Dave Chisnall is back from a couple of near-misses in Germany, going out at the quarter-finals last weekend in Hildesheim, before losing a decider to Martin Schindler in the opening round of the Euoprean Championship in Dortmund. Read his exclusive diary each and every week with kwiff.
Dave Chisnall: Early Flight Home From Dortmund
I’m not sure what result was more painful, the loss last Sunday to Krzysztof or going out to Martin on Thursday. I should have won last week’s Euro Tour and I’m still kicking myself. Missing 8 darts for the match is just not good enough, and it’s one of those things in darts which is just unexplainable.
Dave Chisnall: Euro Tour in Germany
I felt good out there, hitting 10 x 180s in the 6-4 defeat of Gabrial Clemens in the opening round, ending a winless run extending to 6 months on The Euro Tour (that doesn’t sound real) and then playing even better to beat Ricky (Evans) 6-2 on the Saturday. The game felt good and I thought I was chucking well, but those missed doubles to move into the semis will haunt me, and it’s just pressure. When things are going well and you’re winning every week those darts comes easy. But when it isn’t, you tense up a bit, you can hear the crowd more, and it all becomes a bit nervy.
The main thing is there were plenty of positives, and those wins ensured a place in Dortmund, which was looking unlikely if I didn’t pull my finger out. That’s why the loss to Martin (Schindler) on Thursday was a bitter one to take, because it was probably the most confident or most optimistic I’d been heading to a darts tournament in a while, and probably all season.
Dave Chisnall: Super Schindler
An early break saw us go 3-0 up and from that position I should have been home and hosed. Martin played well though, with the home crowd really getting behind him. In the decider he found another gear, hitting a 180 that really hurt us to steal the darts from us, and then taking out a nice finish. That’s how quick a darts match can change, and it was all done in 15-20 minutes.
That’s the reality of life on the road as a professional darts player. All that practice in the week, travelling over, checking into a hotel and getting to the venue etc and done and dusted in 20 minutes. It can be a pretty cruel sport. Me and my manager Roger ended up taking an early flight home so as I’m doing this on a Saturday morning, from my home in Morecambe.
Travelling and being away from the family is easily the toughest part of the job, so any opportunity to try and get a couple more days in my own bed I will gladly take! I got an early flight home Friday evening and it will be back to washing up, entertaining the kids and watching Liverpool on the box tonight.
Dave Chisnall: Wigan Bound
There’s more Pro Tour action next week, and anything that means I’m not on a flight is always a bonus! So naturally, I’m looking forward to a couple of days in Wigan next week. Despite the results, I think the darts I’m playing at the minute are the best in around 6 months, probably this season, and it leaves me going into next week with a good chance. There’s still lots of prize money to play for and I’m desperate to keep my place in the top 16 – and realistically that will go this week due to the performances of those around me. I’m motivated and ready to kick on now. There’s life in the old dog yet!
Chiz x
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