It’s been a busy time for many of the JDC tungsten aficionados, with plenty in action – and I don’t mean just at the WDF Europe Youth Cup over in Ireland.
Whilst many were across the Irish Sea, there were also a couple of big events taking place in England and Scotland. In fact, if you love a little chuck and didn’t fancy being hustled by a teenage sensation, then last weekend was the perfect time to head down to your local club for a cheeky throw.
This report, however, is all about the action at the JDC European Open, which took place in Ellesmere Port on the Wirral. If you’re not too familiar with your northern England geography, think Liverpool with a slightly posher Scouse accent and a better chance of leaving with all four wheel trims still attached to your car.
There were four events in total, and it was Benjamin Smith who stole the show. Granted, he only won one of the quartet, but he came agonisingly close to a hat-trick, finishing runner-up in two more.
Before we get onto the other three deserving winners, a little about this kid from Middlesbrough. According to his father, Andrew – who, to be fair, is always going to be a great source of information when discussing his own son – the teenager, nicknamed Tsunami, only picked up a dart for the first time eighteen months ago.
Apparently, after watching the PDC World Championship with his dad, he became inspired and, staying true to his nickname, started washing other youngsters away, riding one hell of a wave.
A year ago, Benjamin was averaging around where I am – a modest 55 – although with considerably fewer pints of cider inside him to reach those heights. Now he’s an 80 to 90 average merchant. At this rate, we estimate that by 2027, most of his legs will be nine-darters if he keeps improving at this pace.
Oh! And this boy loves fishing. I don’t mean the conventional rod, tackle and bait kind – I mean of the darting variety. Benjamin knocks in 170 checkouts for fun – affectionally of course, called the Big Fish. He’s reeled in more of those slippery buggers than you’d find in the Tesco’s chilled section.
Right, onto the weekend itself. First into the winner’s circle was Daniel Halliday, who defeated Oscar Saxton 5-2 in the final. Also hailing from the North East, this youngster represents Prudhoe Darts Academy and seemingly wasn’t overly impressed with my AI image creation of him. Tough luck, pal – my website, my rules son! If anything, I made you look better, so be careful what you wish for!
Then Tsunami Benjamin Smith came crashing in, romping to the final before getting the better of Alfie Knox 5-1 with a magnificent average just shy of 90. Impressive stuff.
Onto Sunday, and Smith struck the post in a quality showdown against Arthur Allston, who claimed a 5-2 victory. Despite Benjamin recording the higher average, the Target Elite maestro bagged the title. Allston hails from Essex and plays out of the highly respected Sudbury Youth Darts Academy. Together with clubs like that all around the UK, they’re producing tomorrow’s major champions.
Then, in the curtain-call event, north-west youngster Louis Jones also pipped Benjamin Smith to the post, claiming the deciding leg in a nervy last-leg decider. Of course, don’t confuse this Lewis Jones with the new shiny-headed PDC MC who happens to share the same name. I’ve seen Lewdog throw. He’d be lucky if he could beat me.
Congratulations to everyone involved, especially the four champions. The future of youth darts looks brighter than the Sun.
