Top Regional and local aimers are expected to do battle here as the Guyana Darts Association (GDA) prepares for a major breakthrough competition, the Independence International Darts Tournament, which is slated to be held from Friday May 26 to Sunday May 28.
More than 70 competitors from Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Jamaica will vie for cash incentives and trophies in four categories, male and female singles, Luck of the Draw and Mix Nation.
Among those competing will be local and Caribbean Darts male single and mix champion Sudesh Fitzgerald. He will come up against familiar opponents as well as emerging talent, who will be aiming to make an impact ahead of the Caribbean Darts Championship which will be held in 2018.
The initiative is the brainchild of new President Sheik Yaseen, who has taken up post merely five weeks ago. Yaseen is encouraging all local players to participate in the event because it has been a while since a tournament of this magnitude has been hosted locally. The President indicated that subsequent to this tournament players will be heading to either Japan or Germany to compete in an international tournament.
He expressed that his association would like to make an impact during the hosting of the event in order to bid to bid to host the 2018 Caribbean Darts Championship.
Luiz Ramirez Merlano (left) and Sudesh Fitzgerald were outstanding for Guyana at the Caribbean Darts Championship last year and they are expected to do well at the Independence International Tournament
So far 36 local players have registered for the tournament while 14 from Trinidad have confirmed their participation. However, there are uncertainties regarding the numbers of participants from Barbados and Jamaica.
The GDA approached several individuals and businesses for sponsorship to host a successful tournament and there have already been positive indications from Top Brandz through its Corona Beer product, Dr. Terrence Joseph, Rooster Coconut Water and R. Ganesh Mining among others.
Participants will pay a fee of US$15 to enter each category. In the Mixed Nation category the top three finishers will walk away with US$600, US$300 and US$150 respectively. Meanwhile the Luck of the Draw winner will take home 50% of the pool, second place will earn 25% while the other 25% will be shared between third and fourth place.
In the individual categories $100 will go to the players with the most 100 points, highest check out, shortest games and most 180 points.
The GDA is seeking the use of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to host the event, however, that location is yet to be confirmed.
Battle will start at 18:00h on the first two days of the tournament and at 13:00h on the final day.
