They come from Crystal Lake, Elgin and even Indiana and range in age from 25 to 55. The city, of course, is well-represented, too. The Windy City Athletic Association's annual traveling dart league is in full bloom, running from early-October through early-March, with play on Thursday nights at local bars.
Talk about the ultimate put-up-or-shut-up competition. Anyone can play darts, but being good is another story.
'The dart league is a time to go out and enjoy yourself with friends. The camaraderie and the social aspect is nice, sure, but the main focus is the darts, getting the job done and winning first place,' said league director Dino Walzel, 39, a construction worker who lives on the Northwest Side of Chicago.
There are 19 teams this season, with six or eight players per squad. They represent such area bars as North End, Scot's, Jackhammer, Bobby Love's and Cell Block, among others. Team names include TLC, Mama's Boys, Triple Threat, North End Up and Chop Chop MF, the current first-place crew.
People are not just playing for pride. The first-place team will win about $1,100.
'There's a lot of satisfaction in being the No. 1 team,' said Walzel, who attended St. Patrick's High School and Northeastern University. He has been a part of the league since 1989, was the assistant director in 1993 and was named the president last fall.
The league has had as many as 28 teams in the past, including an all-lesbian squad. Most of this season's players are male, but the league criss-crosses the LGBT community.
'A lot of new players have gotten involved over the years, many just wanting to know what it's like to be involved on a competitive dart league,' Walzel said. 'Sure, anyone can play, but you have to practice to be good. Darts involves a lot of hand-to-eye coordination.'
There are 10 games per match, divided between 301, 501, cricket and, ultimately, 701. There are three games of 301, 501 and cricket, between two-person teams, then match play concludes with a six-on-six game of 701.
For 301, 501 and 701, teams start with those numbers, then subtract points based on the number they hit, ultimately hoping for zero. For cricket, teams have to hit each number from 15 to 20, plus the bulls'-eyes, three times.
Walzel said the local dart league wants to expand in the coming years so dart teams from across the country come to Chicago for tournaments a la softball.
Many area players will be competing this summer in Gay Games VII.
