'ONE DART' INTERVIEW!!

Peter ‘One Dart’ Manley has spelled out his determination to win ‘Masters of Darts’ at the Hermitage Leisure Centre. Manley knows he will have to reproduce the form that has taken him to three world championship finals.

"There’s no doubt it’s a first-class line up," he said.

"Every singleplayer taking part is a quality player who has proved their ability in major tournaments and this is a big tournament for us. I don’t want to lose to anyone and they don’t want to lose to me. I want to show everyone that I’m the best player here tonight and so does everyone else."

"I’m sure there’s going to be a great atmosphere as well. I’ve played in Matt Ward’s events before and he always gets a full house and I’m sure it will be no different tonight."

Manley is sure to receive a warm reception with his ‘Is This The Way to Amarillo’ walk on and believes tonight’s crowd will see him back to his best.

By his own admission, Manley had a wretched 2008 and tumbled down the rankings and said:

“I think I’m the hardest-working player on the circuit and tired myself out."

“I do a lot of exhibition and promotional work for Betfred so last year I did a lot of traveling and didn’t have much time to recharge my batteries.”

Manley says missing out on the Whyte & Mackay Premier League that started last month might prove to be a blessing as it will mean less traveling and he can spend more time sharpening his skills on the practice board.

He admitted the game is tougher now than it has ever been.

Manley said: “The standard has raised so much. Phil Taylor has taken the game to new heights with averages that nobody would have thought possible and we’ve all got to work hard to stay with him.

“I remember when the bookies had a nine darter as 50-1 and before the world championship final between Phil and Ray van Barneveld it was only 5-1,so that shows you how much the game has improved.”

INTERVIEW - PAUL BOOTH MC (Setanta Sports)

PAUL BOOTH MC - THOUGHTS ON DARTS OF 2009

Tonight’s Master of Ceremonies reckons we could see darts perfection at Hermitage Leisure Centre.

Paul Booth is a popular figure on the darts circuit.

Previously a radio DJ, he has worked with all of the sport’s biggest names and was MC at last year’s League of Legends on Setanta Sports that brought together the heroes of yesteryear and was won by Bob Anderson.

Booth does around “30-40” exhibitions every year and says the star-studded line up put together by organiser Matt Word for the ‘Masters of Darts’ makes this tournament likely to be one of his highlights of 2009.

“There could definitely be a nine darter tonight,” said Booth. “Every player taking part is capable of doing it and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it happened.

“There is money and pride at stake tonight, so we’re going to see some of the best players in the world giving their all.

“I do a lot of exhibitions where the emphasis is on fun, but this is deadly serious. I won’t be cracking any jokes tonight and I’ve got a feeling I might get to call my first nine darter.”

Booth has been a darts MC for the last three years and his love affair with the sport goes back two decades to the pomp of five times world champion Eric Bristow.

“I grew up watching people like Eric, John Lowe and Jocky Wilson,” said Booth. “They were all legends of the game and I’m lucky enough to have worked with a lot of my darts heroes.

“I consider a lot of the players to be my friends, so I couldn’t really choose a favourite player.”

Booth is certain of one thing – that he you won’t see him playing his heroes !

“I love darts,” he said, “but I can’t play it. I just play strip darts with my girlfriend – and I always lose !”