Nick Kenny Eyes Success in World Darts Championship First Round
Nick Kenny, a 32-year-old darts player from Cwmbran, is preparing for his first-round match at the World Darts Championship. Last year, he made a significant impact by defeating Stowe Buntz and the legendary Raymond van Barneveld before losing to Luke Humphries, the eventual finalist, in the third round.
Impressive Past Performance
In the previous tournament, Kenny expressed his admiration for van Barneveld, stating, “I remember watching him in the old BDO days.” He found it surreal to have beaten one of the sport’s top players, despite acknowledging that van Barneveld did not perform at his best during their match.
Upcoming Match Details
Kenny is currently ranked 54th in the world and will face fellow Englishman Justin Hood in his first-round match on Tuesday. Commenting on their matchup, he noted, “Justin is a good player, he wouldn’t have wanted me and I didn’t really want him. It’s like little and large.” Kenny, at 6 foot 2, joked about the height difference with Hood, who he described as “tiny” at around five feet tall.
Determination for Success
This will mark Kenny’s fourth appearance at the World Championship. He is optimistic that his experience will play a crucial role in advancing to the second round. Should he win, he would likely face either world number six Danny Noppert or debutant Jurgen van der Velde.
Kenny’s Strategy
- Kenny believes his experience will be an asset in his opening match.
- He emphasizes the importance of playing well and successfully hitting doubles.
- Though he acknowledges Hood as a favorite, Kenny remains focused and motivated.
As the tournament approaches, Kenny is excited about the opportunity and focused on delivering a strong performance. Winning against Hood will set him on a path to potentially face higher-ranked opponents, such as Noppert or van der Velde.
