This article was originally published in the July 2019 edition of the Darts Planet TV magazine.
Few in the darts world have had as busy a year as 16-year-old James Beeton – a Cheshire youngster who has been traveling around Europe not only competing and winning amid the youth but also among the men in the senior BDO events.
“I got in to darts about six years ago when I got a board for Christmas from my mum and dad,” said Beeton as he recalled his route to the oche. “I wasn’t that fussed over it at the start as I was still playing football but it’s mad looking back at the decision to quit football and have a go at darts which has changed my life completely.”
The Slovak Open, Denmark Open and more recently the Welsh Open have returned to Cheshire with Beeton in a glowing year for the youngster, that has saw him lift silverware left, right and centre.
He denied Vilem Sedivy in the Slovak Open boy’s final, before beating Maison Wilson in both finals in Denmark and Prestatyn. Beeton also dumped out Leighton Bennett at the Welsh Open with a victory in the quarter-finals.
Beeton added: “I’ve done the BDO tour for about 18 months now but especially this year with me going to Romania, Holland, Slovakia, Isle of Man, Germany, Denmark and the Welsh Open. It’s been a great year personally with me winning youth events in Slovakia, Denmark, and most recently the Welsh Open.
“I love these events; it’s a big tester a few times a month to see where my games at. I prefer playing the men but the success I’ve had playing the youth this year has been brilliant exposure for me.”
Obviously, playing the full BDO circuit and visiting countries as far as Slovakia and Poland isn’t cheap and at just 16-years of age you’ll need parental backing and travel partners, and, added pressure comes alongside that also, but James believes the pressure has brought his game on.
“I’ve done most events abroad this season with Tony Martin, Anastasia [Dobromyslova] and Mike Warburton. That little bit of pressure has helped me I think because I know I don’t want to let my mum and dad down who’ve paid for me to go and also my friends supporting me at home. I think some pressure is good for anybody’s game, [it] helps you concentrate more.”
Willem Mandigers has made his feelings known about the current status of the BDO, and with the venues regarding the World Trophy and following major events still not confirmed, but James believes recently elected chairman Des Jacklin has the capability of turning things around.
“I think the BDO is definitely heading in the right direction under Des; he has a vision and wants to succeed and I believe with his past business experience he can earn the BDO some good sponsors.
“They could always do more for the players maybe with the calendar being a bit kinder and getting a bit more of a break in between events but I am enjoying the tour so can’t complain.”
Away from the BDO scene, Beeton has also competed on the JDC Junior Tour, and came out victorious in Event Two in Dorchester, recording his first JDC title for 18 months. The Chester-based ace looks set to qualify for the JDC World Darts Championship in September – which will be the first JDC event to be held in Gibraltar. And, James rightly praised the decision from Steve Brown and the Junior Darts Corporation to move the prestigious showing to the Rock.
“I think it’s a brilliant move for the JDC. Steve Brown has a vision just like Des with the BDO and wants to succeed massively allowing young players to improve and make it to the top.”
A new sports venue is currently being built in Gibraltar ahead of the World Championship, which will be the first event to be played under the roof. The players will be reaping the rewards of qualification, following the event moving from the cold Action Indoor Sports Arena to a newly-built multi-purpose arena in the heart of sunny Gibraltar.
Beeton went on to say: “The JDC in the space of a few years has gone from the finals being in a cold Bristol Arena to Gibraltar…its a huge step forward and something personally I can’t wait for. [It’s] going to be a great few days over there as it’s such a lovely place.”
The JDC has gone from strength to strength this year following the introduction of 13-year-old world champion, Leighton Bennett, who has won five of the eight events played thus far this year on the Junior Tour.
As the Junior Tour campaign got underway, Beeton and Bennett were locking horns regularly on the tour and whoever came out victorious as the pair took to the oche was often the one to lift the title. They were seemingly forming a ‘friendly rivalry’. Well, seemingly so anyway…
“If I would of been doing this interview last week [prior to the Welsh Open], I would of said it was a friendly rivalry but after the weekend it certainly isn’t,” added Beeton – who defeated Bennett on his way to victory in Prestatyn.
“But as for Leighton pushing me at these events it’s great as ability wise he’s unbelievable. The standard at the JDC is getting better and better. I’m looking forward to the final events on the 1st of June.
“I’m full of confidence at the moment after my great success at the start of year. It’s important now to stay level headed and keep working hard. I can’t wait for the next events.”
The final staging of the 2019 Junior Tour will take place in June, before the Super 16 action gets underway later in the month with that particular tour returning for 2019 and the final being held at the Marshall Arena during January’s PDC Masters.
Finally, we recently witnessed the PDC establish the PDC Asian Tour, and we put the question to James on whether he thinks the JDC will expand into Asia and the like in the years to come: “I really hope it does expand into Asia as its already expanded in to places like Australia,” he said.
“We know how much the people in places like Asia love their darts, Steve [Brown] is doing a brilliant job with his great staff. I only see the JDC improving in years to come.”
