Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Jack aiming for the top
PROMISING 15-YEAR-OLD SETS HIS SIGHTS ON A PROFESSIONAL CAREER
Canterbury youngster Jack Warner is dreaming of walking on stage at Alexandra Palace during the 2016 PDC World Darts Championship.
Warner has qualified for the under-23 finals of the Sky TV show, The Darts Factor – which will be televised next month – and the winner will get the opportunity to play on the biggest stage of them all.
The 15-year-old has progressed through to the final 24 after being assessed on his high scoring and treble hitting by judges at Meadow Lane – the home of Notts County Football Club.
What Warner lacks in years of experience, he more than makes up for with ability and confidence and he fancies his chances of winning The Darts Factor.
He is also hoping to win a place in the England Youth Team.
He said: “I’m one of the youngest and the others have a lot of experience and are at least a couple of years older.
“I know if I play my best game I have a good chance.”
While it would be an amazing experience, the teenager is unlikely to be too daunted by the prospect of performing in front of thousands of fans at Ally Pally, having already played against the greatest darts player of all-time. Warner said: “I got to the finals of a competition in Wolverhampton and the person running the compet i t ion brought Phil Taylor along and I was picked to play against him.
“It felt awesome. It was just enjoyable and a good experience.”
The youngster relishes these opportunities and is assured on where he hopes his talent can take him.
He added: “That would be my dream, playing darts as a professional week in, week out.”
Warner is sponsored by Unicorn and even has his own dart design on their website, which can be bought worldwide.
However, he is also looking for a local sponsor to cover the travel and accommodation costs of competing. In addition to his upcoming television appearance, he also has the finals of the JDC tour to look forward to after qualifying through his victory at the Sheppey Classic earlier this summer. This year has already been an impressive one for Warner but it could end as an unforgettable one with him standing on the biggest stage in darts.
‘That would be my dream, playing darts as a professional week in week out’