Dave Chisnall is fed up of fans' surprise when he beats the big names
Chizzy will prove doubters wrong!
Thursday 9 April 2015 07:33, UK
Dave Chisnall is ready to shake off the underdog tag that he believes he has unfairly carried through the Premier League season.
After nine games, Chisnall sits second in the table trailing only world No 1 Michael van Gerwen having out-thrown more illustrious names such as Phil 'The Power' Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.
But the St Helens thrower claims he isn’t surprised by his lofty position in the standings and insists he is driven by fans who expected to see him struggle against elimination.
I agree that I’m known as an underdog but I’ve already had games that prove I shouldn’t be. I beat Phil last week.
"People underestimated me at the start of the season so I wanted to go out and prove them wrong – which I have done," he told Sky Sports.
"It motivates me to prove them wrong. I do get annoyed when people think I can’t compete, but that’s up to them. I’ve been showing what I can do.
"I was always capable of finishing in the top four over the first nine games, no problem. I knew I’d be up there.
"I had a great start and went unbeaten after five games, then I lost a couple so people wrote me off. But I’ve come back with a couple of big wins."
Underdog
The prospect of facing the likes of Van Gerwen and Taylor in the Premier League play-offs doesn’t face Chisnall who regards himself alongside the sport’s greats.
Chizzy defeated Taylor last week in Manchester and has no fear of trading shots with Van Gerwen at the oche.
He said: “I’m up there with all of them. If I’m playing a match against them, I don’t get carried away, because I know I can win.
“I’m just as good as them on my day – and so are the other players. The eight players left in the Premier League are all on the same level so I can beat anyone. You never know what’s going to happen.
“I agree that I’m known as an underdog but I’ve already had games that prove I shouldn’t be. I beat Phil last week, and I beat him in the World Championships easily. I’ve played Van Gerwen loads of times and it’s always really close between us. I’m on a par with them.”
Live Premier League Darts
On Thursday, Chisnall faces Gary Anderson then James Wade in a double-header in Sheffield and his doubters will be firmly in his mind.
“I played twice in one night last season and lost both games but I had nothing to prove then,” he said. “This time I’m fighting for the top.”
Watch Chisnall in action as Premier League Darts comes to Sheffield on Thursday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD at 7pm.
