I competed in the Seoul International Dart League midseason doubles tournament yesterday.  It was a mixed A-B Division format, meaning the top ranked A player was matched with the lowest ranked B player and so on throughout the players registered for the competition.  I think this works well, because you avoid having the top players in each division teamed up which sometimes occurs in the blind draw format.  Yesterday we had a good balance on the teams which made for a highly competitive tournament.

I went in ranked #7 in A division and was matched with Podge who is currently #11 in B division.  I hadn’t really seen Podge throw that much, but I felt we had a tough job ahead of us as there were some real strong players teamed up, including several A-A combinations.  Of course, rankings don’t count for anything, it’s all about throwing good darts consistently.  And for the most part, that’s what we did.

I was quite impressed with Podge, and he actually carried me pretty much in our first match.  I picked it up after that, and we really started to roll.  In the semi-finals of the winner’s bracket we faced off with Craig and Grant.  It came down to the third leg, and we were up in the cricket leg.  Then I made a strategic error, opting to close a number instead of throwing for points.  Craig punished my stupidity by throwing a 5 mark and snatched the win.

Podge and I fought back through the loser’s bracket and faced Craig and Grant again in the Championship game.  Unfortunately, I was out of gas by then, and they promptly dispatched us 2-0.  Ah well, it was a great day and I’m not hanging my head over a second place finish.  Splitting the W210,000 prize money was also pretty sweet.

It was also a good day for the Blue Bulls (my team in league play).  Teammate Craig took first, I got a second, and Scott and Ali took third.  I spent a good part of my winnings on my bar tab as we were all in a celebratory mood after a hard days work darting.

Another fine day in my sporting life.  Heh, rumor has it that darts will be included in the 2012 London Olympic Games.  If so, I guess that would make me officially an athlete.  Imagine that!  Of course, I also lift weights.  12 ounces at a time.  Too bad beer drinking isn’t a sport, eh?