, now 53, spoke with admiration.

“Big, big respect for Paul Lim,” he said. “To still play at that age is absolute respect. Electronic darts is different, steel darts is different. To play and still do this, it’s absolute respect.”

He also praised the level Lim is still producing.

“Paul Lim plays brilliant. He misses only doubles. He plays better now. Big respect for him, really.”

As for whether he could see himself playing that long, Suljovic smiled. “I want to keep my best for the next years, until I can.”

The World Darts Championship is bigger than ever, with a record field and a one million pound top prize, but Suljovic remains grounded.

“I never think about the one million,” he said. “I think round by round.”

He likened the tournament to a game of chance.

“It’s like going into a casino. You think, please don’t go in. Then you go in and you think, I win. I am a winner. I win. That’s my motto.”