Darts, Beers, & Cheers!

Alex Roy interview for Darts, Beers & Cheers!

We’re in a bit of a darting lull at the moment, with no floor tournament results for a week or two.  So – to give you your darts fix while you wait for the WPM in Blackpool next Saturday.  So get yourself comfortable, open a drinky, and have a read, as I am proud to bring you an exclusive interview with Alex Roy, one of the great recent characters of darts.

To top that off, Alex has given me a question to use in a competition we will run next week – to win a set of his brand new Red Dragon darts!  (view em here).  I will post up the competition as soon as I have the darts in my grubby mits – so keep popping back early next week!

A big thanks to Dave Holland too, for helping to set this up.  Dave as you might have read here before runs ‘Dave Holland Management‘, who look after a growing number of darts pros, helping them get sponsorship and anything that helps them concentrate on their game.

On to the interview…

Q.  When did you first take up darts, and when did you realise you wanted to be a professional darts player?

I was 13 when i first started playing league darts with my Dad in his local, i did not think about turning pro but my ambition was to play for england. for some reason i was never included so when I turned 22 I decided to focus on playing professionally

Q.  You come across as a really confident person on the oche, almost strutting around like you own it.  Is that how you actually feel when you’re playing?  Are you any different off the oche than on it?  (like Paul Nicholson, who ‘acts’ a bad boy on TV).

I always try and be confident before games and during games….. I do this because its who I am and to show the opponent that I don’t fear them . if I show nerves or lack of confidence there is no point in me being there.

Q. I’ve now seen you play on TV and on the floor, do you enjoy yourself more in front of the TV cameras at the big tournaments?

Without doubt the TV events always gives you that extra buzz and with the walk on music and fans being there it gives me more confidence .

Q. What’s it like at the weekend tournaments with 100+ players packed into an event?  Do you socialise with the other players or keep it totally professional and no play?

Yes,  you find that they become your 2nd family when you are away for so long, people don’t realise that after playing the days games it is mentally draining and most times its a meal out and early to bed.

Q. Who would you count as your best mates in the game?

There all nice people but I regard Kevin Painter as my good mate.

Q. How much practice do you feel you need to be on the top of your game?

I try to aim for 2 hours a day, I find too much can affect your game , so 2 solid hours a day  .

Q. Are there any ‘bogey’ players for you who you usually want to avoid in the draw ?

Not really,there all good players and all believe they can win.  as I said early if I did not have the confidence there is no point in me being there……..Hopefully players want to avoid me !!!

Q.  Is it more important to you to play solid and win, or win and look while good doing it?

Play solid and win….you have to know how to win ugly sometimes…..winning = money.

Q. What’s the best game you’ve ever played – who/when/where.. and what happened?

Players championships in 2008 beating Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 . I don’t know of anyone else that has done that to Raymond on the pdc events.

Q.  When I saw you in Wigan on the pro tour off the oche, you seem to be quite a story teller and entertainer – what’s your favourite darting story?

That’s my no fear and way of preparing for the next game.  This has to be when I was doing a exhibition 7 or 8 years ago in February with the very funny Richie Burnett from Wales, the pub was in a village with a outside toilet.  During a break Richie went to the loo, jumped the picket gate and landed waist height in manure!!!  The taxi driver refused to take Richie back to the hotel unless he wrapped himself in bin liners and opened all the car windows….it was -1 degrees and we all froze on the way back.

Q.  How do spend time relaxing when not playing or practising?

With my wife and kids, with working all week and being away weekend I appreciate the time I get to spend with them.

I’d like to thank Alex for answering my questions, and what a funny story about the Prince of Wales, Richie Burnett!  Sorry Richie if you’re reading this – but it is a cracker

Remember to keep popping back next week for the Alex Roy competition – answer a question he has set himself to win a set of his brand new darts. You can take a look and/or buy yourself a set here; http://www.reddragondarts.com/pages/4600/Alex-Roy/