THE National championships of the Guyana Darts Association (GDA) opened on Friday evening with the first round of matches at the Roraima Duke Lodge.

The tournament which featured teams on the opening night will see Men’s singles, Women’s singles and Mixed doubles games before it concludes this evening.

President of the GDA, Sheik Yassin, told the media, “We are using this tournament as a medium of going forward to our international tournaments.”
He also said that the body intends to take darts to another level and this is the first step in doing so.

Meanwhile GDA treasurer, tournament organiser and eight-time reigning Men’s champion Sudesh Fitzgerald shed some light on how the tournament will run.
“We expect about 20 players. Due to the constant migration of players that number may increase or decrease.”

He added, “It’s supposed to have been done every year but due to some constraints with sponsorship we were not able to host it quite often. However, the members of the GDA have decided that sponsorship or not, we will go forward and make the event possible.”
Fitzgerald, a former Caribbean and South American champion and current JBL Brazilian champion contended that he intends to take the Men’s title for a second time.

He is also half of the Mixed doubles and Men’s doubles champion teams.
Female competitor and other half of the defending Mixed doubles champion Victoria Chandra said that she is ready and raring to go.

The other half of the men’s doubles team and Fitzgerald’s doubles partner as well as singles opponent said that while he has never beaten his team-mate in singles competition, he is hoping that this year will present a change.

The competition is sponsored by Duke Lodge with the proprietor’s son Kevin Gouveia officially declaring the tournament open.