In May 2013 many darts players across the UK started on the journey to the World Championship. Among them was Jason Mold a county dart player who lives in Norfolk. Jason represents Suffolk A in the British Inter County Championship (BICC), he previously represented Norfolk.
GH - When did your World Championship start?
JM - I entered the Suffolk playoff in the second week of May at our county venue - The Kesgrave Social Club. I played and won 6 games to become the Suffolk Representative.
GH - What was the next stage?
JM - Preparation. I had to get the dates and the location for the next round and book time off work - this is a 2 day, mid week event. I then booked a hotel. I also had to let my wife know as I have to balance darts around my family life.
GH - and then there was the actual event....
JM - The playoffs were held in Hull, there were over 500 representatives from around the world. I was lucky enough to get a bye in the first round so was straight through to the last 256 where I played Peter Schoenauer from Switzerland. I beat Peter 2 sets to nil. In the last 128 I played and beat Dylan Sinclair from the Republic of Ireland, again 2-0. In the last 64 I lost to John Clayton from Wales, I did take a set off him.
GH - What was the standard of darts like?
JM - There was a varied range. Some playoffs are easier than others to get through so there are some weaker players but on the other hand, there are some players of a very high standard. One of the four men who got through to Lakeside was Paul Hogan, a Berkshire county player who recently won the BDO (British Darts Organisation) Gold Cup. There are a lot of people who you have never heard of from other countries as well as players you have seen or played on the circuit before.
GH - Keith Deller won the World Championship in 1983 from being a qualifier. Could you see this ever happening again.
JM - Yes, it's very possible. There are players who are on the brink of turning professional just looking for the break. All the top BDO players enter the Gold Cup and as mentioned earlier it was won by a player who has qualified for the final stages this year.
 |
| Jason (right) with 1996 World Champion Steve Beaton |
JM - Definitely. County darts takes up 9 whole weekends a year, some of these include travelling on a Friday. There are lots of other days taken up with competitions. To even stay at this standard I need to play for local pub teams during the evening and to represent Suffolk the selection is from the Suffolk super League. I have a wife and 2 children, I don't want to miss out on my family life so I have to balance home, work and darts.
GH - So why do it?
JM - I enjoy it. There is the thrill of competition. I have won the "Most 100's" for the county 2 years running. To display the trophy at home with some great names on it means a lot. There are some top players on it like Keith Deller and Mervyn King but also for me it means a lot to put my name on one my Dad won over 20 years ago.
To win the Man of the Match at county games means a lot, you know the standard you have to get to to do this.
I enjoy winning tournaments, no matter how big or small. Even getting to the semi-final of major tournaments - such as the Lincoln Open is a feat.
GH - Thanks Jason. Good look for the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment