Nick Kenny is having his “best year on tour” since regaining his Pro Tour card in 2023.
The Welshman defeated former world champions Peter Wright and Rob Cross in the PDC’s ProTour event to qualify for the World Darts Championship for the second year running and secure a spot on the 2026 Tour.
advertise
Asked whether regaining his Tour card had taken the pressure off him, Kenny replied: “That’s a bad thing when you’re playing darts.”
“Some of the better players, IMHO, ‘thick’ is not the right word, but they just don’t think.
“They were kind of like, just throwing darts, but I was kind of methodical, I was kind of thinking.
“But the best thing is not to stare at it all the time because it just ruins your mind.”
Kenny defeated former world champion Raymond van Barneveld in December [Getty Images]
The 32-year-old impressed in last year’s tournament, beating Stowe Buntz and darts icon Raymond van Barneveld before losing in the third round to eventual finalist Luke Humphries.
advertise
“I remember looking at him [van Barneveld] In the old days of BDO. I was always fascinated by the difference in the sound on the plate,” Kenny recalled.
“It was surreal to beat him. He didn’t play well, but he’s one of the top five players of all time.”
Kenny, currently ranked 54th in the world, faces Englishman Justin Hood in the first round on Tuesday.
“Justin is a good player and he wouldn’t want me, I don’t really want him and I’m his mate too. It’s like small and big,” joked the 32-year-old from Cwmbran.
“Honestly, he’s only about five foot, he’s tiny and I’m six foot two and we had a little joke when the draw came out.”
advertise
Kenny, who is competing in his fourth World Championships, believes his experience will help him reach the second round, where he could face world number six Danny Noppert or first-time World Championships Jurgen van de Velde.
“My experience should show in the first round, I’m not saying I’m going to win, all I want to do is play my game and if I play my game and win the doubles, then in my opinion I should win.
“I think Justin is actually the favorite to beat me but I have work to do on Tuesday and if I’m going to win then we’ll be looking at Danny or Jurgen.”