MHS student heads to Budapest for dart championships

Coby Chrisman hopes the 6 to 8 hours he spends a day practicing darts pays off when he plays in the World Masters Championship Oct. 9-11 in Budapest, Hungary.

The MacArthur High School sophomore, who has been playing darts for the past six years, was invited to the World Masters Championship after he placed second in the Las Vegas Open Youth Tournament in January.

This will be his first time competing at an international tournament and his first time traveling outside the United States.

“I’ve put lots of hard work into this. I’ve got to believe in myself. This is going to be different for me. I’m looking to try to win, but I know I will lose some. All I can do is practice, practice, practice,” Coby said.

He said he will face about 350 other youths in the tournament. The first portion of the tournament will be round robin and he will play everyone in his youth bracket. Those with the highest points will move on to the knockout bracket, which is single elimination. Those who survive the knockout bracket will advance to the World Championship round.

Budapest and the World Masters Championship is a long way from his garage in Lawton, where he got his introduction to darts from his father, Timothy. The two started playing together after Coby saw his dad play. Coby wanted to learn how, but became discouraged after his father beat him, so he stepped back from the game for a while.

When Coby picked darts up again, he eventually started beating his dad. Then he began beating other adults, and he has continued to beat them. Coby plays in two different leagues, one against other youths and one against adults.

The 16-year-old is ranked 8th among boys in the United States who are members of the World Dart Federation. Despite his success, the family was surprised when he received an invitation to the World Masters.

“I was very shocked to receive the invitation,” his mother, Joyce, said. “He has motivation and drive. His ranking in 2023 earned that invitation for him.”

Coby is looking forward to his first international competition and to traveling abroad.

“I like cars. I’m hoping to see some cool cars and try out some restaurants,” he said. He also hopes to make new friends and face new opponents.

Coby said he never thought he would make it to this level of competition.

“I did not think it was possible until this day,” he said.

Mother and son said they have received support for the trip from their “darts family,” including those at VFW Post 5263, whose members created a place several years ago for Coby to practice.

Coby will continue to put in his long practice hours in a back room at home until time to leave for the competition. Coby said he practices a little before school and again after his homework is done. That doesn’t leave much time for anything else, he said, but he doesn’t get tired of the long practice sessions.

“I always have something new to find out,” he said of practicing.

Joyce has confidence in her son and his abilities.

“I think he is going to go over there and give it his all. He may come up against stiff competition, but he isn’t afraid of it,” she said. “I am extremely proud of my son. He has put in the work. He has drive and determination. This is something one can only dream of, to go overseas to compete with other adults. To watch his dream come true is speechless.”

No matter how Coby does in the competition, he plans to keep playing darts. At the tournaments he attends, he racks up points toward possible scholarships. His future plans include attending the University of Oklahoma and majoring in engineering.