By Ty Hughes
Best of seven games, no handicap. The Unlimited Doubles Challenge, which originated out of the Liquid Lime in Kirkland, is just what excites the palette of those high-rated players around these here parts.
Nine teams showed up to play on the afternoon of Saturday, December 13th at the Cloud 9. Yes, they still hold the trophy and every couple of months put out an APB (All Points Bulletin) to the masters of the game, to come play for ownership and bragging rights to this exclusive title. Of course, the trophy’s busted. Don’t know how that happened exactly, but I’m sure someone’s gonna pay the piper eventually. It’s just so dang heavy and I haven’t been working out lately!
Anyway, longtime champions, John Husman and Peter Clark broke up their winning team to bring in some new blood and mix it up a bit. John gave a call to Tony Ashworth, or vice versa, not sure which. They won’t give me a straight answer as to who called whom, but they teamed up to represent the Cloud 9. John even went so far as to contact Pat and Jim out of Tacoma, a couple of old steel-tippers, and invited them out to challenge for the cup. Pat had been a national phenom in the steeltip arena back in the early nineties and just up and retired for the last fifteen years. Well, recently, he picked up the darts again and this actually marked his very first soft-tip tournament since coming back to the game. And let me tell you, the dude can flat throw! Both he and Jim made an incredible team to be reckoned with. Knowing John, he was ecstatic to have some “fresh meat” that would give him some resistance in his quest toward the finish line.
Both he and Tony were, and are, amazing shots and together make a very tough team, but that didn’t deter sixteen other top-rated players from taking a stab at the title. Jim Tederman, Melvin Cherry took on Jay Birkland and Jeff Sanford for fourth or better. Jim and Melvin had a meltdown mid-match and became less of a team than two opponents. This led to their demise and they settled on fourth place.
Jay and Jeff met up with Pat and Jim in the next matchup for third or better. This match was exciting and went all seven games, but Jay and Jeff fell to the steel-tippers from Tacoma to take 3rd Place.
So, in perfect harmony with nature and karma, etc. it was John’s invited guests vs. him and his new partner, Tony, in the finals. No matter who won, the trophy would stay at Cloud 9, because Pat and Jim didn’t put in the sponsorship fee in order to take the cup if they won.
John and Tony, having gone undefeated, sat comfortably in the Driver’s Seat, but both knew that Pat and Jim would give them a run for their money. But, as it turned out, Pat and Jim had blown their wad in the last match and didn’t have much left in the tank for John and Tony. So, they won one out of five and practically gave the match, the trophy and all the benefits to the new champions of the unlimited variety to John and Tony. Still an exciting day of darts. Always jaw-dropping to witness darts at this level.
Way to go, John, Tony, Pat, Jim and all the others on your accomplishments, commitment and dedication to the sport. And welcome back Pat!
There were some side pots as well to be noted. The 3-In-The-Black Pot drew in $45 and will be carried over to the next challenge since nobody claimed that one. The High Out Pot consisted of $55 and though Larry Mead put up an impressive 127 out, it was Peter Clark taking the stash with his 143 out to top the field! Awesome job, guys!
Check out the Unlimited Doubles Challenge next time they run it out of the Cloud 9 – we’ll give you the whole seat, but you’ll only need the edge! (I love that saying).
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