Fireball Focusing on PDC Return
Former World Championship Semi Finalist Jamie Lewis reached the Final stage of PDC Q School on Monday after beating Northern Irishman Christopher Gilliland 5-2, having beat the likes of Adam Warner and Adam Smith-Neale in the previous rounds.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better start really, getting through on the first day and being able to have two days off as I look forward to tomorrow and the next stage.”
The Welshman has played in the WDF Circuit during 2022, including a win in the Antwerp Open where he beat Dutchman Kay Smeets 7-5 in the Final. Rasta claimed victory in Belgium with fellow Red Dragon star Wayne Warren the defending the champion from 2021.
“I’ve done a few of the WDF tournaments over the last year, didn’t do them all, I sort of picked and chose which ones I went to. I had a good few runs in a couple of those tournaments and getting in match practise is something you cannot beat, so it’s helped to get my game back to where I want it to be, and I hope to continue that.”
Jamie held a tour card from 2012 after qualifying from the fourth day of action at Q School, and will hope he can get back playing in the Pro Tour and Euro Tour events, having appeared at the Alexandra Palace on 8 separate occasions in his career so far.
“It’s been a couple of years now since I lost my card, so to get it back would be just brilliant. That’s all I want really to get back on the tour and I have been practising a lot for this Q School, so hopefully I can put it together in this final stage and get the job done.”
The 31-year-old spoke on his partnership with Red Dragon, with the Welsh darts manufacturer also backing Josh Payne, who as well as Lewis, has made the Final stage of Qualifying school.
“Red Dragon have been brilliant to me, they signed me up when I was 12 and they’ve backed me ever since. Through the good times and through the difficult times, they’ve always been behind me and always believed in me which is why they are a huge part of my career.”
Jamie’s dad Mark also played professionally growing up, playing mainly through the British Darts Organisation where he included a run to the Final of the Turkish Open in 2008.
“My dad played for Wales in the BDO, and he was why I started playing darts really. I used to go around watching him when I was very young and following his darts. My mum and dad are both with me this week, they’ve both been there for me throughout my career, always behind me and supporting me.”
Lewis will return to action tomorrow as the 2023 Qualifying School reaches its Final stage on Thursday and Friday, with Red Dragon man Josh Payne also through after he beat Dan Read 5-1 in Milton Keynes on Tuesday.
By Harry Masterson