Today I am joined by 'The Bear' Tony Newell.
Thanks for joining me Tony, hope you enjoy the interview!
Q1. You made the UK Open third round, losing out to Adrian Lewis, but when you heard you were playing on the big stage how did you feel?
I had made it my goal for the weekend to get in the money and play on the main stage. I was sat in the restaurant next to the arena when I heard the draw and thought I'd have a good shout of it being main stage then about 20 mins later it was confirmed I was first on which only gave me about an hour to prepare!! I was really excited to be on the main stage and even though it was a bad result it was a fantastic experience and has given me the taste for more.
Q2. What made you come to a decision for your nickname to be 'The Bear?
I got given the nickname when I was 11. I've got really thick hair and I shaved it off and when it grew back it looked like bear hair! It's stuck ever since
Q3. What is your targets until the end of the calendar year?
My targets are still the same as when I started the year, play on tv, qualify for the worlds and players champs and equal or better my best run (which was a quarter final) so still some work to do but still confident of having at least 3 of them done by the end of the year.
Q4. You won your tour card back at q school in January, what did it mean to you and your family I'm sure you were over the moon?
It meant a lot to get my card back as I only just missed out on retaining it. Q school is so hard and I only picked up 1 point from the first 2 days but just like the first time I got straight through on the 3rd day! I now feel better equipped for the tour now though.
Q5. What advice would you give to young people playing darts?
I came through quite late on so didn't really play a lot as a kid so I haven't got the experience of saying what I did as a youth player. All I can say is just go to enjoy the game and don't put too much pressure on yourself and practice, practice, practice!!
Q6. Do you think you can reach the top 32 in the next year or so?
My aim for the next year or so is top 64 but I believe I can get into that top 32 at some point. If I didn't think I was capable I wouldn't carry on.
Thanks for the interview and keep up the good work #teambear
Thanks for joining me Tony, hope you enjoyed the interview!
By Carter
Thanks for joining me Tony, hope you enjoy the interview!
Q1. You made the UK Open third round, losing out to Adrian Lewis, but when you heard you were playing on the big stage how did you feel?
I had made it my goal for the weekend to get in the money and play on the main stage. I was sat in the restaurant next to the arena when I heard the draw and thought I'd have a good shout of it being main stage then about 20 mins later it was confirmed I was first on which only gave me about an hour to prepare!! I was really excited to be on the main stage and even though it was a bad result it was a fantastic experience and has given me the taste for more.
Q2. What made you come to a decision for your nickname to be 'The Bear?
I got given the nickname when I was 11. I've got really thick hair and I shaved it off and when it grew back it looked like bear hair! It's stuck ever since
Q3. What is your targets until the end of the calendar year?
My targets are still the same as when I started the year, play on tv, qualify for the worlds and players champs and equal or better my best run (which was a quarter final) so still some work to do but still confident of having at least 3 of them done by the end of the year.
Q4. You won your tour card back at q school in January, what did it mean to you and your family I'm sure you were over the moon?
It meant a lot to get my card back as I only just missed out on retaining it. Q school is so hard and I only picked up 1 point from the first 2 days but just like the first time I got straight through on the 3rd day! I now feel better equipped for the tour now though.
Q5. What advice would you give to young people playing darts?
I came through quite late on so didn't really play a lot as a kid so I haven't got the experience of saying what I did as a youth player. All I can say is just go to enjoy the game and don't put too much pressure on yourself and practice, practice, practice!!
Q6. Do you think you can reach the top 32 in the next year or so?
My aim for the next year or so is top 64 but I believe I can get into that top 32 at some point. If I didn't think I was capable I wouldn't carry on.
Thanks for the interview and keep up the good work #teambear
Thanks for joining me Tony, hope you enjoyed the interview!
By Carter