How great though dart
MAKING HISTORY: Devon Petersen of Mitchells Plain with the winning trophy
A Mitchells Plain dart player has made history by winning a major international tournament.
Devon Petersen became the first African to win a Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) title.
“The African Warrior” beat Welshman Jonny Clayton in a stunning 8-3 victory in Hildesheim on Saturday.
The 34-year-old claimed the 2020 German Darts Championship title, bragging rights as well as a cool £25 000 (just short of R550 000).
He says the win is monumental for him because it’s been 10 years since he won a competition at home, which made him eligible for playing tournaments in the United Kingdom.
Devon could not contain his excitement after winning and said in an interview posted on the official PC website: “I’ve been working hard, it feels like a lifetime, since I was 15 ... so it’s 19 years.
Devon Petersen reflected on '19 years' hard work' after winning his first PDC title on Sunday.
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) September 28, 2020
🇿🇦'The African Warrior' will face Jose De Sousa in his BoyleSports World Grand Prix debut next week.
“The last two or three years have been the hardest where you are competing against the level of Jonny Clayton and Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price, there’s loads of names....and Peter Wright ... and you just feel as though you are not going to get there because they are improving all the time.
“I played in the Autumn Series and I lost out to Gerwyn Price and I missed three or four darts to win and I just think that spurred me on today.
“To be a champion is amazing, wow.”
He said he was afforded the time he never had to practice during the pandemic, which gave him an edge.
He says Africa is now on the map in the sport of darts and his win has shown the rest of the world that Africans are not to be messed with.
“I want to aspire and to inspire South African talent as well as the African talent. We are capable of achieving and winning, we just need to put in the time,” he said.
🗣Hear from your CHAMPION 🏆
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) September 27, 2020
An emotional Devon Petersen speaks after lifting his first ever PDC title after claiming an 8-3 final victory over Jonny Clayton at the 2020 German Darts Championship... pic.twitter.com/5qdc9A5MUK
The tournament was played in front of a live crowd and Devon says this helped a lot: “How we interact with you guys is what makes the championship interesting, we love the support and we love to see more of you in the future.”
Devon will now turn his attention to the World Grand Prix in October.