Tuesday 16 December 2014 19:55, UK
Keegan Brown hopes to make a big impact at the World Darts Championship after emerging as one of the sport’s newest stars in 2014.
The 22-year-old burst onto the scene in May, taking the World Youth Championship title, and then reached the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts in November.
Brown will face John Part in the first round at Alexandra Palace this Thursday, live on Sky Sports, but has already shown he can get the better of the Canadian, a former champion.
“I’ve played John a couple of times in the world tour. I’m lucky enough to get two victories against him,” he told Sky Sports.
“I think a lot of people are thinking: ‘Oh Keegan, he’s coming up,’ so as long as I go up there and play my own game then that’s all I’m worried about.
“I think I realised at the Grand Slam, I can play like I can on the floor as I can on the stage.
“It’s definitely helped my self-belief more than anything. I’m just ready to fly now hopefully.”
He still manages to spend hours on his practice board, despite working during the day as a medical lab assistant in blood services.
Work-mates have taken an increasing interest in his darts career as he prepares to compete with the world’s best players this week.
Brown said: “I usually wake up at six in the morning, practise until about half past eight, walk to work, half past five finish and then practice for another two or three hours.
“Truth be told, I think they just thought I was a pub player, but obviously they are asking me how I’m getting on every weekend.
“I’ve managed to convince my father-in-law to convert his once family kitchen into my holy grail of darts.
“I spend most of my entire life surrounded by these four walls, playing for about five hours a day.”
Watch the PDC World Championship live on Sky Sports Darts from December 18. For information on how to upgrade to Sky Sports head to www.skysports.com/watch/get-sky
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