GUERNSEYMAN Jason Allez is still hoping to realise his lifetime dream of becoming a professional darts player. The 28-year-old wants ultimately to perform on the big televised stage like idol Phil Taylor and top players such as Raymond van Barneveld, John Part, Adrian Lewis and Wayne Mardle, but he needs financial help to achieve his goal.
He is looking for sponsorship to cover travel expenses and accommodation so he can play away in UK competitions to try and make the step up.
‘My dream is to eventually become a professional darts player and it would be amazing. It would mean the world to me to give it a go rather than regret not doing it in 20 years time. I’m hoping within the next five or six years to have found a sponsor to do the circuit,’ he said.
He has previously reached the last 64 of the Hampshire Open out of 500 players.
‘I would have to get use to the pressures but I believe I could do it. I’m playing the most consistently I have played for a long time and am moving up a level,’ he said.
He has played multiple world champion Taylor twice in exhibition matches - losing both times.
Allez, who started playing darts aged just six, is in some of the best form of his life.
Only last week he threw his third 11-dart finish of the season on his home board at KGV in a league match for Flying Jacks against La Fontaine.
He hit 140, 96, 180 and checked out with 85.
‘It made it even better as I was under pressure to play good darts because I was playing Terry King,’ he said.
Allez had been 2-0 up but King struck back to level and take it to the deciding leg.
‘We had to bull up for the final leg and he hit bull and I hit 25, so I had to throw second,’ he recalled.
‘I had to get into gear and had to play the best I could and produce the goods. That is the first 11-darter I have ever hit under real pressure.
‘Hitting an 11-darter is special in itself is special but under pressure makes it doubly special,’ he said.
Allez insists he is currently playing well, full of confidence and is spending between 15 and 20 hours a week practising at the KGV, Hampshire Lodge and at home.
The season’s prestigious best aggregate Division One triples prize is still up for grabs and he is one of six players in contention along with Rob Davison, Colin Prigent, Rob Foss, Chris Smith and Mick Le Gallic.
Allez also has eyes on the island record of 33 maximum 180s in a season.
‘I have hit 27 and I have 30 games to hit the record,’ he said.
In May the inter-insulars will be held at a venue to be confirmed but despite his form, Allez insists he is by no means guaranteed a place in the island side.
He believes the standard of darts, which has shed its image of beer-swilling players, is improving all the time in Guernsey.
‘There are a lot of younger players coming through who will be pushing the experienced island players,’ he said.
He tips brother Shaun, Billy Forman and Matt Drillot as island players in the next few years.
Allez’s darts partner Yvonne Le Gallic, 39, grabbed some headlines herself on Friday with a 150 checkout in the Triples League playing for Mixed SPYC, eclipsing her previous best of 134.
‘That was my first 150 checkout and my highest checkout ever.
‘It’s still not a 170 but I’m getting there,’ said the Guernsey women’s team non-playing captain of last season.
Article posted on 9th February, 2008 - 12.00am
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