Darts Championship throws off with national ambition
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
The Our Telekom 2nd Edition Easter National Darts Championship 2026 has officially commenced in Honiara with organisers highlighting the tournament as a major step towards developing the sport and preparing local players for future international representation.
The championship was officially launched on Thursday night at the Point Cruz Yacht Club (PCYC) with more than a hundred players and supporters from participating teams attending the ceremony.
Speeches were delivered by officials and sponsors including Games Commissioners, Ian Ramony and Rooney Hiona, representatives from Our Telekom and the club’s Commodore.
Declaring the competition open, the organisers and sponsors each took turns to throw three darts at the board in a symbolic gesture marking the start of the championship.
Games Commissioner Ian Ramony said the tournament aims to strengthen the sport while bringing together the best darts clubs and provincial teams in the country.
“The main objective of organising this darts competition is to bring together the best clubs and provinces to compete in a national championship.
“As darts continues to grow, we want to host championships like this so that eventually we can prepare players who can represent the country,” Ramony said.
Ramony confirmed that the championship features 34 teams, each consisting of 10 players, with several teams travelling from provinces to take part in the tournament.
He said provincial teams participating include competitors from Western Province, Malaita, Makira and Temotu.
“This is the biggest championship hosted so far compared to previous tournaments which were much smaller,” he said.
The tournament will be played under a pool and knockout format, where teams compete in pool matches before progressing to knockout rounds leading to the semi-finals and final.
Matches kicked off yesterday and will be played across four venues in Honiara, including Chiefs Haus, Point Cruz Yacht Club, ATL Harbour View Lounge and Pacific Casino Hotel.
Veteran darts player Lapuli Haro said the competition has also encouraged former players to return to the sport.
Haro, who once competed in tournaments across the country including Western Province and Malaita, said he had stepped away from the sport for nearly 15 years before returning to compete again.
“I have been away from darts for almost 15 years, but when this championship started again, it encouraged me to come back and try my shooting again,” he said.
He added that the presence of younger players has also raised the level of competition.
“There are many young players now and they shoot very well compared to our time. It encourages us veterans to come back and compete again,” Haro said.
Meanwhile, a representative from Our Telekom said the company has a long history of supporting darts competitions in the country.
“Telekom has been supporting this competition for many years, even when it was hosted at Chiefs Haus.
“We continue to support the sport because it is a group of people that Telekom is proud to stand behind,” the representative said.
The championship continues with teams battling through the pool stages before progressing to the knockout rounds.
Organisers say the tournament is expected to further promote darts locally while strengthening participation across the country.
Photo credit: Richard Menanopo
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