William O’Connor will be taking part in Darts’ premier competition for the fifth successive year.
Cappamore native William O’Connor will be flying the Limerick flag at this years World Darts Championships which kick off on Wednesday December 16 in the Alexandra Palace in London.
The PDC’s flagship event of the year brings in viewers from all over the world with some considering darts as a Christmas sport.
But for O’Connor, everyone there is aiming to win the prestigious title with no one taking anyone for granted.
“Everyone that will take to the stage up there is there for a reason. They’re there on merit. So you can’t take any of these players for granted.”
Despite this, O’Connor will be fancied to advance past the first round for the fourth successive time as he plays unranked Danny Lauby on night two, Thursday December 16.
World number 42, O’Connor says he will focus on himself as he pays little attention to his opponents.
“I don’t know anything about him to be honest with you. I’ve never watched him play but at the end of the day it’s not for me to focus on other players. All I can do is focus on myself and do what I do. I just have to go up there and perform. It doesn’t matter who I play, if I don’t perform then I’m going home. Likewise, if he’s not at his best he will go home.”
Prior to the pandemic, O’Connor had made the decision to give more to the sport but the change in the world has altered his plans as he explained the disruption caused by covid.
“Especially over covid. I had intended to put so much more into it and then covid started. I was going well until that point and then it was a bit of a downer, things just went pair shaped but that’s just the way it is. Life gets in the way.”
But nonetheless, O’Connor will have real ambitions of prolonging his world championship stint into the new year, starting with Lauby in round one.
Watch the interview in full with William O’Connor below.
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