"If I’d said no, they’d have found someone else and never come back": Huw Ware snapped up 'once-in-a-lifetime' opportunity to referee

The Red Dragon Champion of Champions celebrated its 10th anniversary in Cardiff this year, with a packed crowd inside The Depot enjoying one of grassroots darts’ most iconic events. Among those soaking up the atmosphere was PDC referee Huw Ware, who has a long personal connection with the tournament.

“My God, is this 10 years?” Ware laughed when asked about the milestone with Online Darts. “I remember the first one. I didn’t realise it was 10 years, but that has gone quickly. It’s great to see how much it’s grown and how much significance it has in the calendar these days. It’s like the modern-day News of the World, isn’t it? A great tournament.”

Over the last decade, the Champion of Champions has become renowned as a launchpad for aspiring players. Ware has seen first-hand how winning the title can transform careers.

“The calibre of players that play in it, the calibre of winners we’ve had – it speaks for itself,” he said. “Ryan Searle told me when he won this, it changed his career. I remember Gerwyn Price winning it, Jonny Clayton too. Whoever wins it this year, we’ll have to keep an eye on them for the future.”

Even the brutal best-of-three format has its charm, according to Ware. “Best of three is not easy. You can come up against someone who has a good five minutes and that’s it, you’re out. It’s cutthroat, it’s brutal, and you could blink and it’s over. It’s a leveller – it gives everyone a chance.”

He even floated the idea of a Pro Tour event adopting the same format: “It would be great to have a best of three on the Pro Tour one day, just to see the chaos. We’d love that!”

The Champion of Champions also holds a personal significance for Ware, who used to referee at county level in Glamorgan before stepping up to the international stage.

“I’ve been seeing people today who I haven’t seen in 10 years, and it’s like being back in darts 10 or 15 years ago. I love these throwback events. It’s one of my favourite days of the year,” he admitted.

Ware once harboured ambitions as a player, even representing Wales at youth level, but it was an invitation to referee at the Winmau World Masters that changed his path.

“I was in the room with players like Max Hopp, Josh Payne and Jeffrey de Zwaan – people who were going places. I wasn’t one of them. When they asked me to referee, I thought, I’ve probably done the best I can as a player. If I’d said no, they’d have found someone else and never come back. That was a once-in-a-lifetime moment. There’s a ceiling to my abilities, unfortunately.”

Now two years into life as a full-time PDC referee, Ware feels fully at home on the biggest stages in darts. “Yes, I feel fully settled and integrated now. It’s very busy, but it’s a great job and I wouldn’t swap it for the world. This year has changed my life completely.”

Much of that change came from his role in last year’s World Championship final between Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen. “To be the voice of Luke Littler’s first world title – that’s a lovely thing,” Ware reflected. “It was a blur at the time, like my Lakeside debut or PDC debut, but my life changed afterwards. I ended up in the press for 10 days straight, I was even invited onto BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live. Opportunities I could never have dreamed of.”

Ware also paid tribute to George Noble, who will retire after this year’s World Championship. “George was an inspiration to me,” Ware said. “I looked at everything he did – his voice, how he handled the stage. Even now, when he’s up there, he’s still just as good as 15–20 years ago. He’s one of the finest officials the game has ever seen. To share the roster with him these last few years has been a privilege, and to be there for his last World Championships will be special.”

With Paul Hinks, Russ Bray and now Noble stepping away, Ware acknowledges a new era of refereeing is underway. “There has been a big change. I feel lucky to be part of it. Kirk [Bevins] and I are the experienced ones now, and Charlie [Corstorphine] is stepping up. Hopefully I can live up to the careers of Russ and George – if I could have half of what they’ve had, I’d be happy.”

Away from the oche, Ware has found success with his podcast, which has just completed its second series. "People have been genuinely really lovely,” he said. “The YouTube comments have been supportive – and we know what YouTube can be like! I can’t thank people enough. It’s a lot of work because I take it on the road with me, lugging the equipment around at tournaments, but I wouldn’t get the calibre of guests I do otherwise. Sometimes it feels like it’s taking over from refereeing, which isn’t good, but so far it’s been okay. Hopefully we’ll have a Series 3 later this year.”

For Ware, the Champion of Champions remains a special event that connects his past and present in the game. From refereeing county darts in Glamorgan to calling Luke Littler’s first World Championship win, his journey is one shaped by seizing opportunities. “I’m very, very lucky,” he said. “Extremely lucky to be in this moment right now. I feel very privileged.”