Woodhouse admits it's "daft" not to learn from legends like Wade

LUKE WOODHOUSE says it would be daft not to learn from legends as he used a James Wade mantra to end Gian van Veen's reign as Euro champ.

The 2025 title winner crashed out of Dortmund at the hands of the impressive English star, who set up a last-eight encounter with Ross Smith.

Van Veen was not at his best, but Woodhouse was determined not to let him find form and to keep control of a contest which he won in the end by a comfortable 10-6 scoreline.

The 38-year-old kept his composure throughout the contest and didn't get too excitable as he hit the key shots to move him towards the finishing line. He said: "I've always been okay. My wife calls me really boring. I don't get carried away with stuff too much. I'm a realist, so I try not to get carried away. I'm not going to get carried away from beating Gian. I know he wasn't firing on all cylinders. I took my chances and I've beaten him, but there's another game tomorrow.

"I try and work on things all the time. I try and go on the mantra of what James Wade always says, you can't always be in control of a leg. If that leg's gone, it's gone. Then next leg, go again and go again. Do not let him [van Veen] get back to level pegging. That's all I can think of. Don't let him get to seven or six or whatever it was.

"I've always had the talent, I've always had the ability to throw some really good darts. But sometimes my emotions and the way I reacted to missing darts, it never put me in a good place. Fortunately, at the moment, I'm doing really well. So long may it continue.

"You've got to remain neutral. You can't let your highs get you too high and then you don't want to get too low. It's hard sometimes when someone hits a big finish against you, especially if you leave yourself on a double, but you just have to roll with it."

Asked if taking teachings from the likes of Wade and other elite PDC stars was important, he continued: "Of course. They're some of the best players that have played in the game. If you're not watching them and taking things from them, I think you'd be daft not to. I think it's my ninth or eighth year. I'm sort of quite experienced myself, but I'm always learning from everyone all the time. How they prepare and how they come into the game. I try and take everything I can."

Woodhouse is ready for Sunday's shootout and insists he's get so set plan for the big day. He explained: "I'm someone that tries not to think about it too much. If you try and have a set routine, if it doesn't go right, then you're looking for another routine after that. I just try not to think about it too much. "The EuroTour Sundays, they're long days. I've got no routine, I've got no superstitions, I've got nothing like that. I just think you're setting yourself up for something.

"If you do a superstition or routine for so long and then it doesn't go right for a few tournaments, then you're going to start questioning that routine. I've never been someone like that."