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

Diogo Portela - Darts Podcast

With the 2016 Q Darts School just around the corner, I’m endeavouring to catch up with a few local darters before their pilgrimage to Wigan.

One such player is Brazil’s Diogo Portela, who will be playing in the tournament for the 2nd year running. Having competed for London on a number of occasions, Portela played in all the Challenge Tour events this year and won 1st prize on the game show One Hundred and Eighty.

 Here are some video highlights which Diogo expands upon in the Podcast.



DARTS DATABASE PROFILE 

I caught up with at the Spot and Stripes Bar in Southwark after he’d triumphed 4-0 in a Super League game with a 25.69 average.

Good luck to Diogo at Q School and for the coming year.

Photo by Lamo the Lion Photography

 

Paul Butler - The Darting Nerd Podcast

After a year or two of dreaming, I’m delighted that I have finally been able to launch a darts podcast under The Darting Nerd moniker.

I was delighted that Paul Butler, founder of the IDL agreed to be my first guest. Paul founded the Individual Darts League (www.theidl.co.uk) a popular “arrange when you play” concept which has proved a hit with London darters in a range of venues.

As if organizing leagues in six different venues wasn’t enough, Paul is also a London Super League team manager, exhibition MC, open tournament organizer, match caller and PDC Pro Tour marker.  Quite incredible really.

On a personal level, I wouldn’t be playing darts in a competitive league if it wasn’t for Paul’s IDL concept due to my anti-social work shifts so for that I’ll always be so grateful. The podcast can be found below.

Rileys Victoria Open. 6/11 Round-Up

A few scorecards below from the Riley's Victoria Darts Open which was won by Alan Casey. I was hoping to interview Alan for the podcast version of this blog which I'm aiming to launch shortly - but it was very late on in the night. Maybe next time! 

1st Round

2nd Round

Quarter Final

Final

Riley's Victoria Darts Open 6th November '15 prelude

It is fast approaching my favourite time of the year to be a darts fanatic. Kicking off with the Grand Slam followed by a few terrestrial television tournaments, there’s then the ultimate highlight of three weeks of World Championships from both codes - darting heaven.

The conclusion of this darting gluttony for me is me hammering the F5 button on the PDC Website sitting at my desk in the week following all the World Championship pageantry. Firstly to check who has entered Q-School, then just a few days later, following the actual Q School event unfolding.

On one level, I enjoy cheering on the recent BDO switched players and former old favourites as they try and forge their way into the PDC. But on another, it is all the more satisfying to cheer on the local players to me, and the ones I’ve actually encountered at local leagues and competitions. Having played a few Opens and seasons within the Individual Darts League (www.theidl.co.uk) it is incredible to see the talent that there is at this level. To possibly see a few of them potentially shatter the glass ceiling and mix it with the best to the next level is surely only an exciting prospect and indeed spectacle. Everyone loves an underdog and I’m no exception. That’s what Q School essentially offers – a chance to win a tour card and mix it with the world’s top tier players. Or alternatively a slot on the highly competitive development tour, the next tier down from professionals, all of whom are chomping at the bit to make it to the next level.

The sheer cost of trying to make it however, is astronomical to say the least. The fee to enter Q School which is four days of darts is £250. No small sum then. So fair play to Riley’s Sports Bars, specifically the Victoria branch in this instance, who have put up said entry fee as a prize to the winner of their next Open. To have your entry fee paid for for Q-School is a lucrative one indeed.

And so its for this reason I’ll be heading  to Rileys Victoria tomorrow evening specifically to watch (Rather than play...no-one wants to see that!), do some live tweeting, app scoring and hopefully interview the winner for this blog. I personally cannot wait.