WENIG CREDITS POWERLIFTING FOR GRAND SLAM SURGE

LUKAS WENIG reckons POWERLIFTING is the secret behind his shock charge into the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals.

The German kept his dream week alive by beating fellow compatriot Niko Springer 10-8 on Thursday night.

‘Luu’ banked £25,000 and crucially moved from 69th to 63rd in the PDC Order of Merit – inside the cut for automatic Tour-card retention.

Wenig says his late-season surge has been fuelled by pumping heavy iron in the gym.

He said: “I was a powerlifter some years before now. I only go to the gym to try and keep my muscles level.

“It has really improved my game, and it helps me to get stronger and more confident.

“I think with the gym it makes my game better and it helps me a lot.

“I find the balance to go to the gym for an hour and a half workout then I go on the practice board.

“I find my way to keep both going together.”

The 31-year-old admits he’s the strongest thrower in the sport and believes Gerwyn Price deserves credit for pushing darts stars to take fitness as seriously as the oche.

He added: “After Gerwyn lost some weight maybe. I think Gerwyn is also a great inspiration to other players.

“You see that other players go to the gym to get fitter and he inspired me.”

Wenig topped his group earlier in the week after beating Jonny Clayton and Cameron Crabtree.

He also reached the final of the Players Championship 23 before losing 8-5 to Jermiane Wattimena.

Prior to Wenig’s debut at the Slam his best run at a TV event was reaching the third round of the UK Open.

He continued: “The stage is not my friend, I had really big problems, but I came through the group, to go to the quarter-finals is unbelievable.

“Half of the year I have told people it is too hard to hold my Tour Card this year.

“I will go back to Krakow and Q-School to get it back because I am good enough.

“In the last month, I reached a final on the tour, that was the next big step that put me in the Worlds.

“I believe now I have the chance to keep it.”

Wenig returns to action on Saturday and will face Danny Noppert for a place in the semi-final.

Image by Taylor Lanning.