'2003 World Champion John Part
Many darters have speculated over the last couple of years that the next world champion would be Mr. John Part of Oshawa, Canada. And if you were a betting kind of darter you might have made a lot of money if you put your bet on John Part. Because most recently John Part did exactly what he set out to do, he beat reigning world champion Phil Taylor at the '2003 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.
Who is John Part? He's known as a hard working, determined, and even-keeled darter. He is the first to stress that success of the sport is due to practice, good habits, and hard work including more practice. First, here's some background on John Part and then John himself shares his thoughts on the sport of darts.
Date of Birth: 29 June 1966
Place of Birth: Toronto, Canada
Now Lives: Oshawa, Canada
Nickname: Darth Maple
Height: 6
Type of Dart Used: John Part 25grm
Marital Status: S
Hobbies/Interests: Golf, Movies - The Classics, Crosswords, Comic books
Sporting Heroes: Sandy Hawley (Jockey), Jack Nicklaus (golf) and Reggie Jackson (Baseball)
Achievements: Many, many, many, though his most recent win is the '2003: Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship Winner
Mr. John Part, '2003 World Champion
Planet Darts writes:
I was pleasantly surprised to receive an E-mail back from John Part answering my interview questions. John was brief and to the point because he does, of course, have to practice and get ready for his next tournament(s). Here's what John had to say:
1) How long have you been playing darts and how did you get started?
I saw darts on TV in the eighties. I started throwing in 1987 and started league play in 1989 and tournaments in 1990.
2) Your nickname is Darth Maple. How did that come to be?
It is more of a play on Darth Maul from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. I have always (since 1994) sported a black maple leaf (rather than red) on a red background, on my shirts and flights. The first four letters are Dart(h) and the title Darth has an ominous implication from Star Wars.
3) Some say you have a natural talent. What are your thoughts on this?
Who said I had natural talent? I've always worked harder and been better prepared, which gives me the confidence to win. Natural talent is the description used by people not willing to work and sacrifice to reach their goals.
4) Do you have what is described as the "fire in your belly" with regard to darts?
I am very competitive no matter what I do, and my choice of foods usually gives me fire in my belly.
5) What are your proudest achievements with regard to darts?
Winning the Embassy in 1994 and the Ladbrokes.com in 2003
6) Which are your favorite tournaments?
Blueberry Hill (Editor's Note: 31st Annual Blueberry Hill Open Steel-Tip Tournament is scheduled for 04/24 - 04/27/2003 in St. Louis, MO, US with a $12,000 purse. For information contact Joe Edwards at: 314-727-0880)
7) What are your personal goals with regard to darts for the next few years?
#1 World Ranking in the PDC and defend my world title
8) How do you prepare for a big match or a big tournament?
Practice
9) How much time do you practice the day of a big match (or set of matches)?
The less time I will have to play the more time I will spend warming up. Generally two hours.
10) How do you sleep the night before a big match or tournament?
Sometimes sleep can be restless with the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming match.
11) In your opinion, what does it take to be a successful dart player?
Composure, never be to up or down emotionally.
12) Are you able to make a living at darts or do you have a day job? And what did you want to do for a living when you were younger?
My job is darts, and any work other than that was only supplemental. I suppose the only dreams I really had were sport related.
13) What three tips would you give to a beginning darter?
Practice
15) Which darters do you admire and why?
Phil Taylor, for pushing the envelope in terms of skill level.
16) Do you play electronic darts at all? And do you consider electronic darts to be real darts?
Very rarely. Electronic darts is a good introduction to the game, but it is not "real" darts.
17) What would you change about the sport and why?
Live TV in North America to gain a proper audience.
18) What frustrates you most about darts/darters?
People seem to think that seeding a tournament only benefits the top players, while in reality it makes the tournament fair for every player. Imagine beating me first round, and then having to play Phil Taylor.
19) Why do you love the sport of darts?
Pressure. It's all about being cool.
And that, my fellow darters, is an interview with one very cool world champion darter (and a passionate darter at that). Thank you to John Part for taking the time to answer my questions. To read John's web column on practice... click on Part's Darts on the Planet Darts Website.
Till next time, good luck and I'll see you at the line.
Who is John Part? He's known as a hard working, determined, and even-keeled darter. He is the first to stress that success of the sport is due to practice, good habits, and hard work including more practice. First, here's some background on John Part and then John himself shares his thoughts on the sport of darts.
Date of Birth: 29 June 1966
Place of Birth: Toronto, Canada
Now Lives: Oshawa, Canada
Nickname: Darth Maple
Height: 6
Type of Dart Used: John Part 25grm
Marital Status: S
Hobbies/Interests: Golf, Movies - The Classics, Crosswords, Comic books
Sporting Heroes: Sandy Hawley (Jockey), Jack Nicklaus (golf) and Reggie Jackson (Baseball)
Achievements: Many, many, many, though his most recent win is the '2003: Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship Winner
Mr. John Part, '2003 World Champion
Planet Darts writes:
"Newly crowned PDC World Champion, Canada's supreme darting talent is now recognized as his countries greatest ever player eclipsing the legendary Bob Sinnaeve with his two time World Championship win.
After coming in as a runner-up to Ten Times World Champion Phil 'The Power' Taylor at the Stan James World Matchplay and Paddy Power World Grand Prix in 2002, John finally achieved what no other player had managed since 1994 and beat Taylor at the Circus Tavern to claim the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship crown.
The pair played out perhaps the greatest Final of all time lifting the roof at Purfleet and producing phenomenal darts in a breathtaking contest that eventually went Part's way 7 sets to 6.
A hugely popular winner John will now have twelve months to bask in the glory of being only the third man to be PDC World Champion and with his extraordinary talent will be odds on to add a few more major titles to his CV in 2003."
I was pleasantly surprised to receive an E-mail back from John Part answering my interview questions. John was brief and to the point because he does, of course, have to practice and get ready for his next tournament(s). Here's what John had to say:
1) How long have you been playing darts and how did you get started?
I saw darts on TV in the eighties. I started throwing in 1987 and started league play in 1989 and tournaments in 1990.
2) Your nickname is Darth Maple. How did that come to be?
It is more of a play on Darth Maul from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. I have always (since 1994) sported a black maple leaf (rather than red) on a red background, on my shirts and flights. The first four letters are Dart(h) and the title Darth has an ominous implication from Star Wars.
3) Some say you have a natural talent. What are your thoughts on this?
Who said I had natural talent? I've always worked harder and been better prepared, which gives me the confidence to win. Natural talent is the description used by people not willing to work and sacrifice to reach their goals.
4) Do you have what is described as the "fire in your belly" with regard to darts?
I am very competitive no matter what I do, and my choice of foods usually gives me fire in my belly.
5) What are your proudest achievements with regard to darts?
Winning the Embassy in 1994 and the Ladbrokes.com in 2003
6) Which are your favorite tournaments?
Blueberry Hill (Editor's Note: 31st Annual Blueberry Hill Open Steel-Tip Tournament is scheduled for 04/24 - 04/27/2003 in St. Louis, MO, US with a $12,000 purse. For information contact Joe Edwards at: 314-727-0880)
7) What are your personal goals with regard to darts for the next few years?
#1 World Ranking in the PDC and defend my world title
8) How do you prepare for a big match or a big tournament?
Practice
9) How much time do you practice the day of a big match (or set of matches)?
The less time I will have to play the more time I will spend warming up. Generally two hours.
10) How do you sleep the night before a big match or tournament?
Sometimes sleep can be restless with the excitement and anticipation of the upcoming match.
11) In your opinion, what does it take to be a successful dart player?
Composure, never be to up or down emotionally.
12) Are you able to make a living at darts or do you have a day job? And what did you want to do for a living when you were younger?
My job is darts, and any work other than that was only supplemental. I suppose the only dreams I really had were sport related.
13) What three tips would you give to a beginning darter?
- Before you practice, learn good arm mechanics (don't develop bad habits).
- Always seek new challenges.
- Don't drink too much.
Practice
15) Which darters do you admire and why?
Phil Taylor, for pushing the envelope in terms of skill level.
16) Do you play electronic darts at all? And do you consider electronic darts to be real darts?
Very rarely. Electronic darts is a good introduction to the game, but it is not "real" darts.
17) What would you change about the sport and why?
Live TV in North America to gain a proper audience.
18) What frustrates you most about darts/darters?
People seem to think that seeding a tournament only benefits the top players, while in reality it makes the tournament fair for every player. Imagine beating me first round, and then having to play Phil Taylor.
19) Why do you love the sport of darts?
Pressure. It's all about being cool.
And that, my fellow darters, is an interview with one very cool world champion darter (and a passionate darter at that). Thank you to John Part for taking the time to answer my questions. To read John's web column on practice... click on Part's Darts on the Planet Darts Website.
Till next time, good luck and I'll see you at the line.