Harare province darts end of season delight

From left to right-It's all smiles for Mabharani 'Chitarafu' Leo and Nyika 'Dhara' Svodai with their prizes and trophies they won at Mr. and Ms. Harare darts held recently in Harare.

While Phil Tylor and Andy Fordham challenged each other in the ongoing SINGHA beer Grand slam of darts in England, in Harare, a similar version of the grand slam was taking place for darts members in Harare province. The Harare darts season officially ended yesterday with the main event of the darts season Mr. and Ms. Harare tournament being held at ZRP Highfields new camp canteen. The darts tournament is a closed event for Harare darts registered members only.

The tournament kicked off with the ladies fighting off in their category for the Ms. Harare cup inaugurated in 2013 to allow the female darts players in Harare to battle it out amongst themselves despite their few numbers. There is only one all-female team in Harare darts association provincial league. Some of the ladies play in the men's dominated teams. The only female darts team has accounted for a number of men darts teams winning some of their league and cup games.

The ladies played in a round robin format in two groups. Currently ranked the best player in Zimbabwe Nyika 'Dhara' Svodai powered herself into the finals to fight it off with number four ranked player Maodzwa 'Gire' Grace. It was an all ZRP Strikers ladies final in a best of five set. Nyika saw off Maodzwa in a best of five [3-0 ] to lift the Ms. Harare cup three times in a row becoming the first lady to win the cup since it was inaugurated and not letting anyone put a hand on it. She won prize money, a medal and a trophy.

The men fought it out in groups of five with the best two players proceeding to the knockout phase. The defending champion Ndofa Amos could not manage the heat from the numerous players who were battling it out to wrestle it from him. His luck ran off in the last 16 when he was seen off by Mabharani Leo of Kutsaga darts. Most of the senior players fell by the way side as the young players dug in .Notably Denhere Talent of Flying Eagles, Makacha Farai of Blue Jobs, Mavima Simba of O.B.A and Mauye Felix of ZRP Strikers played good darts. Harare provincial team can grow to be a force to reckon with if the young upcoming players keep on playing.

It was left to Mabharani 'Chitarafu' Leo and Mauye Felix to shrug off stiff completion to power themselves into the final. Both players playing their first ever Mr. Harare final they played exceptionally good darts as it was a see-saw affair. Playing in a best of seven thriller, Mauye Felix went ahead 3-2 needing only one game to see off Mabharani but it could not be as he faltered on the doubles to let Mabharani level the game 3 apiece and play the decider. Sensing victory Mabharani made sure he hit big numbers averaging 100 and let Mauye trail behind. He did not falter on the double as he had done with the other games and wrestled the cup from Mauye. For his effort Mabharani got himself prize money, a medal and trophy.

The second edition of the Open doubles was held last week at the same venue where a record number of double teams graced the event. The best double teams from Mashonaland Central Chikwekwe and Malaka, Mashonaland West Nyemba David and Kudzanayi father and son, Midlands Mirazi and Musarava and Bulawayo Ndlovu brothers descended on Harare. Playing in a group format the doubles teams battled it out in groups and best two groups proceeded to the knockout phase where the duo of the Nyembas father and son team defied the odds and got the better of Ndofa and Chipuriro of Harare to take the doubles trophy to Mashonaland West.