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Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
RAILSTARS Darts Club player, George Nyathi teamed with rival Simeone James of Archers in the Open Darts Doubles tournament held at Sizinda South Beer Garden over the weekend to clinch a steer that was up for grabs.

The duo outplayed a strong field that included national darts team players to walk away with the beast valued at $600 at the Bulawayo Social Darts League-organised tourney whose main prizes were sponsored by Sizinda South Beer Garden and Sizinda South Bottle Store.

Nyathi and James also walked away with t-shirts from Delta Beverages, a six pack of Carling Black Label beer and a crate of Ingwebu’s Shake It for their efforts, prizes that went to all the top three.

The highest paying darts tournament in the city had been expected to attract a huge field but the reported presence of national champion, David Nyemba scared away most players who felt they would be embarking on a lost cause, as they felt the Chinhoyi darts player would run away with the title.

However, Nyathi and James had other ideas and kicked Nyemba and his partner, Simon Mujuru in the semifinals and went on to dispatch Nyemba’s son Kudzanyi and his partner Tonde Kuvheya in the finals.

Other national darts team players that were present included the pair of Wilfred Chitakatira and Moses Ndlovu, whose last 16 match against Nyemba and Mujuru produced a tense thriller that saw the former pair miss four opportunities to seal the match as they could not close it.

Nyemba and Kuvheya received two goats for coming second while Mandla Dube and Meli Tshuma took bronze walking away with a sheep.

The much fancied Nyemba and Mujuru walked away with a goat, two t-shirts and a crate of Ingwebu’s Shake It for fourth position.

The four pairs knocked out at the quarter- finals Brian Ndlovu/Albert Tawanda, Patrick Zimidzi/Mgcini Nkala, Qhawe Sibanda/Dave Mahlangu and Ndabezinhle Ngwenya/Jackson Ndimande  were rewarded with two chickens, five units of Shake it and two Carling Black Label pints each.

BSDL vice secretary, Julius Ncube said they were happy with the way the tournament went adding the presence of national team players showed the competition, which is in its third year, had grown in stature.

He said the competition was exciting for the crowd as the players showed great skills.

The prize for the highest close went to Carrington Mabeta who closed with 150 points while David Nyemba had the most 180s, claiming three of them.

Businessman, Donald Ndebele, who runs Sizinda South Beer Garden said the tournament was marvellous and was looking forward to a bigger edition next year.

Ndebele, together with Rozina Nhlamba of Sizinda South Bottle provided the main prizes for the tournament.