The latest CDLC Tour weekend headed to picturesque Nassau in the heart of the Bahamas, where it rapidly turned into the “Jesus & Sweeting Show.”
No, that isn’t a religious-based TV show about the Son of God making delicious desserts. It’s all about two blokes who cleaned up over a few days amidst a glorious tropical climate. Not a trifle in sight.
First up into the winner’s circle was the former of that duo, Jesus Salate, who not once, but twice defeated home nation player Rashad Sweeting in the final. Probably to the point where the Bahamian was thinking the same as everyone on the planet when a double-glazing salesman walks up your driveway: “Jesus… not you again.”
Championship Darts Circuit head honcho Peter Citera was there to witness the occasion. A good few Bahamians got the wrong end of the stick and originally believed the former Chicago lead singer was there to put on a free concert. Sadly, they were all incredibly disappointed when Peter got up for a tune.
The Argentine was on fire from the off. Things may not have panned out well for his football team in the World Cup Final, but then again, over the opening two days he didn’t have to worry about any Spanish threats coming down the wing.
Onto Event Four of the season, and the South American ace went into full tungsten Lionel Messi mode, romping into the semis with a trio of 6-1 demolition jobs.
Once there, Trinidadian top chucker Joshua Balfour gave Salate a few problems, especially after racing out of the blocks to lead 3-0. However, for a fella with the same name as the person who turned water into wine, this wasn’t a big deal as Jesus rallied back to prevail 6-4.
Then, in the finale, he swept aside Rashad Sweeting once again with another comprehensive 6-1 scoreline. Job done.
Saturday was a spot of déjà vu, with the same pair ending up battling for the prize. At first, I genuinely thought I’d opened the same Darts Connect page, but then quickly realised that wasn’t the case.
However, what did strike me was just how aesthetically pleasing all the national flags were. It was like a kaleidoscope of colour down the left-hand side of my phone screen. It almost seems that unless your country has an emblem that looks like Jackson Pollock designed it, your lads can’t enter.
Yet once again, it was the man with the light blue and white ensign beside his name who shone through. Similar to the previous event, Salate had no problem reaching the final, conceding just six legs in four games before once again going head-to-head with Mr Sweeting.
It seems the Argentine only wakes up in finals once he’s 3-0 down. And with that being the case again this time, Salate’s alarm clock went off and he sprang into action, eventually defeating the Bahamian in a thrilling last-leg decider.
Off went Jesus to celebrate and probably part an ocean or two before returning on the Sabbath looking for a weekend hat-trick. Frustratingly for him, that was not to be, eventually being halted in the semis by Joshua Balfour, who got a little payback for Friday’s defeat.
Unlikely to have been too bothered by that, Sweeting was once again heading for what would be the final match of the weekend. The local – depending on just how large the Bahamas are in relation to Rashad’s residence – cruised into a semi-final against Guyanese arrow-smith Norman Madhoo, where he managed to get over the line in a close 6-4 contest.
With Jesus out of the way, probably showing off his neat wine trick to the islanders, Sweeting finally proved that third time’s the charm, defeating Balfour 6-3 in a well-fought final to end the weekend on a high.
Until the next time.
