THE COLLIE Workers Club is set to host some of the South West and Australia’s most competitive darts champions.
The Collie Club inc. Worker’s $7000 Open Singles Dart Event, on Saturday July 23, is tipped to be the largest value-wise darts tournament in Australia.
The event sees 64 competitors competing on the 10 board set-up from 10am until the early evening.
Three boards are being set up for players to practice on from 8.30am.
The tournament consists of a 501 Knockout – Best of Nine and a Consolation Plate – 301.
The winner receives $3000, the runner-up takes home $1500 and third place collects $750.
Collie darts player Lee Chapman said he was excited to compete in one of Collie and Australia’s most prestigious darts tournaments.
“It’s definitely the biggest darts tournament that’s being held in Collie since the Collie Club 1000, that was probably 20 years ago,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to it, it will be a good hit out before the national championships and there is going to be some quality players coming down so it’ll be a good test for myself.”
Two-time Dart Players Australia representative for the World Darts Championships Loz Ryder, 2015 Oceanic Masters champion Koha Kokiri, WA number one ranked player Adam Rowe, Australian number two ranked player David Platt and all eight WA state team players are expected to attend.
Collie Workers Club Darts Club president Brett Hansen said the tournament could provide an economic boost for the town.
“If we can 300, 400 or 500 people in, that’s a lot of people coming through Collie and this has gone to the eastern states so people in the eastern states actually know about this tournament,” he said.
“It’s important for Collie because, with the way Collie is at the moment with the economic times and the way the mines are going, you want something good to happen to separate from all the doom and gloom and promote Collie in a good way.”
Mr Hansen said darts is a strong and lively part of the town’s sporting culture.
“Collie has been a strong sporting town for WA, whether it be hockey, cricket, basketball, football or darts,” he said.
“The introduction of 12-hour shifts at the mines and out-of-town workers into Collie has really badly effected sport in Collie.
“Darts is no more or less important than the other sports, we have over 200 men that play darts in Collie - that’s just men - and A, B and C Grade and some teams have two C Grades.
“Darts is probably the best it has ever been, we’ve got some of the best [players] in the state here.”
The club is currently completing restorations to the centre stage ahead of the event.