CHISNALL ADMITS "PRESSURE-FILLED" MATCHPLAY BID

DAVE CHISNALL admits his last-gap qualification for the World Matchplay was one of his most “pressure-filled” days.

The World No.28 squeezed into the last place for the Winter Gardens thanks to two strong performances in the final Players Championship events before the Blackpool cut-off.

Chizzy reckons it was one of the most stressful events of his career to date.

He revealed to Kwiff: “I’m not gonna lie, today was one of the most pressure-filled days I’ve felt on the oche in some time, and it’s from all my own doing.

“Whether it was blind faith, or being a perennial optimist, I’d always fancied my chances of getting to Blackpool for this year’s World Matchplay. Even when results hadn’t gone right at the start of the season, I’d keep telling myself that the aim was to get to Blackpool.”

Six weeks ago, Chisnall looked out of the picture for the Winter Gardens.

He added: “About 6 weeks ago I was looking at needing to make realistically 20k to make up ground, and take into account people playing well and similarly trousering a few quid along the way. Entering this week’s two Players Championship events I’d told myself that if I can make £8k, I would be alright."

In the end he picked up £7,750 in prize money to edge out Daryl Gurney and secure the final World Matchplay qualification place.

It was a nervy conclusion with Chisnall needing to beat Greg Ritchie but threw away a 4-0 lead.

He said: “It was going so smoothly, until it wasn’t as well. I was 4-0 and missed 9 darts at a double – a few of those on the wire I might add – when he won that and got it back to 4-4. I’m pretty sure he had darts to go 5-4 up and you’re thinking ‘what have you done here Chiz, wake up you clown!’. Fortunately, I won the last two legs and could breathe a huge sigh of relief.”

Words by Phil Lanning.

Images by TAYLOR LANNING.