Ex-Prem Darts star rediscovering love of the game after tough times on the oche (2024)

Former World Matchplay hero and World Darts Championship star Wes Newton has spoken candidly about his career on the oche and what he's up to now

Wes Newton is on a mission to rediscover his love of darts after some tough times on the oche.

The Warrior was one of the best players in the world a decade ago but slid down the rankings because of a shoulder injury. Now he’s back working a normal job as a quality controller for an engineering company and throwing arrows for the sheer fun of it.

“Halfway through my second year in the Premier League I picked up a shoulder injury,” he recalls. “There was nothing in particular that caused it, I just woke up one morning and it was there.

“I struggled with it for about two years and when it finally settled down and the pain went my throw had changed. I developed a weaker throw, my form and rankings both dipped and that was the start of the decline.

“Then my kids came along and maybe I lost a bit of hunger for the game. It’s hard when you’re struggling so much; at the time it was just one thing after another.”

Newton has since played in the WDF – which he still occasionally competes in – and the Modus Super Series. He hasn’t ruled out a return to the latter but for now he’s content just enjoying his darts at a local level.

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“I would still like to play at a higher level but over the last year or so I made the decision to take a step back and only play local stuff. When it became a job, and you go through the struggles and everything, it’s hard to still enjoy it.

“Now that’s been and done and I’ve been back working again for four years, it’s starting to come back. I’m playing for the enjoyment again. If my game comes back, I will start trying the higher-level tournaments again and getting back into something.

“I know it’s going to be difficult with how good some of the players are these days, but you never know. Never say never.”

Although he’s back enjoying his darts, Newton admits it’s difficult to come to terms with how his career at the top level ended. “I’m proud of what I achieved,” Newton beams. “But there’s also a bit of feeling that I should have done more.

“When I had my purple patch, I was really up there. I should have won more than I actually did. There was one spell where I lost three quarter finals in four years at the worlds, and they all went 5-4.

“They were all really close games, and, in my heart, I think I probably should have won all of them. There’s always a bit of feeling that I should have done more but I’m still so proud of what I achieved.”

Newton is overwhelmingly candid in admitting he’s saddened by the way his professional career came to an end. But with his love of darts steadily coming back, the Warrior is also able to enjoy one of his favourite venues once more, the famous Winter Gardens.

“I’d not been to the Matchplay for a while because it used to upset me a bit not being there,” he says. “But last year I went for the first time in years, and I really enjoyed it. I’m going back again this year and I’m looking forward to it.”

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