In a tournament missing stars such as Guyana’s national champion Norman Madhoo and top-ranked local player Sudesh Fitzgerald, Anil Latchman turned back a strong challenge to walk away with the Guyana Darts Association (GDA) sponsored singles tournament Friday last.

Played at the Salt Air Club at the Le Meridien Pegasus, Latchman turned back the challenge of top female player Jean DeSouza, and then seasoned campaigner Lallchand Rambharose before meeting the sure shot Sherwyn Greene.  But Greene’s game crumbled as Latchman held his nerve before pulling off his upset win and walking away with the $3,000 first prize.

And in the blind draw doubles Sudesh Fitgerald proved his mettle when he teamed up with Andrew Ballchand to walk away with the doubles title. In the final the duo took on Vijay Roopchand and Vibert Harewood but they proved no match for Fitzgerald and Balchand.

Meanwhile, tonight Granny Sports Bar in Better Hope will have another competition when some $10,000 will be up for grabs in a blind draw meet. National champion Madhoo told Stabroek Sport that over the last few weeks the game had been picking up in certain areas and persons had shown an enthusiasm to get involved. This, he added, was a good step forward.

This month, should be an action-packed one with the Lens Memorial event being held soon which will be used as a warm-up for the national championships. Len Rambharose, a darts enthusiast, died of a massive heart attack in 2007.

He was a former past president of the Guyana Darts Association (GDA).

The national tournament will be played at the end of October but no date has been set as yet.