In an inspiring sporting comeback, darts player Jack Tweddell is just one tournament away from a life-changing £60,000 prize, having fought his way back from two debilitating mini-strokes that once left him unable to walk.
From Health Crisis to Championship Contender
The 30-year-old from Swindon is set to compete in the ADC Global Championship Grand Final in Portsmouth this Sunday. This comes after a stellar season where he narrowly missed qualifying for the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace. The final eight-player showdown, streaming live and free on Pluto TV, represents the culmination of a gruelling nationwide chase for a share of a £150,000 prize fund.
For Tweddell, simply being in the lineup is a personal victory. His darting career was put on hold for three to four years due to serious health issues. Doctors believe he suffered two mini-strokes, with the most severe occurring five or six years ago. "The last one left me unable to walk properly for a few months, over a year or so," Tweddell revealed. "I was on crutches when my partner suggested, about three and a half years ago, that I put a dartboard back up in the kitchen."
A New Perspective on the Oche
That suggestion sparked a remarkable journey back to the sport. Now working as a data analyst for Amazon, Tweddell has rebuilt his game and emerged as a top player on the amateur circuit. His ambition to secure a professional PDC Tour card will be pursued at Q-School later this month.
His brother is former professional Chris Aubrey, and Tweddell was once tipped for stardom in his youth. However, his health battles have given him a profoundly different outlook. "I put too much pressure on myself when I was young," he admits. "But now it's like, 'If I can't play darts tomorrow, at least I can walk properly.' There's perspective and I think that's why I started playing quite well and more consistently."
Road to the Final and How to Watch
Tweddell faces Tom Sykes in the quarter-finals, with play commencing at 1pm. The semi-finals follow at 3pm, and the final is scheduled for 4pm. The event will be streamed live on Pluto TV's MODUS Super Series channel.
Also competing is Johnny Haines, a former Lakeside World Championship participant, highlighting the quality of the field. For Jack Tweddell, the tournament is about more than just the substantial winner's cheque; it's a testament to his resilience and renewed passion for the game he thought he might have lost forever.
