Fresh from his stunning European Championship success, Ritchie Edhouse insists ‘anything is possible’ ahead of his Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts return this weekend.
Edhouse became the latest first-time winner of a televised title following a sensational campaign in Dortmund last month, which culminated in a thumping 11-3 victory over Jermaine Wattimena.
The 41-year-old also defeated Gian van Veen, Michael Smith, Gary Anderson and Luke Woodhouse on his way to glory at the Westfalenhalle, averaging 109 and 103 in wins over Van Veen and Anderson respectively.
Edhouse began the event as the world number 39, and only Andrew Gilding – ranked 41st on the PDC Order of Merit prior to his 2023 UK Open success – has won a TV ranking title from a lower ranking position since the turn of the century.
It has been a whirlwind few weeks for the Basildon-born star, who had not progressed beyond the last 32 of a televised ranking event prior to his arrival in Dortmund.
“It’s starting to sink in now with everyone congratulating me,” admitted Edhouse, who has climbed into the world's top 32 following his exploits in Germany.
“It’s surreal, but I don’t think it will properly sink in until I’m at the Grand Slam.
“I always thought it was possible [to win a televised title] but I didn’t think it would happen so soon.
“I always come to tournaments believing I can win things, but that was a dream come true in Dortmund.
“This will change my life. And obviously, getting the win, a lot more money, it is going to be massive for me and my family."
Edhouse’s breakthrough win at the European Championship also came just weeks after Mike De Decker clinched his maiden televised title at the World Grand Prix in Leicester.
The Belgian came of age to triumph in the double-start event, defeating Damon Heta, Gary Anderson, James Wade, Dimitri Van den Bergh and world number one Luke Humphries to take the title.
“I think Mike [De Decker] started the trend by being 36th in the world when he won the World Grand Prix,” continued Edhouse, who will play Dave Chisnall, Ross Smith and Connor Scutt in the round-robin phase in Wolverhampton.
“It just showed that anyone can win a major if you play well throughout that week, and I showed it again in Dortmund.
“Everybody in the top 128 is a quality dart player, so you have to take your chances.
“This has been a long time coming, and I haven’t got any fears anymore."
Even before his European Championship exploits, Edhouse had taken his game to another level in 2024, and ironically – the European Tour provided the springboard for his impressive rise.
In his first five European Tour appearances this year, Edhouse made a brace of quarter-finals and reached the last 16 on a further three occasions, showcasing his big stage potential.
This helped him to secure debut appearances in the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, where he produced spirited showings in defeats against Chris Dobey and Jonny Clayton respectively.
However, his best performances weren’t exclusively reserved for the big stage, as he registered an astonishing 120.24 average in a Players Championship event on October 3.
Less than a month later, Edhouse was crowning the biggest moment of his darting life, and with the power to add at this year’s Grand Slam of Darts, he believes there is still more to come.
“On my table at the ProTour I’ve got some great practice partners, like Martin Lukeman, Lee Cocks and Connor Scutt,” revealed the newly-crowned European Champion.
“On the European Tour I’ve been practising with Daryl Gurney too, and I think confidence breeds confidence.
“The European Tour was a brilliant stepping stone for me, and it’s got me to where I am today.
“The only way is up for me now. If I concentrate for the next couple of years, dig in and perform at the major tournaments, anything is possible!"
You can read the full, exclusive interview with Ritchie in the official Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts programme.