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The Illawarra Steelers Club in Wollongong, NSW was the location for the hosting of
Australia’s first Soft-Tip Electronic Darts Competition on Sunday, May 16th, with a field limited to 32 players. Supported and run by Darts Downunder, the event attracted prominent players from the Illawarra and Sydney areas.
Played on the new Galaxy II Electronic Dartboards, the format consisted of the
main draw competing in 501 best of 3 in the early rounds, 501 best of 5 in the semi finals and 501 best of 7 in the final. First round losers entered a
repecharge competition with a difference, best of 3 holes on the golf game, one of many, many game formats supported on these new and exciting machines.
Brian Lawless and Greg Middleton, Directors of Darts Downunder, took great delight to illustrate the finer points of the repecharge format before that competition took place.
The Illawarra Steelers Club, as major sponsors put up the prize money for 1st,
2nd, and 3rd placings while Darts Downunder put up prizes, soft tip dart sets and accessories, for highest peg, highest average (in one leg), and most 180s.
With Barry China Jouannet in the lineup and drawn first from the box of entry forms, much crossing of fingers and wiping of brows went on (especially by this writer), and when Barry’s first opponent was announced…audible sighs of relief and wry smiles were most evident as none other than fellow NSW State Team Member, Dennis Cotton’s entry form was pulled out second from the entry box. Later investigations of the entry box and form ‘extractor’ indicated everything was conducted in a legal and otherwise above board manner.
With the rest of the Draw completed, games began in earnest.
The Tournament’s first match saw Barry against Dennis and Barry promptly drew a
line in the sand for every other competitor, disposing of Dennis with two 15 dart legs (33.40 ave), pegging 116 and 40 in doing so, and while Dennis threw an
excellent average of 26.43 over both legs, was relegated to the repecharge.
The Final was indicative of the brand of darts China is throwing at the moment, brilliant to watch, terrible to be on the receiving end.
Repecharge Results: Dennis Cotton mastered the game of Golf on the Galaxy
II and won the Repecharge.
Tournament Highlights:
- China lost only 1 leg throughout the Tournament (he averaged 30.37 in that leg), threw a 13 darter in his semi and went 16, 16, 16, and 12 in the final.
- Matt Kaletta threw a 39.66 average (12 darts leaving 24) to lose the leg and the
Quarter Final against China.
- 13 darter by Dave McKay in his semi final.
- 14 darter by Paul Cotton against Dave McKay in their quarter final.
- Highest peg – 116 was won by Barry Jouannet.
- Most 180s (3) was won by Barry Jouannet.
- Highest Average (in a leg) was once again won by Barry Jouannet (12 darts, 41.76 ppd).
At the conclusion of the event, requests went out for a 3-wheel trolley so that Baz could get all his winnings out to his car. The event had an audience whose interest and questions about soft tip darts, have the Steelers Club, Darts Downunder and other investors very keen to expand this format in rapid fashion. Through sneaky ‘sideline’ observations, players should keep an eye on the Southern Highlands area, where machines are soon to be installed in numerous premises. The ‘big picture’ of soft tip darts will see the commencement of tournaments within 6 months with prize money exceeding $1,000, and in 2005, representatives will be sponsored to compete in events held in the United States.
—Kevin Berlyn, Dartplayers Australia
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