Van der Voort looks ahead to 21st World Darts Championship appearance: "Remains the most beautiful tournament there is"

Vincent van der Voort despite only being 45 years old and 46 when he is preparing for this year's PDC World Darts Championship is set for his 21st appearance at either the BDO or PDC.

Van der Voort made his debut at the Lakeside back in 2002 playing Mensur Suljovic and has since made three Quarter-Finals. While it's not as special as the first time, it still remains a tournament he loves.

“It will always be very special. Whether it is just as special, I don't think so, but it will always remain special. Qualifying is of course already nice, it remains the most beautiful tournament there is'', said Van der Voort to DartsNieuws.com.

Van der Voort has been active in the PDC World Darts Championship since 2008 and in all those years he only lost his first game once. The number 29 in the world is now also heading for London with a good feeling.

''I think I'm in good shape, but now you can only deduce that from practice. At the moment it feels good, but that's not saying much. I don't have to do it until the 21st and then it has to happen. Until then, I'm just very busy trying to make the best of it."

At the last major tournament before the World Darts Championship, the Players Championship Finals in Minehead at the end of November, Van der Voort made it to the last eight. A result he could be happy with, but Fast Vinnie was not with his form.

''The quarter-final is just a good result, but I didn't like the game. In any case, better with a good result than going into the World Championship if you lose the first round of course. I didn't play very well at the Players Championship Finals. It was just very hard work and I also thought it was all a bit too cramped. The last week I've been really busy keeping things smoother and working on my throw and I think it's going well."

Not dissatisfied with draw

As a seeded player, Van der Voort has an exemption in the first round, and will face the winner of the game between Adam Hunt and Boris Krcmar in the second round.

''I think they are both similar players,'' the Dutchman says about his draw. “Definitely not to be underestimated, but also not the hardest I could have drawn. I've learned over the years not to look at names and opponents anymore. I have to be good myself and only know how my opponent is playing. If I know that, I have to adjust to that and for the rest I have to make sure that I am good myself."

Van der Voort does not want to look much further ahead in the tournament. He could possibly face James Wade in the third round. Wade is number four seed at Alexandra Palace.

"I'm looking at it round by round. I always have and I'm not in a position to underestimate anyone or look very far ahead. If I win, I'll have James Wade. We all know that James Wade is just top four in the world, so that's just a really hard task but not impossible either."

When Van der Voort is satisfied at the World Championship? “I can only determine that afterwards. That can also be after a third round loss, or second round loss. That I can just say; ok I couldn't do anymore, I played well, but another player was better, then I can give it up more easily."

Click here to join the Fantasy PDC World Darts Championship and win 2,120 GBP. Or click here to join the FREE Fantasy PDC World Darts Championship.

Place comments

666

0 Comments

More comments

You are currently seeing only the comments you are notified about, if you want to see all comments from this post, click the button below.

Show all comments