My country is going pottery for the arrows
LITHUANIA’S RIGHT BEHIND DARIUS
many people had sent messages of congratulations after my first win and good-luck messages for the game against Raymond. “Now I think many people will watch in Lithuania. “Darts is becoming bigger. At the moment, we’ve around 200 players, which is not really a lot. “But the sport is growing in Lithuania and many people are watching, so this is a big step for my country. “In Lithuania, basketball is the No.1 sport and the public would only watch the top tournaments of darts. But now I am in the top tournament and people watching will stop and say: ‘Oh, a guy from Lithuania is playing’. That will surprise many of them.”
In fairness, his success might even by surprising to himself.
Labanauskas has built his career playing on the Nordic Tour of the PDC.
Travelling to Scandinavia to face players of a higher standard, he’d been building his reputation.
Even so, ranked at world No.108 before the beginning of this year’s showpiece event, he wasn’t given much of a thought.
That, though, changed instantly when he put Barney on his knees.
The Dutchman had no answer to the Lithuanian’s onslaught and Labanauskas said: “Last Monday night was the biggest moment of my darts career.
“I couldn’t really understand it at the time, but when I got back to the hotel, I was really proud. It was such a big step for me.
“I hoped I could play a good game and show a good level, but I never really thought I’d win.
“I did feel better after my first game, it helped me get used to the
surroundings and the Fifth seed Daryl Gurney became the latest big name to be dumped out of the PDC World Darts Championship as Jamie Lewis evoked memories of last year’s shock run to the semis.
Despite being a qualifier, Lewis went all the way to the last four 12 months ago but has since enjoyed limited success.
Gurney has become one of the sport’s leading names in that time and few thought the Northern Irishman would follow the likes of Peter Wright, Mensur Suljovic and Gerwyn Price in going home before Christmas Day.
But that was how it turned out in their third-round clash, Lewis winning 4-3.
Having led 2-0 and 3-1 it looked like the atmosphere. Beforehand, I maybe only played in about five events, but this year I have played six toplevel tournaments. We always play at a good level in PDC Scandinavia and over here and it helps.”
Now he’s got his sights on Lewis. It won’t get any easier for him, either, if he is victorious.
Should he hit the Jackpot, the likes of Michael van Gerwen are waiting in his side of the draw.
But right now, Labanauskas reckons he can take on the world and said: “I looked at my route and I’d four or five world champions. People who know what it’s like to win big tournaments.
“First one was Raymond, now it is Adrian.
“But that doesn’t bother me because I prefer not to be the favourite for the game, that makes me relax more. I’ll enjoy
myself.” underdog would end up suffering a painful defeat when Gurney threw for the match.
But the big gun failed to close it out and Lewis claimed a memorable win.
Ryan Joyce, a man travelling a path similar to Lewis a year ago, claimed another scalp as he defeated Alan Norris, the 25th seed.
Joyce caused an upset by defeating Aussie Simon Whitlock in the last round and came from 2-0 down yesterday to beat Norris 4-3.
There was no such drama for Dave Chisnall though as he eased to a 4-0 win over Kim Huybrechts.