Four pubs across the North East are on the lookout for the next Luke Littler, as part of a national darts competition.
The event, hosted by Proper Pubs, is set to uncover the best new talent in the world of darts.
In a year of darting success for players from the North East, which saw Callan Rydz get to the quarter-finals of the 2025 World Championships, and Chris Dobey going one better, the North East has been put on the map in the darting world.
Talking before the Seniors World Masters in Sunderland in November last year, 2020 Premier League Champion Glen Durrant, who is from Middlesbrough, believed a lot of current darts players are jealous of the North East: “The North East has been a hotbed of darts for a long time. I know there is Geordies, Mackems and Smoggies, but I tell you what, as a North East player, you felt like we were all one family. The likes of Chris Dobey, Ryan Joyce and Callan Rydz are doing brilliantly for the area right now.”
16-time champion of the world Phil Taylor was also complimentary about darts in the North East, in particular the darts fans, when he also spoke ahead of the Seniors World Masters in Sunderland in November 2024. He said: “I love the North East. I’ve got some good friends up there and have family that live in Newcastle. The fans always turn out in their droves in the North East and they enjoy themselves and make it a good atmosphere.”
The competition will follow a best-of-three legs, best-of-501 format. Pub heats began on Monday, January 6, and run until Friday, February 7. Each week, two competitors will advance to their pub’s final, with a total of eight finalists by the end of the heats.
The pub finals will take place during the week of Monday, February 10, where the winner and runner-up for each pub will progress to the regional finals, scheduled for the week of Monday, February 17. Across the country, there will be nine regional finals, each culminating in four finalists advancing to the national showdown.
The 36 finalists will compete in the National Final on Sunday, March 2, held at the Town Hall Tavern, Greater Manchester, with the winner receiving a prize of £1,000.
The four pubs in the North East where you can take part in a tournament for the chance to reach the national competitions are: Rosies Tavern and the Turks Head, both in Darlington; the Royal George Tavern, in Shildon; and Spring Gardens, in North Shields.
If you are interested in taking part in any of the tournaments at the four pubs, you can do so by getting in touch with your local Proper Pub.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/north-east-pubs-darts-competitions-30772165
