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Four years have passed since Rusty-Jake Rodriguez made his debut on the professional scene. His maiden appearance created history as he and his two brothers all qualified for the Austrian Darts Open.
Both of his more experienced siblings were defeated on that occasion in front of their home supporters in Vienna, though, then 16-year-old Rodriguez scooped a stunning scalp, overcoming Ritchie Edhouse.
“My European Tour debut was when I was 16 and a half years old,” Rodriguez smiled. “That win against Edhouse was just great, and with my home crowd behind my back, even better.”
“I mean I’ve always dreamed about being a darts professional, but the more games I played on the circuit, I knew it was going to be tougher and tougher.”
Rodriguez, who has since then lifted the prestigious Junior World Championship at Alexandra Palace, could emerge as the second of his siblings to secure professional status in the coming days.
The 20-year-old stormed through the field on Thursday afternoon at European Qualifying School to join his already qualified older brother Rowby-John Rodriguez in the anticipated Final Stage.
“I’ve made some changes with practice routines and so on,” he expressed. “My private life is better then years before.
“I didn’t feel completed a few years back, but last year January, I met the missing part of my journey and that is my girlfriend. She has always got my back and she is telling me to practice if I am lazy, so she helps me a lot.”
Both Rusty-Jake and Rowby-John have Development Tour accolades to their names, although the latter is vastly more experienced within the professional echelons. The 26-year-old held his tour card for six years, before recently dropping off the circuit.
The Austrian World Cup of Darts representative returns to the gruelling intensity of Qualifying School, with his younger brother making his fourth appearance meanwhile.
“When I started my journey at 16, the first few months he gave me some advice, but I always knew how to play the game,” Rusty-Jake claimed. “It’s only the click in my head which is missing to be a professional and play on the ProTour and hopefully it comes this year.
“I mean darts is an individual sport so I have to focus on myself and not on others. I would be happy for him if he would gain his tour card back.”
Aside from the advice of his brother, Rodriguez has also received encouragement from a more esteemed name in former televised champion Mensur Suljovic – who he would practise with after school.
“Mensur gave me a lot of advice,” he revealed. “It all started when I was eleven years old, and he offered me to practice after school.
“I mean he is the best Austrian darts player ever to play the game, even ten years back and he wanted to practice with me. Not many people would do that but he did.
“I am very thankful for that. Without him and my brothers, I wouldn’t be in the position where I am now to have a management, sponsors and so on. He was a big part of my young career.”
During the initial steps on his road to potential stardom, Rodriguez yearned to be world champion and world number one by the age of 25 and become a millionaire. He hasn’t yet managed to achieve those aspirations, but they still remain.
“I mean nothing is impossible, right? But I think it won’t happen, it will take some more years I guess but I hope so,” the developing Rodriguez said.
“I’m going step-by-step now, back then I was dreaming too much I guess,” he laughed. “The first step is the tour card, the rest is a big question mark.”
