Darts: Tournament impresses World Cup hopefuls

Rob Zarbo in action at the Western Bay Open Darts pairs tournament held at Te Puna. Photo/Andrew Warner

Professional darts came to Tauranga on Saturday with the Professionals Real Estate-sponsored Western Bay Open Darts pairs tournament held at the Top Shop Bar in Te Puna.

In the field chasing the top prize of $2500 was the New Zealand pairing from Wellington of Rob Szarbo and Craig Caldwell, who are preparing for the World Cup of Darts in Hamburg, Germany in June.

They were impressed with the event put on by a hard-working organising team under Neil Fredericksen.

"I think this event is amazing. This is the biggest pairs' prizemoney ever put up in New Zealand so why would you not support it?" said Caldwell.

"In these sort of competitions you never underestimate anyone and the quantity is not there but the quality is," said Szarbo. "I think they are going to base it on that and hold more tournaments down the line to get more people interested and into it.

"The fact that they got locals to come over to play and support is good. There are quite a few down from Auckland and it is improving the game."

Szarbo is looking forward to matching his skills with some of the biggest names in world darts in Australia in August.

"The top eight, which includes Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis, are coming down to Australia for the Sydney Masters. Personally I am going to try and qualify for that to get over there and play them on the stage to get more experience and exposure."

The unpredictability of darts - and Szarbo's comments about not underestimating your opponents - became a reality for the top seeds as John Dodunski and Ian Watson from Hamilton Workingmen's Club knocked them out in the semifinals. Then in a gripping final, Aucklanders Monte Tuhua and Richard Te Whero stepped up when it mattered to take the title and the cash.