Rand Up For The Fight

SCOTT RAND is ready to mix it with the best in the world as he juggles the oche with being a disc jockey.

The Coventry ace has seen his Alexandra Palace odds slashed from 500-1 to 150-1 after knocking Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade out of the Players Championship last weekend.
Rand, a full-time lorry driver, is hoping to give up the day job to combine the arrows with airplay after his sensational run to the semis in Doncaster.
He said: "I deliver roofing materials — slates, tiles, batten and felt. I go around building sites, builders merchants, private developments.
"Everything's a bonus at the moment and my motivation is to get to a level where I can play darts for a living.
"I've paid my dues by working for 20 years full-time, so this is my chance to get out of that rat-race.
"I think I'm good enough to do it but I just need a few breaks.
"For 10 years before I played darts DJ-ing was my hobby.
"Before the rise of internet sales, I'd peruse the CD singles and record singles and make my own dance mixes, mainly for my own enjoyment and people I know.
"I've never really been a professional DJ going around the clubs — I've not had the inclination to do that — but I've done it for my own enjoyment.
"I can podcast it now and share it around but I don't charge because I do it for myself, and if anyone enjoys it like I do then that's great.
"If you want to have a listen, type Twister Smith into iTunes and download it for free.
"I did one a couple of months ago, about a three-and-a-half hour mix and it's brilliant, if I do say so myself!"
Rand, 36, blew a big chance to make the Players Champs final.
He missed two darts at double 16 to beat Kevin Painter in the semi — and led 9-6 before the Essex man won four on the bounce to snatch glory. Now Rand faces Andy 'Pieman' Smith in his world championship opener next week.
And he admits he needs to be cooler under pressure if he is to turn the tables on more illustrious opponents.
He added: "I discovered a little bit of a bottle problem at the end of the semi-finals and I'll work on that. I need to grow a pair!
"I thought the darts were a mile away but when I watched them back they were on the wire, so they weren't that bad.
"But I did feel shaky and that's something I've got to work on.
"I take every game as it comes and the next time I've got a shot for the match and I'm well ahead, I'm going to have to stand back and steel myself a bit more.
"Against Kevin I rushed into it, like I always do, expecting it to go in but there were a few nerves there and I've got to learn to deal with that.
"I've only been on the PDC circuit for a year-and-a-half but I know what I can do and these players know what I can do.
"I think if I'm playing well I can beat anybody in the world. But that comes from practising, and hitting what I want to do on the dartboard on a regular basis, and from watching the other players on the circuit and knowing that I can play at that standard and above.
"If I could give up my job and practice for four hours a day instead of the one that I do now, I think that perhaps I can move up another level.
"I've taken this year one weekend at a time.
"I didn't say I wanted to qualify for any TV events, I'd just turn up at the ProTour events and want to do well on that day, one game at a time.
"If I qualify for anything off the back of that then it's been a bonus because this has been my first full year.

"I like the stage, I like the crowd and I liked the crowd liking me. My previous TV appearances have been over fairly quickly but I enjoyed it in Doncaster, interacting with the crowd and enjoyed them enjoying my game.
"I didn't feel like I was in a corner with no hiding place, I felt like I had all my friends out there even though I didn't know many of them. If the crowd at Alexandra Palace are the same, it will be brilliant."