From basements to Budapest: These Labradorians took on the world in an international darts tournament

While Labrador's competitive darts scene is still in its infancy, two Labradoriansrecently had the chance to represent Canada on the international stage at a masters event in Budapest.

Colby Burke of Labrador City and Tina Noble Chiasson of Happy Valley-Goose Bay competed at the World Masters earlier this month. Noble Chiasson became the first woman from Labrador to compete at the event, and Burke became the youngest Labradorian to compete.

"The skill level that was over there was unbelievable. I mean I tried my hardest, [but] you win some, you lose some. That's how it goes," Burke told CBC Radio last week.

Burke won each of his first three matches against opponents from Slovakia, the United States and Belgium to finish at the top of his group. He lost in the round of 128 after missing an opportunity to take match darts and win the match againstOndej Skalickof Czechia.

Burke, who said he had never played an in-person tournament before the start of the year and only picked up the game in the last couple of years, says he won't soon forget the experience.

"Even being out there showing that you can win a single leg to winning games, it shows that you can compete for yourself with some of the best players in the world," he said."It shows you that really anything is possible."

Noble Chiassoncalled competing an eye opener, saying it was quite the jump from the teamleagues she plays inHappy Valley-Goose Bay. She earned an invite to the event after reaching the quarter finals of a Canadian national event.

"That was the highlight of my career itself. So just to be able to go and take it all in and look at the talent was a once in a lifetime opportunity," she said.

Despite losing a few sets, she says her highlight moment was taking a game from Wendy Harper, the No. 2-ranked female player in New Zealand.

"She had eight wins and zero losses, and I gave her her first loss. So I was good with that, I didn't care about losing the set. I took one game off her," she said with a laugh.

Noble Chiassonsaid the game of darts is growing in Labrador, especially following the creation of the Labrador Darts Association last year. That allowed the region to separate from Newfoundland competitivelyand host and develop their own competitions, she said, as many darts players faced cost challenges in travelling to compete.

"Starting last year we've seen a huge raise in interest in competing, individuals wanting to compete in darts. They're coming out of their sheds and their leagues and their pubs, and our membership is just getting bigger and bigger," she said.

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