'The Menace' Dennis Priestley Credits Alcohol for Career Success

A former two-time Darts World Champion has recently opened up about his pre-game ritual that helped him achieve success on the oche. Dennis 'The Menace' Priestley, now 73 years old, admits that he would drink four beers before going on stage to calm his nerves.

Priestley, who worked as a newsagent before making it big in darts, became a top name in the sport during the 1990s. He clinched victory in the BDO World Championships by defeating Eric Bristow 6-0 and repeated this feat in the WDC three years later.

However, Priestley firmly believes that his achievements would not have been possible without the help of alcohol. Speaking to OLBG, he revealed that many players still drink before games, even at this year's tournament. He confidently states that it would be rare to find players who step on stage without having a drink first.

Priestley explains, "Drinking before games definitely helps the players. If it hadn't been for alcohol, I probably wouldn't have won anything in the sport. You've just got to know exactly the right amount you need to keep a steady nerve."

He goes on to recount his own experiences, saying, "When I won my first World Championship, I probably had three or four bottles of Holsten Pils during the build-up to coming on stage. It just calms the nerves."

A Trailblazer in Darts

Priestley's success in the darts world was not limited to his pre-game rituals. Between 1991 and 1994, he was the only player to win more than one grand slam or major title. In total, he won three grand slams and claimed more top pro events on either circuit than anyone else. He also achieved the number-one ranking in the sport.

PDC World Darts Championships 2021

The upcoming PDC World Darts Championships is set to begin next Friday at Ally Pally in London. As Priestley reflects on his own career and the role alcohol played in his success, fans eagerly await the start of this highly anticipated tournament.

It remains to be seen how many players will follow in Priestley's footsteps and turn to alcohol to calm their nerves before stepping up to the oche. One thing is for certain, though - 'The Menace' believes it made all the difference for him.