“But once the lockdown was over, everything was wide open, and we went for it.”
Leonard Gates has been kicking *ss and taking names on USA dartboards for more than 15 years but it took a pandemic, and that infamous spell of lockdown darts, to bring him the attention of the wider darting world.
The World Senior Champion of Champions winner, known as The Soulger, spoke to Dartsworld on his recent Blackpool success, with the American international a player certainly growing in confidence, through his qualification for,and success in, numerous high profile competitions in 2022 and at the start of this year.
“It ranks high, the number 1 on my list because of the players that participated in the tournament, the country that it was in and the whole experience I gained from it “ said Gates of his experience
The Texas born thrower beat Richie Howson 13-10 in the Final having won the Golden Ticket competition to secure his spot in the Quarter Finals. The Soulger achieved something that many have failed to do in the past and that is beat Phil Taylor in Blackpool, with Gates still in full respect for the success of the former 16-time World Champion.
“It felt good to beat Phil, but it didn’t feel like the old Phil Taylor I would say. Everyone knows he’s a World Champion, such a great player and a great person and everything, so it was amazing to get that experience.”
The 52-year-old thrower recorded a 10-8 victory over The Power in the Quarter Finals at VIVA, before knocking another former World Champion in Martin Adams out in the Semi Finals, beating Wolfie 13-11 at the Last 4 stage.
Leonard made his debut at the Alexandra Palace at the back end off 2022, beating Geert Nentjes 3-1 in the First Round of the 2023 World Darts Championship. Gates secured his place in the competition after winning the 2022 PDC North American Darts Championship, beating compatriot Danny Baggish 6-3 in the Final at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“The experience was fabulous, to be amongst that crowd, knowing you’re about to play an opponent on that stage and looking in the crowd to see thousands of people watching you is amazing. To beat Geert Nentjes in the First Round, it was like, I could get used to this.”
“Playing at the US Darts Masters was an exhilarating experience, but to up that experience and go to the PDC World’s, the Grand Slam and the World Series of Darts, it was like each competition was a level up and it was a surreal feeling, it compares to none. The experience there was high quality, high class, well ran and well organised, it was top notch darts!”
The American International ranks his win at the PDC North American Darts Championship as his favourite tournament success in his career, beating the likes of Jules van Dongen in the Quarter Finals and World Senior Masters Champion David Cameron in the Semi’s.
“It was a big part of the PDC [New York Events] and to go in there and win the US side of it, winning my first round against a PDC Tour Card holder, that was just one awesome feeling. It puts you over the top and when you can do that, you can step forth and compete in more of those kind of competitions.”
The Soulger spoke on his inspiration into playing the sport, explaining it all started from a practise session with his mates in the state of Texas.
“Some buddies of mine back in San Antonio, Tyrone and Floyd Woolford came in and we had this place with two dartboards located in the back corner, two soft tip boards. I asked were we going to play pool and they said no we were going to do some sessions of darts and I’m like Darts?”
“They whipped out their darts and started playing and I saw they knew what they were doing. I asked what the concept was because at first, I thought you had to hit the bullseye, but once I figured it out, I couldn’t put the darts down, it started from there”.
Many players grew in confidence over the lockdown period, whilst playing from home and facing a camera towards their dartboard. Gates was brought to a wider audience because of the constant competitions that were being run throughout the pandemic.
“To play and participate in the competitions from home online, it was extraordinary. It was also tough to do because the things you had to go through with the tournaments, you felt like robots in a system to where you couldn’t be loose and free and be able to enjoy what you’re doing, it felt like you were in a controlled environment. But once the lockdown was over, everything was wide open, and we went for it.”
Leonard opted to not go to PDC Qualifying School at the start of the year, because of wanting to gain more experience on the main stage, something he has been doing on a regular basis on the World Seniors Tour.
“I was conflicted with myself about what I wanted to do for one more year outside of the PDC, if I did that and got my tour card, I wouldn’t have been able to do the Seniors and play Phil Taylor which was one of my dreams, and then continue to play on the World Seniors Tour.”
“I want to get more experience with the presence of the crowd on the stage and the atmosphere of the UK. I think it would help me out for when I do go and try and get my tour card, going into PDC Events and playing on stages like that, I can tell myself I’ve been here before, I’ve played these players before. It’s an experience I can gain in the lead up to that.”
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Leonard was back in action in June’s World Senior Darts Masters, with the Soulger drawn against former World Championship finalist Mark Dudbridge in Yeovil. He came through that match up and then a couple of entertaining fixtures notably against before edging out Richie Howson to lift his second Seniors title
—–ENDS—–
Words and Interview by Harry Masterson – Original version appeared in darts World Magazine (Issue 582)
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