Ryan Vessey’s darting journey began in his bedroom, like so many before him – having recently made his Super League debut, the Farnham thrower has his eyes set on playing for the county.
“I must have been about 14 or 15,” he told Fen Regis Trophies. “I used to have a dartboard in my room.
“I’d come home from school, stick on the World Championships, and just throw darts for hours.”
His parents were competitive players, too, with trophies from their own pub leagues once lined the family dining room. It wasn’t until Ryan turned 18 that he followed in their footsteps. That’s when he joined his first local pub team, marking the real start of his competitive journey.
Originally from Farnham, Surrey, Ryan now calls West Sussex home. After moving to the area seven years ago, he decided to pick up his darts again.
“I just reached out to a local team,” he said. “They invited me down one night, gave me a game, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
From there, things moved fast. He worked his way up through the local leagues and eventually earned a spot in the Super League, where he now averages around 70–75 – a solid level that reflects both his talent and discipline.
That step up, however, came with its own challenges. “When I first started, I was shaking like mad,” he laughed. “My hand wouldn’t stop.
“Once I got used to the environment, I learned not to play the person just the board. You can’t control what they’re doing. You can only focus on your next dart.”
The Mental Game
For Ryan, darts isn’t just physical, it’s mental. “It’s 80% in your head and 20% throwing,” he said firmly. “If you can keep calm and composed, you’ll win most of your games.”
He credits his team captain, Steve Collins, for helping him master that mindset. “Steve’s been massive for me. A few years ago, if I started badly, I’d lose my head — throw my toys out the pram.
“Now I know how to stay calm, reset, and just keep going. He’s helped me find that mental balance.”
That stability has shown in Ryan’s results. His proudest moment so far came reaching the semi-finals at an ADC Vault open tournament, beating several seasoned players along the way before bowing out to Adam Mould.
“It was probably the best darts I’ve ever played,” Ryan explained. “I was hitting 70-plus averages and beating some really strong players.
“That day gave me belief. I knew my game was there. I just had to keep my head.”
New Darts, New Confidence
Recently, Ryan made another key change: switching from 22-gram to 20-gram darts, a move that’s revitalised his game.
“I’d been forcing everything,” he said. “My arm was getting sore, my darts were floating. I went to a shop just to test some different weights and ended up hitting a 180 within four throws of trying the new ones. It just felt right!”
For Ryan, that comfort matters more than statistics. “Once you find the right setup, stick with it,” he says. “Because after that, it’s all in your head. The darts are fine. it’s you that needs to adjust.”
When I Play for the County
As for what’s next, Ryan isn’t chasing darts trophies — at least not yet.
“My goal isn’t to win everything; it’s to perform consistently,” he says. “If I can average 70-plus every week in Super League, that’s success for me.”
But there’s one milestone he’s aiming for: representing West Sussex at county level.
“That’s the dream,” he admitted. “Even if it’s just as a reserve. I know my game isn’t quite there yet, but I’m working towards it.
“This time next year, I want my standard game to be around a 74–75 average. I want my bad games to still be solid.”
Balancing full-time work and family life makes practice time scarce, but Ryan fits it in where he can. “I don’t have four or five hours a day like the pros,” said Ryan. “But even an hour every night helps. Consistency is everything.”
A Grounded Ambition
Ryan knows that darts at his level is a marathon, not a sprint. “There’s no point rushing to enter big tournaments if my game isn’t ready,” he admits. “I’d rather build up, improve, and go in confident. When I do, I’ll know I deserve to be there.”
His realism doesn’t dampen his drive. It defines it.
“Darts has taught me patience. You don’t get anywhere overnight. But if you keep your head, keep learning, and keep throwing
“That’s when you see what you’re really capable of.”
From a teenage fan throwing darts at his bedroom wall to a Super League regular with county ambitions, Ryan Vessey’s story isn’t about instant glory. It’s about persistence, progress, and passion, one dart at a time.
“Play the board, not the person…if you can do that, everything else will fall into place.”
By Aaron Gratton
