Rashad Sweeting has made history by becoming the first darter from the Bahamas to ever qualify for the PDC
World Darts Championship. He managed to do so through the Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean Order of Merit.
This tour was open to players from the Caribbean and South America. The circuit consisted of four tournaments and the player who performed best would receive an invitation to the World Darts Championship. Sweeting was the only player to win two tournaments.
The first two tournaments were played in July. Sweeting won the opening tournament by defeating Guillermo Soto in the final. The second event was won by
Norman Madhoo, who had qualified for the
Alexandra Palace last year via this route.
Last weekend were the final two tournaments of the Latin America and Caribbean Tour. Sweeting did good business by winning the third event. In the final he defeated Sudesh Fitzgerald from Guyana.
Because of this title, Sweeting needed only a semifinal run at the last tournament to ensure his participation in the World Darts Championship. Sweeting did so convincingly by conceding only one leg in his first three matches.
Moreover, in the semifinals, he was too strong for his great rival Madhoo, 6-3. Sweeting then faced Soto from Costa Rica in the final. Although Sweeting was ahead 5-3, the title went to Soto 6-5. For the final ranking it did not really matter anymore, as Sweeting had already won after reaching the semifinals.
Results Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean Tour 3
Semi-final
Rashad Sweeting 6-0 Norman Madhoo
Sudesh Fitzgerald 6-2 Guillermo Soto
Final
Rashad Sweeting 6-1 Sudesh Fitzgerald
Results Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean Tour 4
Semi-final
Rashad Sweeting 6-3 Norman Madhoo
Guillermo Soto 6-3 Sudesh Fitzgerald
Final
Guillermo Soto 6-5 Rashad Sweeting
Final CDLC ranking
1. Rashad Sweeting 56 points
2. Sudesh Fitzgerald 40 points
3. Guillermo Soto 39 points
4. Norman Madhoo 36 points