KREUGER OUT TO GIVE VAN VEEN A NIGHTMARE ON THE OCHE

By Aaron Nijjar

FRED KRUEGER is hoping to give Gian van Veen a nightmare on the oche.

Unlike his famous horror movie namesake Freddy Krueger, the Rhode Island thrower is planning to do his damage with tungsten rather than razor-sharp claws.

Krueger takes on reigning European Champ Van Veen at the US Darts Masters on Thursday night and reckons he has what it takes to cause a shock in Madison Square Garden.

He told the Weekly Dartscast: “I really want to play well. I think the format is a race to six.

“So, you know, I have the legs in me. I know I can do it. Let's perform on the stage, you know, without any distractions.

“I think I'm mentally strong enough to defeat my opponents.”

Kreuger is preparing for one of the biggest nights of his darts career in New York and is even considering a suitably heavy walk-on tune.

He added: “I was thinking Metallica, Enter the Sandman for the walk on. I don't know. There's a lot of great songs.

“I don't even know what they will allow.

“I just want something fitting and, you know, I like heavier music.

“I'm not into rap or anything like that.

“Something to pump up the crowd. The crowd is what's going to be behind me.

“I don't think you're going to be able to hear a pin drop.

“So, I think there's going to be a lot of cheering, a lot of whistling and whatever.

“I'm just looking to go with many treble visits and hit my double, give myself an opportunity to win.

“That's all I can ask for.”

Away from the bright lights and giant crowds, Kreuger still puts in the hard yards in his day job.

Kreuger works as a mason and waterproofing specialist, balancing long shifts with his darts ambitions.

He continued: “I work hard. I'm a mason by trade. Now I do a lot of waterproofing work.

“I've been in the Union over 25 years. So, you know, I have hard days and I have easy days.

“It's tough. I work outside in the cold in the winter and in the heat in the summer.

“I try my best to feed my family and support. It's all I can do.”

Kreuger was part of the PDC's early push into America during the World Series events of the 2000s.

The American helped three-time world champion John Part hone his game on the practice board and pointed the Canadian great towards the best liver in town.

He said “John [Part] came and stayed close by my home for a couple of weeks. And I got to practice with him. Of course, Terry Jenkins was there.

“That was really cool. Got to play many, many legs with them, fellas, average guys. I know they like liver a lot.

“In the States, we don't eat liver much. So I would take them to the local place that had the greatest liver they said they ever had. So Dennis Ovens was there.

“He was a great guy to me. It was great. John really helped me along at the time.

“We played many, many legs and I scored very well. I know that was the year before he won his second world championship.

“So, it was a good feeling.”