JOHN PART is determined to keep his cool in the heat of the British summer, after beginning his challenge in the Stan James World Matchplay with a 10-2 win over Wes Newton.

Part, the beaten finalist at the Winter Gardens 12 months ago, failed to hit top gear against the local favourite.

While Newton's missed doubles allowed the Canadian to take a seemingly easy win, Part was delighted to secure his place in the last 16.

"It was warm!" he said afterwards. "We're on stage with the lights but the weather's conspiring against us as well, with the heat and humidity.

"The heat collects all day long in these old buildings, and you can't pump a lot of air conditioning in because that can affect your darts.

"But it's the same for everybody, you play on the same board in the same conditions - you've got to keep your cool, literally!"

Part bounced back to winning ways by taking victory in the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Classic at the start of July, but traces his run of form back to the Budweiser UK Open.

"I had a great Saturday night in Bolton, I beat Gary Welding and Andy Hamilton in very fine fashion," he states.

"It didn't go so well for me on Sunday, I lost in the first game, but I took a lot of confidence from that and it paid off for me in Las Vegas."

Part will now meet either Phil Taylor or Bob Anderson in round two, having overcome Taylor on his way to the final last year.

"I don't look much past the match I have next but I look through the bracket and see what could happen," admits the 40-year-old.

"I look at it as much as a fan and won't close my eyes to it, like I can't handle it.

"Now I'm waiting for Phil or Bob, the statistics would say Phil would win and I'm ready for that if it happens. I've played him plenty, he beaten me plenty and I've beaten him in a few!

"You don't play a darts match if you can't win. Anybody can beat anybody, which is a cliche but it's used as a cliche because most people who say it don't believe it. I'm one of the few that actually believes it.

"Phil's averages were so far above everyone else for so long. It's changing now, but what happened is that people put too much faith in the averages and don't believe.

"Phil's a 101 or 102 average guy, and I'm a 95 or 96 average guy, but that still doesn't mean I can't win, it's just my timing has to be better to exploit situations when you have them."