ALEX ROY has revealed that he thought he had missed out on qualifying for the SkyBet World Grand Prix before his run to the final of the Welsh Players Championship last month.
Roy was outside the world's top 24, who qualify by right for the tournament, and was also adrift of the top four places in the Players Championship Order of Merit when looking for the four PDPA Qualifying places.
However, he reached the final of the Welsh Players Championship in Newport in September - the final event which counted towards the Players Championship Order of Merit for the World Grand Prix.
His run, which included Phil Taylor among his victims, lifted him into those four qualifying spots on a dramatic final day of action.
"It was amazing," Roy told PlanetDarts.tv. "I made everybody laugh because I thought the qualifying had already been done for the World Grand Prix and I just went to Newport wanting to play well.
"The aim was to play well between now and Christmas to make sure I am was the World Championship by right and keep my place in the top 32.
"But in Newport, everyone went mad when I got to the final and it was honestly only then I realised that I was in the World Grand Prix.
"I guess I was under no pressure because I didn't know and that is one of the reasons I did so well, but I was playing well coming into it.
"I played well in Blackpool in the Bobby Bourn Memorial event before the World Matchplay, which I wasn't in, but then I hadn't played any tournaments between July and Newport.
"I'd been keeping my arm going but not doing anything competitive and I knew I was playing well going into Wales.
"I knew if I won my board and Phil won his that we would play in the last 32, and I thought if I could get past him who knows?
"I didn't do it the way I wanted - I was two sets down and a leg down before I started playing, but that made it all the better.
"I played Andy Jenkins after Phil and he had been superb to defeat Mark Dudbridge before that, Andy Smith played well against me and Alan Tabern had darts to beat me in the semis.
"I'd been focused and concentrated all day and realising that I was in the World Grand Prix probably took the edge off me in the final - the job wasn't done but I was over the moon to get into the World Grand Prix, which I wasn't expecting."
Roy will meet Wes Newton in the first round of the World Grand Prix, which is unique for its double-start format.
"I've played him a number of times and he's beaten me in a couple of games," added Roy.
"I think I've got the best record against him, but he's got a lot of experience now on the stage.
"The crucial thing in this tournament is starting and if you can get in straight away then it doesn't matter because you can start scoring."
Roy has slipped to 31st in the PDC Order of Merit, but any run in Ireland is likely to secure his place in December's Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, with the top 32 qualifying by right.
"I've done nearly ten years at the Circus Tavern and it's probably more important now to be playing at Alexandra Palace," says Roy.
"To be there in its first year will be fantastic.
"I have worked out what prize money I have to defend between now and the end of the year and it isn't a lot anyway, and what I win in the World Grand Prix should get me there.
"But if I can have a reasonable run in the World Grand Prix then all the better, and that will push me towards the top 24 and maybe as far as the top 20."
Roy has struggled during this year with a bad back, but has adapted his stance and darts to cope with the problem.
"It's a bit like any woman - temperamental!" said Roy. "There are days and weeks where it can be absolutely fine and others where it plays up.
"But standing how I stand now is certainly a lot better and I can throw for longer periods without it hurting.
"I've changed my flights too and everything seems to be going okay at the moment."
Roy will warm up for the World Grand Prix in the two PDC Pro Tour events this weekend, the Irish Players Championship and Blue Square UK Open Irish Regional Final.
"I'll enjoy those events and have a good go over the weekend," he added. "It's quite ironic that I travel everywhere with Alan Caves and I play him in our first game on Saturday!
"That will be fun and there will be some fireworks, and there will certainly be no messing about!"