Darts referee Owen Binks, 27, from Colchester, describes his intense debut at the Poland Darts Open in Krakow this February, where he nearly fainted during the final.
Turbulent Travel and Last-Minute Luggage
Binks faced immediate hurdles, taking a taxi from Glasgow to Edinburgh for his flight to Krakow. He endured over three hours in passport control, missing the entire first session. His luggage arrived just before the Sunday night final, turning what could have been a lucky start into a high-stakes challenge.
Imposter Syndrome Amid Roaring Crowds
Stepping in to replace darts legend George Noble, whom Binks calls “the GOAT,” brought on imposter syndrome. The noisy Polish crowd amplified his worries about errors or his voice projection. “You still think: what if the first three darts go in and I call the wrong score? Career over,” Binks shared.
Master of Ceremonies Philip Brzezinski lightened the mood by likening him to Star Wars’ Jar Jar Binks during introductions, sparking an online sensation. Binks later sought a fresh nickname on social media.
Refereeing the Epic Final
Between sessions, his boss assigned him to officiate the final between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen—a rematch of the World Championship final featuring a nine-darter. “At one point, there was a nine-darter. I’ve refereed a nine-darter in the final of my first-ever Euro Tour,” Binks recounted.
Reviewing footage, he noted his chest pounding visibly. “I shouted ‘Game shot!’ as loud as I could. And honestly, I nearly fainted.” In that hyper-focused state, “My brain was locked in. I felt like you could give me any number and I’d call it instantly.”
Reflecting on the moment’s weight, Binks stated: “If I never referee again for some reason, I’ll still take that moment to the grave with me.”
