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Louis' big ambitions
Wigan's Louis Blundell has enjoyed a fine start to the year – and has his sights firmly set on Phil 'The Power' Taylor and co in 2009.
Blundell is determined to make his mark after narrowly failing to qualify for the World Championships at the end of 2008.
Qualification for the bigger tournaments in the darts world depend on the collecting of rankings points throughout the year – and Blundell is on course to finally make the breakthrough after getting off to a flyer.
"I'm aiming for the UK Open in June at the Reebok Stadium, which is the first major event of the season, and I am doing quite well in the qualifying for," Blundell told the Observer.
"We're only in February, but I'm ranked number 30 which is well inside where I need to be.
"The next big one after that is in Las Vegas in the summer, then there's a big one in Ireland and then it's all building up towards the World Championships again at the end of the year. Those are the big ones, they're all on television.
"My overall world ranking is 122, but I'm only about 500 off being in the Top 100. You only need one good weekend and you can jump 50 places.
"There are eight really big qualifying tournaments during the year, and you have to have entered at least three of them – even the likes of Phil Taylor. The Top 100 money-earners are then entered automatically into the big tournaments.
"It's basically about making sure you go to as many events as you can – and you want to win money in them all if you can. So far this year I'm doing all right. I've just got to make sure I stay up there."
Rubbing shoulders with the big boys of darts is no longer a daunting proposition for Blundell, whose family hails from Shevington.
He has already seen off most of the top names on the circuit, and indeed is only waiting to get the better of world number one Taylor to complete the set.
"I got to the last 32 in Gibraltar a few weeks ago and I beat Colin Lloyd who is number seven in the world," continued Blundell, brother of former boxer Lee.
"That was a good win. I've played more or less all of the big names and beaten most of them now.
"March is going to be very busy indeed — we start in Scotland and then come back to a competition in Wigan before going on to Essex and Coventry, all on successive weekends.
"Then it moves across to America so obviously you have to pick and choose which events you go to. In September it starts again over here, and it's non-stop. Every tournament is the same and all your money goes towards your overall ranking."
Sadly, despite being the Robin Park Arena event being very much on home soil, Blundell will not be able to count on a partizan backing from the floor because of a recent change in admission policy.
"Last year's event at Robin Park was the first one I went to," he added. "It was great but there was a bit of trouble somewhere and I don't think you can pay on the door anymore. Every player is now allowed two guests.
"Some venues still allow pay on the gate but I think they are trying to restrict that a little bit now. We'll still get a good crowd because every player brings a couple of friends so it still ends up full.
"It is a little bit frustrating because last year I had loads of people coming to watch me at Wigan."
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Weather for Wigan
Thursday 09 February 2012
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