It really has been an amazing 12 months for Wes Newton and things look like getting a whole lot better in 2011.
The Unicorn star has moved into the top 10 in the PDC Order of Merit for the first time and it is an even more remarkable achievement, considering his career looked to have stalled only two years ago.
“I am loving every minute of my darts at the moment,” he said. “I have managed to take my game to the next level through a lot of hard work, dedication and a lot of support from my family as well.”
And Newton is also about to become a Dad for the first time, with his partner Stacy due to give birth in June…..so things are pretty good at the moment for the young man from Fleetwood.
The change in fortunes has also coincided with him giving up his part-time job to become a darts professional and the gamble has certainly paid off.
Wes is adamant that getting to the top 10 isn’t enough.
“Now I have to stay there!” he said. “It will be tough, but the way I am playing at the moment, I am sure I can do that and go even higher.”
He has won four Players Championship tournaments and over the last year he has also reached the quarter-finals of four TV ‘Majors’, including the World Championship, when he missed chances to beat Terry Jenkins.
“I need to make the push to the next level,” he said. “And that means getting to a ‘Major’ Final and that is my aim in 2011. I know I have got the game.”
Of course last October, he enjoyed that dream weekend…..winning the Grand Slam qualifier, then winning both Players Championship events over the weekend.
His run to both quarter-finals at the UK Open qualifiers in Barnsley last weekend have taken Newton above Ronnie Baxter into 10th spot in the world.
Two years ago, Newton had tumbled down the rankings and was languishing at No.37, but it’s all change for the man now known as ‘The Warrior’.
It’s certainly been a battle for him, but worth all the effort and he is now enjoying the rewards.
Elsewhere in the last world rankings, Team Unicorn’s Jamie Caven is up to a career high 17th….Colin Osborne is No.14, Andy Hamilton is 16th, Paul Nicholson 19th and Kevin Painter is No.20
The PDC Top Ten is:
1 – Phil Taylor
2 – Adrian Lewis
3 – Gary Anderson
4 – James Wade
5 – Raymond van Barneveld
6 – Simon Whitlock
7 – Terry Jenkins
8 – Mark Walsh
9 – Mervyn King
10 – Wes Newton
By STUART PYKE (Twitter @stuartpykesport)
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC