Nicholson`s Heartbreak

 The Newcastle-born Aussie is the now hottest prospect of the year after winning a ProTour and good runs in the UK Open, Matchplay and European Championship.
He's leapt into the world's top ten but has caused the biggest stir with his verbal blasts at Phil Taylor and on-stage angry persona.
But away from the oche Nico is a different person. And he reveals that heartbreak has pushed to him to his new-found success.
He said: "I've been to hell and back. I had a good world championship in 2009 making the quarters. That pushed me up the PDC rankings so I returned to the UK from Australia.
"But my marriage had broken down in Aussie and when I returned to England my mother's partner was struck down with cancer.
"He died within weeks of me being back. As he deteriorated I saw the stress it inflicted on my mum and I spent a long time with her to try and help her through it.
"That had a big effect on me, as did my marriage split, and it took me a long time to settle back here.
"Although I won the Players' Championship that January I wasn't ready to make the step up like people thought I would.
"It's only now that I'm starting to feel happy again.
"I moved from the north east to Lancashire and now I've got a social life, play a lot of golf and my life is uncomplicated.
"And I need that to perform to my best. The results this year prove that."
Nicholson, 32, rocked the sport with his outrageous war of words with Taylor when he called the 15-times world champ a "bully".
It started after The Power accused Nico of waving him off the stage after he'd lost to him in the UK Open.
Taylor has admitted the feud fired him up and praised Nicholson for his desire.
Nico added: "I'm very honest and I said what I felt needed to be said. Phil has always bullied opponents, but that's what has made him such a superstar of this sport.
"But I refuse to be intimidated. I will not approach any game and be afraid — that's half the battle lost.
"I've heard that some players have asked for his autograph before playing him — that's madness.
"I have mates I play against. We might be pals but when we're on stage I want to rip their heads off."
To help with his psychology Nich has adopted a WRESTLING on-stage persona from CM Punk.
He said: "I watched CM Punk on a show and admired the way he spoke his mind. I wanted to adopt the same philosophy.

"It fitted perfectly with my war of wards with Phil. I was speaking out against the darts establishment and no one liked it."
Nicholson also admits his progress into the world's elite was thwarted by the wrong SHOES!
He added: "The year after my quarter-final in the world championship I was really confident of more success.
"But we had a ton of snow before my match and London ground to a halt.
"I had to walk from my hotel and just had normal shoes on and it took me so long to get to the venue I didn't have time to practice. I lost my first match to Terry Jenkins