Sunderland teenager Jack Howarth has been making waves on the darts circuit and is rubbing shoulders with some of the sport’s greats.
Luke Humphries, Martin Adams, and Raymond van Barneveld are just some of the world champions Jack has shared the oche. Growing up in Washington, Tyne and Wear, Jack was a relative latecomer to the darting scene, only getting the urge to pick up a set of darts when watching the 2022 World Darts Championship with his dad.
In just three years, Jack has developed from a total novice to winning prestigious developmental titles, hitting nine-darters in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and humbling world champions. It hasn’t been a bad start for the teenager, who is studying plumbing at college alongside his darting exploits.
Christmas Tradition
With the PDC World Championship being held across the Christmas and New Year break, the darts are regarded by many as a festive tradition. For Jack, it was no different until one year he just kept playing.
“I just used to play it once a year on Christmas Eve,” the teenager told Fen Regis Trophies. “One year, I played on Christmas Eve, and, after that, I kept going and played every day since.”
“I was at my grandad’s house when I got my first set of darts,” Jack added. “He was a good player back in the day.
“He still hits a few 180s now and again, but I’ve never seen him when he was at his best.”
Rapid Rise
Most players spend a lifetime chucking arrows, never coming close to the dizzying heights showcased on the television. Jack has been playing darts for three years, and in that time, he has won titles on the Amateur Darts Circuit (ADC) and Junior Darts Corporation (JDC).
“I used to have a terrible snatch,” Jack said, speaking of his throwing style in his early playing days. “One random day, I put 10 points on my average…I don’t know what happened, I changed my throw to make it a bit smoother.”
On playing in ADC events, Jack said: “I started playing in the vaults, and I would get to a quarter-final. Then a semi-final the next week.
“I kept on progressing until I finally won one, and once I won one, I had this confidence to know how to do it.
“I started travelling all over and winning them everywhere.”
PDC Nine-Darter
Aside from lifting darts trophies, the pinnacle for any player is to hit a nine-darter in competition – especially in a PDC event. It is a feat that many highly accomplished players never achieve, though Jack was presented with a silver pin in recognition of his perfect leg in a 4-0 whitewash of Malik Istvan at a PDC Development Tour event on 27 July 2024.
“It was a ridiculous feeling,” the teenager said. “I couldn’t believe it when it went in…it was my first ever shot (at a nine-darter) in a game.
“I have hit a few in practice, but that was my first time having a shot at the Double 12 in a game. The pressure I felt going for it was ridiculous.
“I could barely stand up after that!”
Beating a World Champion
In 2024, Jack signed a deal with manufacturer Winmau and management company Modus Sports. Through those partnerships, Jack receives the backing through sponsorship to enable him to compete in events, as well as appear at large exhibition events alongside some of darts’ biggest names.
At an event held at The Fed in Gateshead in December 2024, Jack was drawn against three-time BDO world champion Martin Adams. The 68-year-old is regarded as one of the greatest players to pick up a dart, though Jack did not allow ‘Wolfie’s reputation to stop him from claiming a 3-1 win over one of the legends of the oche.
“It doesn’t feel real when you get up on stage with people like that,” said Jack. “When I beat Martin Adams, I was lost for words.
“I didn’t know what to say, I couldn’t believe I beat him. Even though he’s not at his top level anymore, he is still really good.
“It is a good feeling to beat someone who is such a legend of the sport.”
The hope, and dare say expectation, is that Jack will continue to add more world champions to the list of names he has bested on the oche. For now, the plumbing student is focusing on continuing to develop his game to secure a PDC tour card and perhaps emulating a certain other teenage darting sensation.
By Aaron Gratton
