Monday 18 September 2017 14:58, UK
Australia's Kyle Anderson recently won his first two PDC titles in back-to-back weeks. We sat down for a chat...
Your first PDC title recently arrived in Barnsley…
My family were across and I had played brilliantly the night before. I knew I could get to the latter stages but, in the semi-finals, I knew I could win it. I had Michael Smith, took my doubles, and got to the final.
No offence to Kevin Painter in the final, but it was mine to lose.
Then you flew to the other side of the world, to Auckland, and won again!
I had a couple of mates watching me. I saw the draw, a tough draw, but got past Gary Anderson playing brilliantly. It opened up for me.
You defeated fellow Aussie Corey Cadby in the Auckland final…
He's from Tasmania, I'd been playing darts against his old man for years. We get on like a house on fire, Corey is a good lad.
Did you know that New Zealand prime minister, Bill English, was in attendance?
I stay away from politics. But I did hear some boos in the crowd, that must have been the prime minister!
What's the difference between Barnsley and Auckland?
The hotel rooms are great. When we go for darts, everybody thinks we're on tour, but I only see a hotel room.
In New Zealand I didn't go out because there's no way I'm going walking up hills, to be honest.
I had mates in Auckland so I hung out with them. But I wasn't a tourist. I didn't treat it as a darts match - I treated it as going home. I relaxed, and played well.
Do the major players like Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor regard you as a threat since you won your PDC titles?
To be brutally honest, they have been looking at me differently since I moved across [from New Zealand to the UK in 2014].
It's a daunting task, moving across into a new environment. I had to get used to it. But now Phil and Michael look at me differently. I'm a player that they don't want to see in the early rounds.
Darts has really changed your life, right?
I've travelled everywhere with darts. I've never had a holiday - it's always been a darts venture turned into sight-seeing with the family.
If it wasn't for darts, I don't know what I'd be doing. I worked in the mines in Australia, I worked in the legal system. I've done shelf work at Woolworths.
I've always said to kids they can stick to the right path, and play darts.
What's the standard of darts in Australia and New Zealand?
It's brilliant now. When I left, there were 10 players who you worried about. Now, there's a whole list. On the Australian Tour you're gone if you miss a couple of doubles.
Your brother used to play…
Beau played in the youth system when I was 10. He said: 'you're good enough'. I filled in for a team who was short of a player, then tried out for the Western Australia Youth team, then made the Australian Men's team when I was 20.
So, the nine-darter at the World Championship. You're one of just eight players…
Not eight. It's seven…
Sorry, seven. Tell us about it…
I remember it clearly. Terry Jenkins hit a nine-darter before me. I told my mate: 'I'm going to have a shot at this'.
I went 180, 180 then looked at my brother in the crowd. He said: 'go on, then'.
The nerves were there, but I knew it would go in because I'd envisaged that shot countless times. When it went in, I was relieved. I wanted to make a splash on TV.
The only downside was having to share the prize money with Terry Jenkins…
No, it's an upside because Terry had to share his money with me! Terry went first so had the money in his bank, and I took half from him! Sorry Terry.
When I got backstage, Terry had already left the venue. He left in good spirits thinking he had the money but someone texted him saying: 'No, mate. You've only got half'.
The biggest names in darts will return to Dublin's Citywest Hotel from October 1-7 for the 2017 World Grand Prix and you will be able to watch all the action with us on Sky Sports
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