From the Cossie Club to ‘Ally Pally’
It’s hardly a darts mecca like the ‘Ally Pally’, but Cody Harris will never forget the tournament he won at the Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club earlier this year.
That win, in the DartPlayers New Zealand qualifying event, was Harris’ ticket to the glitz and glamour of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Championship.
Harris, 32, along with fellow Kiwi Bernie Smith, will play in front of 2500 darts mad fans at the world-famous Alexandra Palace aka the ‘Ally Pally’. The world championships, at the iconic London venue, began overnight.
It is the holy grail for every darts player, Harris included.
‘‘I’ve been dreaming of this since I found out it existed,’’ he said from London. ‘‘I’ve been playing since I was a little kid and for years I thought the New Zealand nationals were the biggest thing around.’’
Harris will be keeping it casual when he plays his first match in London. ‘‘I block it all out. It’s best not to see anyone.’’
For the kid who grew up in Otara, playing at his parents’ club – that was run out of their Alexander Crescent garage – representing his country in the world championships is as good as it gets.
‘‘This is an experience of a lifetime. It really is a dream come true,’’ Harris said.
He will be a rank outsider but Harris said he deserves his spot.
‘‘I also believe I can be world champion. It may not be this time or even next year but I believe it can happen.’’
This year’s world championship will be about one man: 16-time world champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor.
Win, lose or draw, Taylor will pull the pin on a career that will never be rivalled.
Harris was defeated by Taylor (6-3) at the Melbourne Dart Masters back in August.
Following the game, Taylor signed the board and gave it to Harris. ‘‘That was a massive moment for me.’’
Harris has drawn North American champion Willard Bruguier in his preliminary qualifier.
If he wins, he makes the final field of 64 and takes on Ian White ranked 17 in the world – later that same evening in the first round.
Smith, 53, who plays out of the New Brighton Club in Christchurch, has his preliminary qualifier next Wednesday (Thursday morning, NZT).
Smith booked his spot with a win in the DartPlayers Oceanic Masters in Dubbo.
Harris has never won a game on the big stage but he has been competitive with a 6-4 loss to Simon Whitlock, a 6-2 loss to Raymond van Barneveld and the 6-3 defeat by Taylor.
Harris said the biggest sacrifice is the time away from his family.
A father of five, Harris has been supported by family and friends who came up with fundraising initiatives to help get him to London along with a small group of sponsors.
When he’s not throwing darts, Harris helps friends and family with odd jobs to keep his family afloat.
‘‘With the time I take off for darts it’s hard to find a job that is flexible enough.’’