Wizard on the up

Osborne: Lofty ambitions

For myself to come and play on the big stage, I'm getting used to it and getting more experience in that situation it's a great feat to do that.

Colin Osborne
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Colin Osborne is hoping to step his game up a level after making his first major final at the UK Open.

'The Wizard' has always been a decent player ever since joining the PDC in 2005, but in Bolton he made his first real impact on a major televised tournament with a run to the final.

Although Osborne was beaten 11-6 by Phil Taylor in the final, big wins over Jason Clark, Wayne Jones, Raymond van Barneveld, Jamie Caven and Kevin Painter showed he can perform on the big stage.

Osbroen had only previously made one major semi-final, and going that one step further has proved to himself that he can mix it with the big boys.

The man from Derby is now up to 13th in the Order of Merit and is now hoping to make a concerted push in the upcoming major tournaments.

Consistent

"Over the last six months in the floor tournament's I've been very consistent so I was in good spirits coming into the competition," said Osborne.

"It was for me to kick on and prove to myself that I can do it in front of the cameras, and I've done that.

"When I beat Raymond it was a great feeling, to get up on stage and prove to myself that I can do it with the best players in the world.

"I had some tough games, such as against Kevin Painter in the semis and Wayne Jones in the last 32.

"I'm just pleased that I proved to myself I can get up there and mix it."

Power play

Osborne admitted he still has a way to go to match Taylor, whom he has only beaten once in a Players Championship in Bristol last June.

"I was over the moon to get to the final but you want to go all the way, and you get no change out of Phil," he said.

"You have to play your best darts not only to win it but to be with him all the time and he was too good in the final.

"If you're not 100 percent he will destroy you, which is why he is who he is and he's done what he has done."

Another bonus of Osborne's performance at the Reebok Stadium is that he will take part in the next two Grand Slam of Darts events.

"It's a huge bonus," said the 33-year-old. "I've qualified for the Grand Slam for the next two years, which is important.

"But for myself to come and play on the big stage, I'm getting used to it and getting more experience in that situation it's a great feat to do that."