I won more official darts titles than Phil Taylor but still had to work nights at Royal Mail – people don’t believe me
DETA HEDMAN still had to work nights at Royal Mail despite winning more official darts titles than Phil Taylor.
The women’s darts icon has revealed people often do not believe she has never been a full-time professional.
Hedman is currently featuring at this year’s WDF World Championship, which got underway on Saturday.
She will be hoping to taste glory come Sunday’s final after coming through her opening match victorious.
Speaking after beating Aletta Wajer, she explained: “I tell you what if I had the money Phil Taylor had then I’d be proper, proper happy!
“Because I’m still having to work. I mean, I’ve been working nights 26 years for Royal Mail and in the early days I used to do days.
“So yeah, I’ve always had a full-time job and the funny thing is, when I say to somebody I’ve always had a full-time job, they go ‘Really? We thought darts was your job!”
Hedman has won more official titles than 16-time world champion Taylor.
Her trophy cabinet includes 12 WDF World Cups and seven WDF majors from a career spanning 50 years.
The 64-year-old’s 2-1 win over Wajer has set up a quarter-final clash with fifth seed Rhian O’Sullivan on Friday.
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A win would leave the Heart of Darts just two victories away from her first WDF World Championship.
Hedman has reached three previous finals, most recently losing to Trina Gulliver in 2016.