Invercargill apprentice plumber rises up NZ darts ranks
“No other tournaments [in New Zealand] has that kind of money, so it’s a massive tournament… It’s in the hometown so that’s always cool.”
For the past decade or so Warren “Wazza” Parry has dominated headlines when it has come to the Invercargill darts scene.
And quite rightly so.
After all, Parry did deliver one of world sport’s great upsets when he knocked over world No 1 Michael van Gerwen in 2014.
But there’s a 23-year-old Invercargill apprentice plumber who’s now attracting plenty of attention.
Kayden Milne is on the rise, to the point he’s ranked third in New Zealand at the moment - one spot ahead of Parry.
Milne has some pretty big aspirations in the sport.
Like many darts players, he wants to one day step onto London’s Ally Pally stage at a World Championships - just as Parry has in the past.
Milne fell short of making that happen this year when being knocked out in the semifinal stage of New Zealand’s world qualifying tournament last weekend.
NZ No 1 Ben Robb won through and picked up the New Zealand spot.
But at 23, Milne has time on his side to one day book that ticket to the big time.
For the moment his sights are fixed on this weekend’s ILT Southland Darts Masters tournament in Invercargill.
Not only is it a chance to compete in his home city at the Ascot Park Hotel against New Zealand’s best, but there’s some cold hard cash up for grabs.
There’s $15,000 in total up for grabs this weekend, with the winner taking home $5500.
“No other tournaments [in New Zealand] has that kind of money, so it’s a massive tournament… It’s in the hometown so that’s always cool,” Milne said.
Milne, Robb, and Parry along with the likes of NZ No 2 Haupai Puha will be part of a 16-strong lineup for the ILT Southland Darts Masters.
Defending champion Jimmy Samuels will also be returning to Invercargill for the event.
For the Southland youngster, it’s yet another chance to prove he is amongst the country’s best.
“There’s the World Cup team that I’m in the big for if I had a couple of big tournaments. That’s next year so that’s the long-term goal at the moment.”
Milne did push his name under the global spotlight somewhat last year while competing in the New Zealand Darts Masters.
He upset English pro Fallon Sherrock 6-5.
Fingers crossed for some more of that form come Saturday and Sunday at the Ascot Park Hotel in front of his family and friends.