World Darts Championship: Phil Taylor age could help Justin Pipe - Russ Bray EXCLUSIVE
The two heavyweights are in action at Alexandra Palace in the William Hill World Darts Championship tonight. Taylor, 57, will lock horns with 46-year-old Justin Pipe who has become embroiled in a cheating row in recent days.
Van Barneveld, 50, faces Kyle Anderson who is 20 years his junior. Bray isn’t convinced upsets are on the cards, but he warned that matches for older stars can be far more gruelling.
“Taylor and Van Barneveld are used to the length of the game. “But as you get older the body in itself starts to wilt a little bit more.
“As you get older the body in itself starts to wilt a little” Russ Bray “The younger guys are going to have a small advantage fitness wise, but it’s also whether you can maintain the mentality.” Bray has worked as a caller for the PDC since 1996.
Despite being involved in professional darts refereeing for over two decades, Bray says he’s still shocked by the composure of players in front of raucous crowds. “I’m amazed,” he added. “You stand there and you’ve got this noise rattling around your head.”.
“You’ve just got to fix your eyes on the board and the shot. “For the guys to actually throw the darts, it’s an incredible skill they’ve got.
“That is why the better players maintain their skills for a longer period of time. “You see a lot of the lads have ear plugs in now so you’re in your own cocoon.”.
