Salate Shines in Santiago

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Jesus Salate delivered a statement performance in the penultimate event of the 2025 Championship Darts Latin America & Caribbean Tour, storming through the field at CDLC Tour Event #5 in Santiago without dropping a single leg in the final. His 6–0 demolition of Norman Madhoo capped off a brilliant day that saw him seize control of the race for a spot at the PDC World Darts Championship.

Entering the event two points behind Bahamian rival Rashad Sweeting, Salate’s path to the title – and the Tour Points lead – included a critical semifinal win over Sweeting himself, followed by clinical dominance in the final. The Argentinian now holds an 8-point edge heading into Sunday’s finale and is on the cusp of a dream debut at Alexandra Palace. For Sweeting to reclaim the top spot, he’ll need to win Event #6 and hope Salate fails to make the final.

The event marked Salate’s third CDLC title of the season, with Sweeting owning the other two. The match of the quarterfinal round may have come from Costa Rica’s Guillermo Soto, who pushed Salate to the limit before missed doubles proved costly. Soto’s upset bid could’ve all but clinched Sweeting’s World Championship return, but Salate held firm and never looked back.

Jamaica’s Jonathon Heron continued his rise on the Tour, reaching the semifinals in his return to action after a finals appearance in Panama. Meanwhile, Guyana’s Norman Madhoo made his fourth final of the season but saw his slim bid for a fifth World Championship appearance dashed by the consistency of both Salate and Sweeting. His countryman and former World Cup of Darts partner, Sudesh Fitzgerald exited early at the hands of Costa Rica’s Jafet Vanegas.

Statistically, Salate topped the field with an 85.10 average over 36 legs and shared the 180 lead with Heron — both hitting five. The storyline now turns to Sunday’s Event #6, where the World Championship berth and Tour title will be decided at 2:00 PM local time.

QUARTERFINALS:
Rashad Sweeting (1) 6-0 Daniel Riveros
Jesus Salate (4) 6-4 Guillermo Soto (5)
Jafet Vanegas 3-6 Jonathan Heron (7)
Norman Madhoo (3) 6-2 Roberto Wentz (6)

SEMIFINALS:
Rashad Sweeting 2-6 Jesus Salate
Jonathon Heron 4-6 Norman Madhoo

FINAL:
Jesus Salate 6-0 Norman Madhoo

Sweeting Sweeps to Third CDLC Title in Panama City

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Rashad Sweeting powered to his third career CDLC Main Tour title on Sunday, producing a dominant 6-0 victory over Jamaica’s Jonathon Heron in the final of Event 2 in Panama City.

The Bahamian star, who captured headlines with his historic World Darts Championship debut last December, was in impressive form throughout the day. Sweeting edged past Jesus Salate 6-5 in the quarterfinals and took out top seed Sudesh Fitzgerald 6-2 in the semifinals before racing to a whitewash win in the final.

Sweeting’s 76.48 tournament average was second only to Salate’s 81.09, but it was his finishing that made the difference on the final day of the Panama City weekend. He also topped the 180 chart, landing six maximums across his matches.

Heron made history of his own by becoming the first Jamaican player to reach a CDLC Main Tour final, narrowly edging out Brazil’s Artur Valle 6-5 in the semifinals after seeing off Costa Rican, Jonathan Quiros, in the last eight.

Fitzgerald, who had reached the final of Event 1, continued his consistent run with a semifinal appearance, falling just short of another title shot. Meanwhile, Trinidad’s James Walkin finished second behind Sweeting in the 180 race, firing in four on the day.

The CDLC Tour resumes action July 25-27 in Freeport, Bahamas, as players look to continue their push toward World Championship qualification.

Salate Stays Hot in Maiden CDLC Win

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Jesus Salate remained in blistering form as he stormed through the field in Panama City to claim his first CDLC Main Tour title, edging Sudesh Fitzgerald 6-5 to win Event 1 on the 2025 Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean (CDLC) circuit on Saturday.

Fresh off leading Argentina to World Cup qualification on Friday alongside Victor Guillin, Salate extended his winning streak with another impressive run. The eighth seed powered through Bruno Amaro 6-0 in the quarterfinals and outlasted fourth seed Rashad Sweeting 6-4 in the semis before battling through a tense final against Fitzgerald.

The title match saw both players miss nine match darts in a nervy deciding leg, but it was Salate who finally found the winning double to lift the trophy. Fitzgerald averaged 72.47 in the final compared to Salate’s 71.84, but it was Salate’s superior scoring that told the story of the day, leading the field with six 180s and an 80.08 overall average, bolstered by an 88.79 first nine.

Fitzgerald’s path to the final included dominant wins over Robin Allbury and Victor Guillin, the latter of whom battled through a tough draw featuring seeded opponents in three consecutive matches.

Salate went 36-9 in legs on the day to Fitzgerald’s 35-10, highlighting just how little separated the two in what was a thrilling start to the 2025 CDLC season.

Weekend 1 on the 2025 CDLC Tour comes to a close on Sunday with Event #2 from Panama City.

Argentina’s Salate and Guillin Make History with World Cup Qualification

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Jesus Salate and Victor Guillin made history on Friday, clinching Argentina’s first-ever berth in the Professional Darts Corporation BetVictor World Cup of Darts with a dominant run at the Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean (CDLC) World Cup Qualifier.

The duo averaged 81.16 across four knockout matches on the day, sealing their spot in Frankfurt with a commanding 7-2 victory over Costa Rica’s Jason Calderon and Jonathan Quiros in the final. Salate and Guillin were in control from the outset, producing a polished performance to cap a dominant day that began with a perfect group stage.

The Argentines’ road to glory included a semifinal triumph over defending champions Norman Madhoo and Sudesh Fitzgerald, ending Team Guyana’s hopes of back-to-back World Cup appearances with a 6-2 win. In the quarterfinals, Salate and Guillin held off a spirited challenge from Bahamian pair Rashad Sweeting and Lorenzo Deveaux, edging through a last-leg decider to keep their title hopes alive.

Over the course of the event, Salate and Guillin compiled a 30-10 leg record, hitting six 180s between them — four coming from Guillin — and showcasing their consistency in both the round-robin and knockout phases. Calderon and Quiros, who impressed throughout the day and reached the final by defeating fellow countrymen Jafet Vanegas and Guillermo Soto 6-1, averaged 74.80 in the final but were unable to match Argentina’s relentless pace.

Following Team Guyana’s breakthrough in 2024, Argentina becomes the second consecutive CDLC nation to debut at the World Cup, with Salate and Guillin set to make their mark in Frankfurt from June 12-15.

The CDLC weekend continues with Events 1 and 2 on the 2025 CDLC Tour, set for Saturday and Sunday.

Delight for Guyana as Madhoo and Fitzgerald book a return to the World Cup of Darts

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Norman Madhoo and Sudesh Fitzgerald did what they vowed to do immediately after falling in the group stage of the 2023 MyDieselClaim World Cup of Darts: give themselves another shot on the big stage. The pair won through the Latin America and Caribbean qualifier staged by Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean (CDLC) in San Jose, Costa Rica over the weekend and will make a return to Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle this June.

Madhoo, who made his fourth appearance at the World Championship last December, will once again be the standard-bearer for the Guyanese in the 40-team World Cup and both he and Fitzgerald (also a World Championship participant in 2009) relish the opportunity to    build on last year’s foundation.

The qualifier was open to nations across Central and South America as well as the Caribbean and featured 12 teams, each of whom came through a qualifying process in their home countries to secure their spot.

The Guyanese were once again dominant in the round-robin stage, dropping only two legs en route to claiming the top spot in Group B before whitewashing the Panamanian team of Andres Vega and Antonio Arango to advance to the semifinals. There, they took advantage of inconsistent scoring from the Costa Rican pair of Jason Calderon and Denis Valerin, also dispatching them in straight legs without reply – surely a disappointment for Calderon who was part of the Costa Rican side that came within one dart of eliminating Madhoo and Fitzgerald in the semifinals in 2023.

In the final, Team Guyana faced a known quantity in the Nicaraguan pair of Norwin Jimenez and Gerald Ordenana, the teams having advanced from the same Round Robin group. Once again the Guyanese punished missed doubles, cruising to a 4-1 victory and booking their return to Germany for a second straight year.

The 2024 CDLC Tour opens with a doubleheader weekend in Montego Bay, Jamaica from July 20-21 and concludes once again with events in Santiago, Chile on October 12-13. At the conclusion of the Tour, the top player over the course of the four events will secure a spot in the 2025 World Darts Championship beginning in December at the Alexandra Palace. More information is available via email at CDLCinfo@champdarts.com.

Double-Dip Glory for the Guyanese in Costa Rica

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2023 World Cup of Darts pair, Norman Madhoo and Sudesh Fitzgerald, each claimed a title as they stormed through the field in Costa Rica at the inaugural weekend on the Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean (CDLC) Tour.

Friday’s action saw Madhoo barely breaking a sweat – dropping only 11 legs all day and never more than three in a match – as he claimed the first title in CDLC Tour history. “The Storm” was brilliant from the start, firing in 3 180s in his first match, dispatching Jonathan Quiros 6-1 with what was his highest match average for the day. From there, the Guyanese man produced wins of 6-3, 6-2 and 6-2 to set up a finals tie with his World Cup teammate in what appeared to be a match for the highlight reels.

Unfortunately for Sudesh, he never seemed to get comfortable in the final as his scoring deserted him at critical moments. After the pair traded the opening legs, Madhoo produced finishes in 19 and 17 darts to take a 3-1 lead, which he would never relinquish despite encountering scoring problems of his own in legs five and six. With the scoreline sitting at 5-3, Norman fired in a 14 darter, checking 80 in two darts to seal the victory.

Sunday was a different story, however. As the dust settled on CDLC Weekend 1, it was Sudesh as the man left standing as CDLC Event #2 Champion. It was not an easy road, however, as Fitzgerald survived back-to-back last leg deciders – a revenge match in the round-of-32 against Madhoo and then in the last-16 against Argentinian star, Jesus Salate – before going into cruise control. Sudesh bested Guillermo Soto 6-3 in the semis and dropped only two legs in the final to former Costa Rican national champion, Alex Gutierrez, to claim the title.

CDLC is the regional affiliate of North America’s Championship Darts Corporation and is dedicated to elevating the level of play and professionalism in darts across Latin America and the Caribbean. The action returns in Santiago, Chilé, October 13-15 at the Hotel Torremayor. At the conclusion of that weekend (which will mark the first time in history that a Professional Darts Corporation-affiliated event will be staged in a South American country other than Brazil), the top player on the 2023 CDLC Tour Points list will earn a berth in the PDC PaddyPower World Darts Championship to be held at the Alexandra Palace, London in December.

CDLC Kicks Off Inagural Tour in Costa Rica

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Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean (CDLC) – the regional affiliate of Championship Darts Corporation – kicks off its inaugural season in San Jose, Costa Rica this weekend with two Tour events that represent the first steps on the road to the PDC PaddyPower World Darts Championship for players in Central and South America and the Caribbean.

The action begins at 2:00 PM local time on Saturday with players from across the region toeing the oche at the Radisson Hotel San Jose. Among the field will be Norman Madhoo and Sudesh Fitzgerald who partnered as Team Guyana for the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt this past June, earning their berth via a one-off qualifying event held by the CDLC in May. Tour event #2 will be staged on Sunday at the same time and rounds-out the first Professional Darts Corporation-sanctioned Tour weekend in the history of the region. CDLC action then moves to Chile with two additional events to be held at the Hotel Torremayor in Santiago on October 14-15, marking the first time the PDC has had a sanctioned event in South America outside of Brazil.

At the conclusion of the final event in Chile, the player on top of the points standings will qualify for the World Darts Championship to be held at the Alexandra Palace, London in December. Live match scoring for all CDLC-tour events can be found on DartConnect, the official scoring app of CDC and CDLC.

Championship Darts Corporation Signs with Buchwald Agency

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Partnership Aims to Secure Traditional Broadcast and New Media Opportunities

CHICAGO, May 18, 2023: Championship Darts Corporation (CDC), owner and operator of the Championship Darts Circuit, North America’s Professional Darts Tour, today announces it has signed an 18-month representation agreement with Buchwald, the premier talent agency for broadcast communications, to explore opportunities to expand the reach of North American professional darts into both traditional broadcast and new media platforms.

Buchwald, formerly known as Don Buchwald and Associates, is perhaps best known for its representation of legendary radio icon, Howard Stern, though the firm now boasts a client roster that includes hundreds of actors and creative talent across the country. CDC will be represented by Tony Burton, Co-Head of the firm’s Broadcast Department, based in the New York office.

“With more than 17 million players in the United States, darts has quickly gone from a pub game to one of the fastest-growing industries in professional sports. Television, digital streaming, social media and live events now provide passionate fans with more viewing opportunities than ever before. We are thrilled to partner with the CDC as they continue to provide their fans and players with the most exciting tournament experience in professional darts across the continent!”
– Tony Burton, Co-Head – Broadcast Department, Buchwald

CDC is the North American affiliate of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), the leader in global professional darts. With 12 Main Tour events, two major tournaments (the Continental Cup and Cross Border Darts Challenge) and numerous other competitions, CDC is the only path to the international stage for top darting talent in the United States and Canada. The recent launch of Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean (CDLC) – regional affiliate of the CDC – puts the company at the forefront of professional darts across half the globe. Its broadcasts can currently be found on PDCTV, the official streaming service of the Professional Darts Corporation, as well as on its YouTube channel and Facebook page under the handle @champdarts.

“We’re really excited about the opportunities this partnership can provide and the doors it will open. Darts is truly an electric sport filled with fast-paced action, a passionate fan base that loves to party and larger-than-life personalities. The growth of the game on this continent is approaching critical mass and the time is right to bring the game into mainstream sports consciousness in North America.”
– Peter Citera, CEO, Championship Darts Corporation

The 2023 Championship Darts Circuit kicks off this coming weekend in Indianapolis with Main Events on Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. Follow along with the stream on PDCTV or the CDC YouTube channel. Live scoring of all matches can be accessed via our scoring partner, DartConnect, at tv.dartconnect.com.

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About Buchwald

BUCHWALD was launched by Don Buchwald and five associates in 1977. Built on the cornerstone of our commercial and broadcast departments, our full-service agency offers representation in every area of the entertainment industry: commercial, broadcast, film, theatre, television, literary, feature film packaging, personal appearance, syndication (radio, television and digital), branding/digital, and emerging talent. More information available at www.buchwald.com

About Championship Darts Corporation

Championship Darts Corporation operates the Championship Darts Circuit, North America’s professional darts tour. Founded in 2014 by three individuals with a combined 80-plus years of experience promoting the game, its goal is to elevate the level of play, produce top-quality darts entertainment and cultivate the next North American World Champion.

For further information, email info@champdarts.com or see www.champdarts.com.