OWEN FIRES BACK AFTER FANS WROTE HIM OFF

ROB OWEN has had the last laugh after silencing social media doubters who wrote him off.

The world No61 has enjoyed a steady start to the year reaching the quarter-finals of Players Championship 13 and Players Championship 17.

Owen, 41, currently sits 53rd in the year-to-date rankings with £43,250 and is closing in on securing his place at the World Championship and Players Championship Finals through the ProTour Order of Merit.

If the Welshman features in both events he will bank £62,250 and successfully retain the prize money he earned two years ago.

Owen claims many wrote him off on social media but admits he has enjoyed proving his critics wrong.

He said: “There have been quite a few quarter-finals, last 16s and last 32s. I am not defending any money this year.

“With Worlds money and Players Championship money, I am not defending anything. I have retained my £62,000 that I earned two years ago.

“People slated me all over social media saying that I would never, 99% saying I would never retain that money.

“Well, who is laughing now? Do you know what? I love a good argument on social media. It doesn’t faze me.

“It doesn’t do anything bad to me or harm me. It doesn’t make me angry. It just makes me laugh more at the comments that are said.

“Then when you put it right, they want a bit of an argument. I like to play along. I love it.”

Owen reached the second round of the European Darts Open last week before falling to a 6-4 defeat against Damon Heta.

Stack Attack came agonisingly close to hitting a nine-darter during his opening-round win over Andrew Gilding.

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning