Mikuru Suzuki: Phil Taylor is known as ‘the God of Darts’ in Japan – it’s an honour to play him

Mikuru Suzuki says it will be an honour to tackle a ‘darts god’ when she takes on 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor in the latest of our Darts From Home series this week.

Suzuki, who has won the BDO’s Women’s World Championship for the past two years, competes in a Battle of the Sexes match on Thursday.

The pair lock horns in a best-of-seven game of Soft Tip darts, following in the footsteps of former football stars Jamie Redknapp and Wayne Bridge and the Power himself, who he took on old rival Raymond van Barneveld last month.

Suzuki will step up to the Oche from her family home in Shikoku, Japan, with her opponent doing the same almost 10,000km away in Stoke.

READ MORE:

• Phil Taylor: At least I won’t get booed playing Mikuru in my own home!

And make no mistake, Taylor is a BIG deal in the Far East.

“He’s super famous here in Japan – he’s known here as ‘the God of darts’,” Suzuki said. “I don’t think there’s a single person in Japan who plays darts and doesn’t know about Phil Taylor.

“Being able to play a charity game against him is something any Japanese would be delighted about.

“I first saw him playing around 11 years ago, but before that I remember watching some games on video. I remember my first impression being ‘how can he move like that, how can he do that?’.

“To be able to play against him is an incredible honour, and it’s a big step up for my career.”

Playing Darts From Home will pose an unusual problem for the Women’s World Champion – having to wear shoes indoors!

She explained: “I’m not used to wearing shoes in my house. I’ve never done it!

“It’s a huge Japanese cultural tradition. I would say 100% of Japanese take off their shoes before entering the house.

“It will feel weird and strange wearing my shoes, but I always wear them to play, and usually when I train too.

“I’m a bit worried I’ll make too much noise with my shoes on in the house I’m staying in with my family!”

• It’s PDC vs BDO, man against woman, Stoke facing up to Shikoku! The clash will be available to view on ours and Target Darts’ social media channels – and broadcast on Sky Sports – from 7pm on Thursday 7th May.