If you’re going to do something often, you might as well be good at it.
That’s the attitude of Harvey’s Joe Comito who, true to his word, proved himself as the best darts player in the country earlier this month.
Playing in Wollongong, New South Wales, on September 15, Comito dominated the Australia Pro Tour and earned the title of Australia’s top darts player.
His victory also secured him a spot London’s Paddy Power World Darts Championships in December.
He said he expects to see some familiar faces having qualified for the world series before, where the top eight players in the world travelled to Australia to compete. But he has never played anything like the World Championships before.
“This is different, this is the top 96 players in the world,” Comito said.
“It’s not totally new, but it’s in Alexander Palace, the home of darts, in front of 5000 people.
“I don’t think it has fully sunk in yet.”
Comito got into darts aged 21 after his father invited him to play. Four years later, he had won his first Australian title.
He said the following years were a tumultuous time for the developing player, getting on to state teams, but watching his skills slowly deteriorate.
“Five or six years ago I played in a final in Bunbury and was just terrible,” he said.
“I thought ‘nah, I’m not gonna do this, I’m either going to get better or I’ll quit’.”
So he got better.
Growing up with four brothers, competition was nothing new to Comito. He set himself the goal of being the best or leaving the game behind.
“This was going to happen, or it wasn’t,” he said.
“I wasn’t going to be that guy who just sits in the middle. And as it turns out, it’s worked.”
Having won Australian titles, playing in the World Series against the best of the best, and even scoring a perfect game of darts in competition, Comito said competing in the world championships was the next challenge to conquer.
“It’s all about confidence,” Comito said.
“I just have to do what I did last weekend when I’m over there — it’s the same dart board, it’s the same distance, it’s the same everything.
“It’s just the belief in yourself, and at the end of the day, the way I’m playing now, I believe I’ve got a chance.
“You could play the world champion, the number one, and he may be a better player than you, but you just have to beat him on the day.
“That’s the sort of attitude you’ve got to have.”
