Crooks to compete at World Darts Masters

Times Reporter  

 

Strathmorian Logan Crooks is not your average 16-year-old. He plays AAA baseball for the Strathmore Reds, and also will be representing Canada’s 18 and under team at the Winmau World Darts Masters in England come October. 

“It’s the most elite shoot in the world for kids…it’s the one that everyone wants to get,” father Jim Crooks said. “It is a big achievement in his life.”

Logan Crooks qualified as one of three for Canada’s team at Nationals back in May, and had the opportunity to travel to Newfoundland, where the tournament was held. 

Prior to that, he won Provincials back in February for the 16 and under category. 

With the occasional weekend off in baseball, that’s when Crooks has time to compete with darts. How did he get so good, for only having played four years?

“Mostly practice. three or four hours a night, he practices,” said Jim Crooks. “He doesn’t have to, but he wants to do it.”

“My mom and dad played here (in Strathmore), and in Legions around. So I just went around and played with them,” Logan said.

The Crooks have a dart studio at home with three boards to keep up Logan’s skill.

Logan feels the hand-eye coordination from darts assists him in his baseball game; he prefers darts as it’s much easier to represent your province, and mingle with other competitors.

“Darts is more social than baseball. When you go to Nationals there’s more people to be with; baseball you just kind of play a team, and that’s it,” he said.

With sponsors all the way from Japan with L-Style, to Puma Darts from New Zealand, to Western Feed Lots, to the Strathmore Ladies Auxiliary and Royal Canadian Legion, Logan has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to perform when it counts.

“Once you have a final, a stage final, everyone watches it. That’s a little nerve-racking,” he said. “Just stay calm, nerves get the better of a lot of people.”

“When you’re playing, you lose complete focus around. It’s just you and the board. If you start listening behind you, you’re done,” said Jim. “It’s the type of game where there’s a lot of hand-eye coordination. It’s not a real physical game, but major concentration.”

The teen’s eventual goal is to turn pro, like his mentor, Canadian Ken MacNeil. Crooks can return to Winmau one more year after the 2013 tournament.