Sling for your supper
Singapore star Paul cooking up a surprise for Ando
PAUL LIM once whipped up portions of rat and snake for Jocky Wilson.
Now he’s hoping to cook up another special and fry Gary Anderson’s world title hopes.
Anderson is next on the Ally Pally menu for the old stager after a heartwarming success over Mark Webster set up tonight’s second-round tie.
Aged 63, the Singapore slinger rolled back the years with a vintage win over the Welshman in round one.
London’s crowds backed Lim all the way during his fairytale triumph having watched him mix with the elite for almost three decades.
These days it’s Anderson, Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor who rule the roost. When Lim started out it was Jocky, John Lowe and Eric Bristow.
Lim said: “My darts career started by accident really in London when I was training to be a chef.
“My flatmates got me to go to the pub with them all the time. I’ve never been a big drinker so instead I just played darts.
“Then I got to playing on TV facing the likes of Lowe, Bristow and Jocky. Every year before the world champs I would stay at Olly Croft’s home and cook for whoever was around.
“When I was head chef of Travelodge in Papa New Guinea I told myself, ‘Give it a shot’. I have never looked back since.
“I don’t cook anything unusual these days but they liked my food back then no matter what it was. I’m a trained chef in French cooking so no more rat or snake, that’s for sure.
“It will be an honour to play Gary again as I have good memories of matches with Jocky and Jamie Harvey. I was once playing a pairs final with Cliff Lazarenko against Jocky and Lowe and Jocky was, let’s say, a bit worse for wear.
“He lost track of the score. We won but Jocky went mad and had to be removed from the stage. He was convinced they’d won!”
Lim is a legend. He hit the first televised nine-darter 27 years ago and is inspirational given his years.
He said: “People ask me why I still do it but it’s passion. If I don’t feel motivated and excited about darts I would just retire.
“I don’t need it. I’d rather just go golfing or fishing every day. Moments like the game against Mark give me more years. That game just added another two or three to my career.
“It has changed so much now. When I came back three or four years ago I could vividly remember in the early days of the World Championship and the ref would say to the crowd, ‘Please be quiet while the players are throwing’. Those were the days.
“I do understand now. It’s part of entertainment. Deal with it or get out of this game. That is how I feel.”
Anderson is huge favourite but the Scot knows the dangers after Lim led Singapore to a shock him over him and Peter Wright in the World Cup six months ago.
Lim said: “I don’t want to mention the World Cup to him. He might not take it well.
“I have known Gary for a long time. He is a gentleman. I just want to play well and hopefully I will beat him again.”