Tabern Wants More

ALAN TABERN is hoping to continue St Helens' darting revolution when he competes in the second round of the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix on Thursday night.

Tabern is one of four current PDC professionals who hail from the Merseyside town, alongside Dave Chisnall, Gary Welding and youngster Michael Smith.

The left-hander was drawn against Chisnall in the first round of the World Grand Prix, with his rival hitting eight 180s but unable to convert 13 match darts as Tabern scraped into the last 16.

Tabern is bidding to make a return to the world's top 16, with the clash against Mark Webster giving him a chance to continue his challenge with a place in the quarter-finals on offer.

And he is hoping to be joined eventually by Chisnall and teenager Michael Smith in the top 32 in the near future.

"In darts in St Helens there are a lot of really good players but the main man for me has always been Gary Welding," said Tabern. "He got me on the road to playing good darts and I took it over from him.

"I've got to world number eight and played in major semi-finals and quarter-finals - especially at the World Championship - and it would be great to see Dave take that on and go one step further.

"I've been more than impressed by Dave this year," said Tabern.

"There's young Michael Smith and I think he's a future champion, and I see a lot of Adrian Lewis in him. As long as he keeps his head right then nothing can stop him.

"But I'm not finished yet either. I want to be up there and take St Helens on a little bit further as well."

Chisnall saw a debut victory in the World Grand Prix slip away when he missed seven match darts in the second set and a further six go begging in the decider - and Tabern admits he is looking to make the most of his let-off.

"Dave played the darts to beat any player and I don't know why or how he missed those match darts," said Tabern. "Maybe it's a little bit of experience and it worked in my favour, and I'll take that.

"I wasn't comfortable on my starting double at the start of the game but I switched to double 15 and it seemed to work and I put pressure on Dave.

"He threw probably the best darts out of any player so far in the tournament until he needed the winning double. He kept missing and I took my chances.

"I feel a bit sorry for him because I've had it happen to me too, but when people win tournaments they often win through games like that and I've got to take the positives from it. I've got nothing to lose now."