Rileys U.K Open qualifier - A view from a hacker

Rileys U.K Open qualifier - A view from a hacker

Never underestimate the lure of the Rileys UK Open qualifiers, for hackers like me they represent the biggest competition I'll do in the year. Certainly there is no prospect of me actually winning the tournament, in fact my 38 average with three darts would struggle to win a leg in a pub match let alone at this level. But the chance to be involved and to mix it with the throng of county and super league combatants is just too good an opportunity to pass up, especially for a darting nerd such as myself. Plus it's only a £6 entry which puts the £105 entry fee the pros have to pay into perspective somewhat.

Last year at the same competition I played some of the best darts of my entire life and lost 4-2 to a super league player. It may have been a defeat but it felt like a victory that I was able to steal two legs from a player of that standard even if he did have a mare in them. The atmosphere was also incredible. I was one of the first matches to be called up to and behind me gathered a veritable throng of people clambering to see the opening contests. Upon seeing such a crowd, I reacted as I normally do to such occasions by panicking and proceeding to pound the single twelve bed with alarming accuracy. 

Since then my game has further declined. I've got the "yips" and possibly “dartitis”, but I love the game too much to give up. It would be too easy to throw in the towel....I’ll play through and hope to see a chink of light (an average over 40 would be nice) hopefully in the coming months. Needless to say if I win a leg on Friday night I’ll be absolutely delighted. At least the hour practice before the tournament starts will stand me in good stead on the night and for impending league games.

My other aim for the evening is to capture the event via multimedia. After I finish my playing and chalking duties, I’m hoping to tweet some live results, and to score along (with my trusty Russ Bray app) a selection of games through the night. Here’s hoping I can get a half decent viewing point to see the whiteboards. This seems to have gone down at the few Opens I have experimented this at in recent months. Hopefully this time there will be even more of an online audience for it with two UK Open slots available on the night to the victors. This will be available at www.twitter.com/thedartingnerd

For the podcast (Which can viewed here soundcloud.com/thedartingnerd), I’m hoping to get a few quick interviews with the two triumphant players on the night – hopefully before the last train home.

So roll on Friday, as I’m sure you can tell...I can’t wait. 

Photo via  http://www.lamothelion.photography