{"id":102000,"date":"2023-12-19T09:24:24","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T09:24:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebritycovernews.com\/?p=102000"},"modified":"2023-12-19T09:24:24","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T09:24:24","slug":"steve-beaton-thought-about-quitting-darts-now-hes-back-for-33rd-world-champs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebritycovernews.com\/sport\/steve-beaton-thought-about-quitting-darts-now-hes-back-for-33rd-world-champs\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve Beaton thought about quitting darts \u2013\u00a0now hes back for 33rd world champs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Steve Beaton is raring to go ahead of his 33rd consecutive appearance at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship \u2013 but only after considering his future in the sport.<\/p>\n

    The Bronzed Adonis has been a regular part of Christmas for as long as most darts fans can remember. Like mince pies and skinful too many at the work jolly, it just wouldn\u2019t be the festive season without him. <\/p>\n

    However, the 59-year-old almost called it quits at the start of 2023 after over 30 years on the oche. Beaton contemplated tossing the tungsten to one side following a disappointing showing at Ally Pally 12 months ago, when he lost 3-0 to Danny van Trijp in the first round.<\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Gerwyn Price's ear defenders banned from Ally Pally 12 months after headphone antics<\/b><\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Gerwyn Price opening fish n chip shop \u2013 12 months after fans 'battered' him at Ally Pally<\/b><\/p>\n

    Thankfully, the veteran heartthrob came to his senses and is back for another crack at the tournament he won the BDO version of in 1996. \u201cI was uhming and ahing at the start of the year about whether it would be my last year,\u201d Beaton told us. \u201cI didn\u2019t really want to lose my Tour Card, but I was thinking of giving it up.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI had a good think about it and decided I might just give it another year to see how things go. I was thinking about packing it in and now I don\u2019t think I am.<\/p>\n

    Who do you think will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Let us know in the comments section below<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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    <\/b><\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s one of those things, I thought \u2018what am I going to do really?\u2019 At the beginning of this year I was thinking it might be my last year, and now I\u2019m thinking about giving it another year!\u201d<\/p>\n

    Beaton made amends for his disappointing world championship showing by making it to the last 32 of the first players championship event of the season. He also reached the quarter-final of the Baltic Sea Darts Open and the fifth round of the UK Open, losing to Rob Cross.<\/p>\n

    Despite a campaign that has seen him remain in the world top 50, there\u2019s a nagging sense of what might have been for the Bronzed Adonis. \u201cI started the year off quite well, but I had one bad week in Hildesheim and it cost me. I didn\u2019t pick up anything that week and it knocked me out of the World Grand Prix and the European Championship.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    \u201cUp until that point I was doing really well. I missed out on the Europeans by \u00a3500 so it was a bit depressing, but that\u2019s the way things go.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Nevertheless, Beaton remains upbeat ahead of his latest crack at the worlds and puts his longevity in the sport down to his fitness regime. Speaking to us from outside the gym, the Bronzed Adonis said: \u201cI tend to cycle a couple of times a week if I can, and I like to swim for 45 minutes or an hour, so that\u2019s my morning taken care of.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI try to do that most days when I\u2019m at home but obviously that\u2019s more difficult with the schedule. When I\u2019m at home I try and keep myself fit. To be honest, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d have lasted as long in the sport if I didn\u2019t. I wouldn\u2019t still be playing now, I know that now for a fact. I packed up smoking 20 odd years ago and I don\u2019t drink as much now either.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    \u201cYou need to keep your body moving. If I don\u2019t, I\u2019ll seize up! I\u2019ll be 60 next year and there\u2019s no way I\u2019d be carrying on now if I didn\u2019t do a bit of exercise and keep myself moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Beaton has been involved in darts since the 1980s and has seen the sport change dramatically in that time. Long gone are the pints and fags that were once parodied on Not the Nine O\u2019Clock News.<\/i> In their place, genuine athletes who dedicate hours of practice and who look after themselves on and off the oche. <\/p>\n

    \u201cThe whole generation has changed now,\u201d Beaton explains. \u201cThere\u2019s a different attitude towards the sport. It\u2019s not like the old days when people smoke and drank a lot. The whole image has changed. They used to look to me to guidance but not anymore!\u201d<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    While the perception of darts is now radically different, one thing that hasn\u2019t changed is Beaton\u2019s desire to perform at the world championships. By his own admission, the Bronzed Adonis has underachieved at the worlds since going all the way 27 years ago.<\/p>\n

    Since crossing over to the PDC in 2002, he\u2019s only been past the second round three times at the Alexandra Palace and Circus Tavern. He\u2019s only made the third round once in his last 18 attempts. It\u2019s not something Beaton can explain. \u201cI\u2019ve never had a very good run in the worlds for whatever reason,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

    \u201cYou play all year for it and then it just goes out of the window. I don\u2019t know why. I play a lot better when I relax, maybe I just have too much tension, but I don\u2019t really know.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    \u201cI think it\u2019s more about trying too hard because you always want to do well. I\u2019ve always been one of these that hasn\u2019t practiced a lot; 15 or 20 minutes and I\u2019m ready to play. It\u2019s one of those things, maybe I ought to change the way I prepare for it.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Despite his inconsistent form at Ally Pally, Beaton is hopeful of a deep run this year. \u201cI\u2019d love to get to the last eight, semis and then go from there really. Practicing I\u2019m playing great. I just need to take that up to the main stage.<\/p>\n

    \u201cUnfortunately, I\u2019ve not been in many TV events this year, and I only just qualified for the Players Championship.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI could have done with being in a few more TV tournaments to get a bit more match practice in, but I\u2019ll just take it as comes and see how it goes. It\u2019s nice to be there again and I\u2019m looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n