"The Magnet" Pusey: Aussie darts stars name sparks laughter at the Masters

The Australian Darts Masters kicked off this weekend, with players such as Josh Rock and Damon Heta in his home country producing extreme averages. However, there was something away from the oche that had fans talking. A bit of cheeky wordplay centring on a local player’s surname. Tim Pusey delivered a strong showing against the world number seven, Chris Dobey, at the Australian Darts Masters in Wollongong, leading 4-2 at one point. The match provided plenty of drama, but what’s being most widely shared online and even echoed from the crowd isn’t the final 6-4 result, it’s the loud reaction to his name and nickname combination.

Pusey nicknamed “The Magnet,” may have drawn darts on the oche, but it was the way his nickname hilariously aligned with his surname that really captured everyone’s attention. Saying them together, ‘Magnet Pusey’ unmistakably smacks of ‘pussy magnet’. The crowd seized on the pun instantly; “Oh, we love Pusey” could be heard, while social media blew up with quips like “It’s Pusey time”.

This kind of double entendre isn’t exactly rare in darts. The sport has a long tradition of colourful nicknames and walk-on banter, where a clever twist of words. Earlier this year, another young player, Owen Bates, had “The Master” on his shirt, becoming Owen “The Master” Bates. This being a name that also invites a giggle when read aloud. These kinds of light-hearted moments bring humour and character to the sport, adding entertainment value beyond the numbers on the scoreboard.

For Pusey, the nickname collision was unplanned, yet it became the talk of the tournament. But it’s not as if Pusey lacked for performance. Facing off against a world-class opponent in Chris Dobey, he managed to stage a competitive match and even gain a lead before ultimately falling just short. That alone is notable, although the comedic undertone ensured his name would be spread even further.

Meanwhile, the Australian Darts Masters continues to deliver drama in other ways. Top-tier stars like Michael van Gerwen opted out this year, opening the door for local and regional talents to make their mark. Yet amid shifting matchups and emerging contenders, it is Tim Pusey’s inadvertent wordplay that stands out as the most viral moment so far, the sort that might just earn him an even more enduring nickname in the future.