Biography
Wes Newton has been there or thereabouts for many years – plying his trade at the very top level in the Professional Darts Corporation but now is surely the time for him to kick on to greater things.
As the world of darts becomes tougher and more competitive by the month, Wes is scrapping to stay in the world’s top 32.
Over the past five or six years, Wes has been a regular on our TV screens, qualifying for all the ‘Major’ tournaments and he has twice reached the semi-finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
And he came through the qualifiers again in 2009 at the Mandalay Bay, before losing to Gary Anderson in the 2nd Round…..however, his trip to Vegas 2009 will live long in the memory, because Newton hit his first ever 9-darter in competition.
It came at the Vegas Players Championship event against Team Unicorn stablemate Colin Osborne…..Wes actually lost the match and his bonus was just £400 because American Larry Butler also hit darts holy grail at the same tournament.
But it is another box to tick for the young man from Fleetwood in Lancashire.
Like in all sports, Newton could also do with a slice of luck every now and again. In June 2009, he looked nailed on to win a place in the quarter-finals of the prestigious UK Open Finals in Bolton.
Newton led Alan Tabern 7-5 before the St.Helens man produced some unbelievable darts – taking out 161 and 170 to force a last leg decider…..the Unicorn star has left himself on 32 for the match and Tabern then took out 156 to pinch it!
But the signs are good for Newton!
One of his other claims to fame involves the great Phil Taylor, because Wes has been on the end of a Taylor televised 9-darter….that came at Bolton at the UK Open Finals in 2008.
He is more than holding his own in all the PDC floor events and is doing well in the Players Championship Order of Merit, which now determines qualification for the big TV tournaments.
And like so many players on the PDC circuit these days, it is consistency that Newton really strives for.
At the 2008 World Championship, he was hugely disappointing in losing in the 1st Round to Jamie Caven, while 2009 at the Ally Pally saw him lose to Raymond van Barneveld in the 2nd Round.
Apart from another last 16 appearance at the Reebok (where he lost to Taylor), 2008 was a pretty barren year, because he didn’t appear in Vegas, Blackpool, Dublin or the new European Championship.
But we saw a glimpse of Newton’s ability when he came through a big field to win the ITV qualifier ahead of the Grand Slam of Darts II – beating the likes of Tabern, Alex Roy and Barrie Bates.
And yet again, ‘Lady Luck’ deserted Newton at the tournament in Wolverhampton…..in the group stages, he beat Colin Lloyd and American Darin Young but a 5-0 defeat to Terry Jenkins in his last group match meant that Newton missed out on the knock-out stages on leg difference only.
He is regularly reaching the last 16 of PDC Pro Tour events and therein lies the frustration.
“I know it’s getting harder because there are so many good players in the PDC ranks at the moment,” he said.
“But I know it is time to push on…..I am a regular in the last 16 and last 32 of competitions, so I need to find that extra something to help my raise my game and take it to the next step…..and believe me, that is what I am striving for.”
“The Players Championship events are key for me because that is my route into the big TV tournaments,” he admitted. “That is why I will continue to travel far and wide in search of my goals.”
Newton combines his passion for darts by working part-time in an accounts office in his native Fleetwood and now lives with girlfriend Stacey in his home town.
“It is great to receive Unicorn’s support and recognition. Now, it’s payback time and I need to be getting into positions where I can win tournaments,” he said.
Unicorn Managing Director Edward Lowy was heavily involved in Newton’s acquisition to the biggest name in darts. “I saw Wes play in the Las Vegas Desert Classic in 2005 and was very impressed. I thought he was tremendous again in 2006 at The Mandalay Bay. I introduced myself and it went from there! He is very talented, young, vibrant and works very hard at his game.”
As we mentioned earlier, Newton has a taste for the bright lights of The Strip in Vegas – reaching the semi-finals twice. In 2005, he was beaten by ‘The Power’ that is Phil Taylor….and in 2006, having qualified again, he beat Wayne Mardle, Mick McGowan and Chris Mason, before losing a close semi-final to Unicorn stablemate John Part.
Newton carries the nickname ‘Av It’ – born from playing with friends when he spent time in the south of England and he is now a familiar face at all the big events.
He played in four World Championships at The Circus Tavern and has so far, graced the stage at the Alexandra Palace twice
Newton picked up the darting bug from dad Colin and by the time he was 16, he was winning local league tournaments, before graduating to county level with Lancashire.
That’s where it all started…..there’s still a long road ahead before it all finishes!
Expect a lot more from Wes Newton over the next few years…..as they say, practice makes perfect!