Welsh delivery driver Robert Owen shot to darting fame over Christmas as he made it to the last 16 of the world championships.

From Ogmore Valley in Bridgend, Owen's day job sees him deliver food for Iceland, who he he works for part-time alongside his commitments in the sporting world.

His victory against Ricky Evans saw him face Callan Rydz in the last 16, but he was unable to defeat the Englishman on the night. For a man who almost lost his tour card not long ago, it was a massive, massive moment in his career.

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He wasn't even supposed to be at darts' premier tournament, but due to a failed drugs test from Dominic Taylor, a space became available and Owen filled it.

"I just tried to make the most of it really, and it worked out for the better," explained Owen to WalesOnline. "But it's been a bit of a whirlwind ever since!

"It's the biggest tournament (world championships), every dart player wants to play in it. To get to the last 16 of the world championships was massive for me and my family. Hopefully I can go a few better this year."

Owen and his partner welcomed their third child to the world eight months ago, and his new daughter was in the crowd whilst he was playing against Evans - wearing a big pair of pink ear defenders.

The Welshman confirmed he won £35,000 in prize money after reaching the last 16, and spoke of the importance of this with his young family.

"The prize money is massive," he explained. "Someone in a very decent job - that's a year's wage. It's just everything that comes along with it then. Obviously the sponsorships and stuff, it's well worth doing! It just gives me piece of mind to start this year and not have to worry about anything, continue on and hopefully earn a lot more."

Owen explained that he's good friends with Gerwyn Price and Johnny Clayton - two bug name Welshmen on the scene. He travelled a lot with Clayton in 2024 and grew closer with him.

"Most of us are all quite good friends, it's just when you're playing each other, you're not!," says Owen. "You try not to show each other too much respect, sometimes you do show each other too much respect and it's a crap game then, rather than a good one."

When asked about characters in darts that have surprised him, Owen stated that despite his on-stage bravado, the iconic Peter Wright is one of the quietest people you could ever meet. "He keeps himself to himself," continued Owen. "He doesn't say a lot. What you see on the camera on the stage, it's just all bravado. That's not Peter. It's what he likes to call 'Snakebite'.

"Peter himself is really, really reserved and he's a really nice guy. He's down to earth and he helped me out when I first started with darts - trying to get me into a bit of management and a bit of sponsorship. Utmost respect for Peter - he's a gentleman. A quiet gentleman."

With regards to his day job, Owen explained he actually went back to work in the middle of the world championships. Whilst other players may have been practicing or relaxing, Owen was out doing deliveries for Iceland!

"In the Christmas break, I was home for five days and I worked four nights," he said. "Just to help out in store over Christmas. Obviously I went back to London. I enjoy it, I'm a part-time delivery driver. But now Iceland have given me my own van with my name, dart boards and darts all over the side!

"All the managing directors of Iceland came down and gave me a big congratulations cake and my own uniform to wear. The van has been wrapped, with my name on it. They've been more appreciative as well. They're getting a lot of PR out of it, more people interested.

"At the end of the day, I go in, load my van up, and I go and take people's food out. Have a chat if I've got time. But obviously now it's erupted in the Bridgend area, it's slowing me doing my job, really! It's almost like every person I'm delivering to knows who I am. Don't get me wrong, it's nice. When I'm in that job I just like to think - 'This is my job, my life away from darts'."

Owen is actually having talks with Iceland about some sponsorship on the darts side, and due to the fact they've wrapped his van, he gets plenty of tooting horns, waving and people taking pictures of him in his new vehicle. "It's taken me a long time to get to this stage, but I'm here now and hopefully I will be here to stay," added Owen.

Working in darts and also continuing his work with Iceland, you'd imagine it might be difficult to balance the two at times, but Owen says this isn't an issue. According to the man himself, he gets given any time off he needs at the drop of a hat.

Now that he has secured his tour card for 2025, Owen spoke about his goals going forward.

"What I would like this year is to become closer to the top 32 by the end of the year," explained Owen. "Obviously it's hard, but I can't see why not. At the end of the day, I'm playing well enough. I'm playing better darts than a lot of people who are in the top 32. I'm on my way, I'm up to 58th in the world now. Hopefully halfway through this year I'll break into the 40s, who knows?

"They've extended the field in the world championships again this year to 128, so I'll be in the world championships. Hopefully I will be in the Players Championship finals, European tours. I think it's very achievable to get to that last 32 in the world. Why not? Go for it. If I don't do it this year, I'll definitely do it by the end of next year."