How did it happen that after the preliminary match against van Gerwen you managed to turn up the heat like this?
I was very nervous before and during the first match. The atmosphere here in Alexandra Palace gave me quite a hard fight. I never before experienced anything similar. But somehow I managed against van Gerwen to settle and not allow the atmosphere to come too near.
Would you say the second match was your usually level of performance?
That's difficult to answer, it would be easier to answer for my friends to be sure. But I really prepared very well as I by now know more practice really makes me better.
Did you prepare specially for the World Championship?
Not really. I only practiced as much as possible since the Superleague final. It's not always easy to combine it with work. But of course I've a bristle board at home.
Rene, you are predominantly a soft-dart player.
I would say I play soft-darts only at least till at about two years again. And I never played DDV tournaments only soft-darts.
Than Bulls Superleague was more or less your first steel-dart experience?
Yes, you can say that. Beside I played the qualifiers for the PDC European Tours and once qualified.
What were your biggest soft-darts successes?
I played a lot of European tournaments and won some of them. But I never played in Las Vegas - that's a team tournament and I just don't have a good enough team.
So will you now stop playing soft darts?
No I don't intend do. At least I will go on playing soft-darts with my friends just for fun. But to be sure I'll practice more on my bristle board now.
Was it difficult to switch from soft-darts to steel-darts?
Well it was not really easy. The weigh difference of the darts is too big. But I wouldn't say I really had problems.
The oche length by now is the same.
Yes that's true - it now is the same.
And how it will go on from here for you?
Of course with steel-darts. I will in January play qualifying school.