Kenny aims for Lakeside return.
After a disappointing 2018 campaign on the B.D.O tour, Welshman Nick Kenny is hoping to put things right in 2019 and return to the Lakeside stage after missing out by the finest of margins last season.
The 25-Year-old has been on the BDO circuit since bursting onto the scene during the 2014 Winmau World Masters, defeating Scott Waites before missing match darts against Martin Adams in the last 16, before crashing out. After a difficult season on and off the board, he told Darts Planet TV he is relishing the year head after securing new sponsorship and management.
“I’m with Big 5 Sports Management now with Paul Brown, it’s a dream and they look after me well, all I have to worry about is playing darts and that is refreshing, Paul sorts everything. Flights, transfers, entries even our playing cards! We enjoy spending time together and I don’t stop laughing from start to finish when we are away, especially with my pairs partner Wayne Warren”
Kenny and Warren’s friendship has transcended onto the oche this season and they have enjoyed success as a duo in events at the two BDO ranking events so far this season. The Welsh pair won the Romanian Open pairs in Bucharest, followed up with an impressive last 8 at The Dutch Open, out of 1558 entries.
Kenny was sitting in the final qualification position for Lakeside when Adam Smith Neale won the masters and as he was unranked, this gave him automatic qualification, meaning Kenny would miss out. He faced a nervous wait to see if he would compete after all as Smith Neale broke his ankle, meaning he was unconfirmed to play until around 10 days before.
Back living in his hometown of Cwmbran, Welsh Vice Captain Nick says he feels a lot more confident and knows he can improve on last year’s campaign. “Last season before Paul came in I had almost lost the love for it; the events were becoming a chore and I wasn’t playing well. As any darter will tell you, if you’re not happy, you’re not your best.”
The start of the campaign has been a fruitful one thus far for Nick, He has amassed 38 Ranking points in Romania and Assen over the last two weekends. Romanian Open winner and man in form Dave Parletti defeated Nick in the last 8 of the Dutch Open, a staggering field of 3300 entered, making the event the largest open tournament in the world. He also reached the last 32 and last 16 of the events in Romania, a promising start.
A Civil servant by trade, Kenny is aiming for a Lakeside return where he will be hoping to win his first game at the tournament, “I know I can get there as I’ve done it before, I know I’ve got the game to beat anyone, my wins on the PDC development tour proved that, it’s now about enjoying the game again and the results will come, which I am”
This may be Kenny’s final year with the BDO as he has his arrows towards Q School next year. He told Darts Planet Tv exclusively, “I didn’t want to go this year as I feel I have unfinished business in the BDO, plus as welsh vice-captain I’ve always dreamt of playing for my country at a world cup, I have the opportunity to do that this year in Romania, after that and Lakeside, I will try to secure a tour card”.
Next up for Kenny is the Scottish Open where he looks to continue his reprieve in form.
Liam Kenny.