Toff London and Darts World acknowledge unique Amateur darts moments or efforts in each issue of the print magazine. Due to unique circumstances Issue 579 gave three Toff Amateur Awards, some catch-up played!
Just as our new Amateur Award was getting underway the Darts World team was struck down, first by multiple covid cases and then by a very serious cancer diagnosis. Despite valiant efforts from the team members the Amateur Award summaries could not be completed without certain knowledge and input. We are therefore delighted to acknowledge three superb Amateur players whose excellence stretches from Autumn 2021 and were chosen as the winners for Darts World Magazine Issues 577 & 578 as well as this current publication (579).
The inaugural new Amateur Award was presented to Rob Rickwood (Issue 575) who was in sensational form early last summer. DW 576’s award went to Tommy Sanwell for an outstanding effort on the UKDA’s inaugural weekend; there are therefore three more Amateurs to Award!
DW 577 –
Nominations had been regularly acknowledging the efforts of Stu Wilson. He had had a very impressive few months and crossed our radar often. He claimed a regional MAD belt in dramatic last leg style in a fantastic evening of MAD amateur darts in a botanical garden! He went straight out that weekend and claimed the Cheshire open after a tremendous run against seriously tough opposition including Kai Fan Leung, Lewis Williams, and Joe Murnan. Stu has progressed rapidly since and even claimed a Challenge Tour event recently. ( Nominated by AJ Urmston-Toft)
DW 578 –
The fourth winner of the Amateur Award was Chris Wickenden, perhaps better known as ‘Pugs’. Leicestershire man Wickenden had a superb spell around the Xmas and New Year period and was nominated by our own Alan Towe who thought his efforts really stood out. Chris won the Warwickshire singles (Pictured right) (no mean feet) and was the runner-up at the Coventry Open (Xmas). Pugs also claimed the Barden PL Knockout and the MIBGrip Live League and won 9 out of 9 County matches as well as topping the averages to that point. An all-around amateur darts performance to stand out from the crowd!
DW 579 –
The latest amateur player to be chosen for the award is Matt Jackson. Matt has played a large variety of darts over more than a decade but seems to have found his metier in the ADC. One look at the rankings will give you a clue why he claims the latest Toff watch award! 8 titles already in that structure including 128 points for the Gloucester Open (Mecca).
Matt, known as The Action, has also been mopping up some of the smaller titles to build his total and supporting Bar501 in Kingswood by doing so. It is always difficult to step down from an elite level and reset and in addition, Matt has had more than his fair share of personal troubles from which darts may act as an escape. We wish him continued success.
Don’t forget to drop us a line (editor@dartsworld.com or social media) with your nominations for outstanding amateur performances from May until our next issue. It can be a season-long effort, a successful spell or a single moment, a match, or even one dart!
—–ENDS—–
Images: Toff, MAD, As Supplied and PDC
Darts World Magazine (Issue 579) and 2022 bundle offers
Subscribe or purchase your copy
