"If I keep the same mentality and keep pushing forward—why not me?": Ben Robb daring to dream in Lakeside title hunt

Ben Robb continued his impressive run at the 2025 WDF World Championship with a composed and disciplined performance, registering the highest average of the tournament so far and dispatching former Lakeside champion Neil Duff to book his place in the last 16.

Despite dropping the opening set, the Kiwi powerhouse remained unmoved by the early setback and the occasionally distracting atmosphere inside the venue.

“My heart was racing, but I felt good,” Robb said after the match. “I knew when I got in the room—every dart player knows—when it just feels right. I lost that first set, then broke him straight back, and every set was just a fight. I felt comfortable the whole time.”

There were moments of tension in the crowd, with small noises cutting through the otherwise low-volume atmosphere, something Robb admitted he was fully aware of.

“Even myself going for moments, you’d hear coughs and giggles and stuff like that. The room wasn’t that loud, so every little thing stood out,” he explained. “But I kept telling myself: don’t give myself an excuse—stay on point and stay on target.”

Robb spoke earlier in the tournament about a shift in mindset, and once again he showed resilience in overturning a one-set deficit. For the second successive match, he dropped the opener but showed no signs of panic.

“I’ve been playing a while, and even though I’m from New Zealand, I feel like I have a lot of experience in big moments to fall back on,” he said. “Both games here I’ve lost the first set, but I didn’t feel pressure or anxiety about it. I stuck to my routine and my process, and I thought I’d get over the line—and it worked out again.”

With his scoring power clicking and his composure unwavering, Robb believes there is still more to come.

“I definitely think there’s room for improvement. I haven’t had a complete performance yet,” he said. “I don’t know who I’ve got next, but if I keep the same mentality and keep pushing forward—why not me?”

A potential world title would not just be a personal triumph but a landmark moment for darts in New Zealand—something Robb is deeply aware of.

“Everyone before me—there are so many names—they all put a stone down on the path that I followed,” he said. “I’m very appreciative of what was before me, and I just want to keep growing.”

Robb has also drawn strength from a close-knit support group in England, including fellow professionals Haupai Puha and Damon Heta, both preparing for their own World Championship campaigns as well as the likes of Caleb Hope who is still in and also Nicole Regnaud, Hope's partner who went out but will remain to cheer him and Robb on when it was potentially seen as more likely that she would go far over in particular Hope who continues to impress.

But when it comes to Puha and Heta too, he lauded their support and that also the Australians support the Kiwis and vice versa.

“They’re taking their time to come out here and support me, and it means the world,” he said. “We really get behind each other. Even the Australians—we get behind them, they get behind us. It’s nice to know that when you’re under the battle, you can hear some familiar voices.”