Jelle Klaasen looks for lift off after recording an impressive win over Dave Chisnall
Sunday 26 February 2017 10:10, UK
"The less I think, the better I play" - Dutch ace Jelle Klaasen seems to finally be getting to grips with the Premier League after picking up his first victory of the season in Brighton.
The 2006 Lakeside champion has long failed to live up to his billing in the PDC ranks, but he now believes that he belongs among the best of the best.
Klaasen lost to Peter Wright, Gary Anderson and reigning and defending Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen before responding in some style by picking up his first victory of the season with a fine display to defeat Dave Chisnall on a stormy night along the shores.
He averaged almost 99, hitting four 180s and finishing seven doubles from 15 attempts to win 7-3 and the relief was palpable.
"In the first three weeks I didn't play badly but I missed a few chances, but I've practised a lot on my doubles - I've tried to go more for tops and double 16 - and it worked today," he told the official PDC website.
"It's good to get away from zero points. I'm still not where I want to be, and on stage I still need to get some more confidence and I have to play a lot better to stay in the league.
"Before the game I knew that I had to take something from this match. I've got two points and I'm feeling good, and I want to stay in the top eight and then try to qualify for the semi-finals."
'The Cobra' is starting to play with real venom as he gets used to his new arrows and grip and it's fair to say that he has taken a little time to adjust to them.
"The darts are the same weight, but they're a new model," he told Sky Sports in an exclusive interview. "My old darts were worn out and I had the choice to pick up a new set, but where the grip was different.
"I don't change my darts very often. This is the first time I've changed to a new set in two-and-a-half-years and I'm going to be changing my darts every month now, but the grip always stays the same.
"I'm getting used to them more and more, which is helping my confidence. All the players above me still have to play the top three so they will lose some points."
The 32-year-old, who previously played in the Premier League back in 2009, wants to show everyone that he belongs on the big stage again, although he acknowledges that he must "think less" in order to gain wins on the oche.
"I'm a person that thinks a lot so I think about legs that I lose too much and sometimes if you think too much, it's not good.
"I know I can play well for 12, 13, 14, 15 legs so that's not a problem, but I think my problem is that I think too much. Some players don't think about mistakes, but I think about them too much. I have to find a way to not think too much and just focus on the darts. The less I think, the better I play."
Klaasen also gave an exclusive insight into Phil Taylor's future plans after revealing that 'The Power' has recently installed a soft-tip board in his house.
"He's going to play soft-tip darts in the future, but he's still going to be playing exhibitions," revealed Klaasen. "He might be retiring from the PDC, but he won't be retiring from the game.
"I'll be playing him on Judgement Night in Cardiff, so hopefully, when I play him, I can beat him and stay in that top eight and then try to make the semi-finals."
Watch Premier League Darts next Thursday, from Westpoint Arena in Exeter, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm as Jelle Klaasen takes on his good friend Kim Huybrechts.
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