SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The sport of darts is booming globally.
This year, the winner of the PDC World Darts Championship took home £1 million, or roughly $1.3 million, after the tournament doubled its prize money from the previous year.
While the game’s biggest stars are competing shoulder to shoulder for record purses on television, many players are sharpening their skills computer to computer.
For Syracuse native Cali West, one of the most accomplished women’s players in American darts history, online competition has changed the sport.
“A lot of things came from COVID, and this is one of them,” West said. “We all were sitting at home going, yeah, now we can’t play our tournaments, our leagues, everything is, you know, done. So it became a really great way to continue playing and competing.”
Virtual darts leagues have remained a fixture of the game. Players now use webcams and scoring platforms such as DartConnect to compete against opponents from around the country and even overseas, giving newcomers a low-pressure way to try the sport for money and experienced players another avenue to improve.
West knows the game’s evolution as well as anyone. A former women’s world No. 1 who represented the United States in multiple World Cups, she has spent more than two decades competing around the country and abroad.
Using a laptop, camera and scoring app, players can watch one another throw in real time while scores automatically update on both screens.
“As they enter their score, you see what they shot,” West said. “Then you enter your score, and they see what you shot.”
The online format has found a following in Central New York.
“There’s a lot of folks here in town that play online all the time,” said longtime Salt City Dart League player Eric Pachilis. “They just don’t want to leave the house.”
Pachilis was president of the league for two years. He said online play also provides something every competitor needs: pressure.
“I only practice online. I do not practice against the board at all anymore,” he said. “There’s nothing like having a situation to put pressure on you to get rid of those nerves. And if you don’t have nerves, you’re not playing darts.”
Fellow league member Rob Cuthill agrees.
“You can throw against the board by yourself, but that can only take you so far,” Cuthill said. “When you have that adrenaline, when you have that fear of failure, that’s how you improve.”
Although both West and Pachilis say virtual competition has become a great entry point for new players, they still prefer the social and competitive atmosphere of an in-person tournament or league night.
“I liken it to if you’re watching a playoff game, sports at home or are you in the stadium. There’s such a difference, right? I mean, you still get to see the game, but it’s just not the same,” West said.
“You don’t get the environment, the noise,” Pachilis said. “You’re in your own little element. It kind of takes that part of the sport out of it.”
For a sport still seeking mainstream recognition in the United States, West sees online darts as another sign that its growth is far from over.
“I’ve seen a lot of people come to tournaments and leagues and say, ‘I played online and felt like maybe I could do this,’” she said. “It brought a lot more people to the game. We are building, but it’s a slow thing.”
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: As prize money soars, online competition helps darts reach new players
Spencer Buley, Reporter: The winner of this year’s PDC World Darts Championship took home $1.3 million, doubling the prize money from 2025. But not all players are getting better at throwing darts in bars or league venues, they’re competing online. This week, Cali West, a Syracuse native and former world No. 1, walked me through the process.
Cali West, Former American Darts Organization #1 Player: It’s just given us another avenue to compete.
Buley: When COVID-19 shut down sports, Cali West was throwing darts around the world, winning at the highest level.
West: We all were sitting at home going, yeah, now we can’t play our tournaments, our leagues, everything is, you know, done.
Buley: But as many other activities moved virtual, so did darts.
West: As they enter their score, you see what they shot. And then you enter your score, they see what you shot.
Buley: Online dart competitions haven’t left. In fact, they’re growing, even locally. Longtime Salt City Dart League player Eric Pachilis has seen it in Syracuse.
Eric Pachilis, Former President of Salt City Dart League: There’s a lot of folks here in town here that play online all the time. And you just they just don’t want to leave the house.
Buley: Pachilis thinks it’s one of many factors contributing to the game becoming more competitive.
Pachilis: The people that are newer want to get better fast. I only practice online. There’s nothing like having a situation to put pressure on you.
Buley: That’s the main way that league member Rob Cuthill says he’s improved.
Rob Cuthill, Salt City Dart League Competitor: You can throw against the board by yourself. And really, that can only take you so far, because like I said, when you have that adrenaline, when you have that fear of failure, that’s how you improve.
Buley: West says overall, competing virtually is encouraging more new players to give in-person leagues a go.
West: It brought a lot more people to the game because a lot of people were like, wow, you know, I can just play in my house. And I’ve seen a lot of people who came to darts in the tournaments and stuff, even our leagues, who have been like, well, you know, I played online and, you know, felt like, jeez, I could, maybe I could do this, you know? It just kind of gives a little bit of reinforcement to someone who wants to try it out but they weren’t so sure about themselves.
West: There we go.