Rashad Sweeting
| Rashad Sweeting | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Sweeting at the 2025 World Championship | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Nickname | "The Candyman",[1] "Mr Sweet Thing"[2] | ||
| Born | June 3, 1990 Nassau, Bahamas | ||
| Darts information | |||
| Playing darts since | 2009 | ||
| Darts | 23g Target | ||
| Laterality | Right-handed | ||
| Walk-on music | "I'm a Bahamian (That's What I Like)" by Nakhaz | ||
| PDC premier events – best performances | |||
| World Ch'ship | Last 96: 2025 | ||
| Other tournament wins | |||
| |||
Rashad Sweeting (born June 3, 1990) is a Bahamian darts player. He made PDC World Darts Championship history by becoming the first person to represent the country at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship. He faced Jeffrey de Graaf in the first round, winning the first set but losing the next three to be eliminated.
Career
[edit]Sweeting took up darts in 2009, and described Phil Taylor as his “motivation”.[3]
Sweeting represented the Bahamas at the 2023 WDF World Cup.[4]
Sweeting sealed his qualification for the 2025 PDC World Championship via the Championship Darts Latin America and Caribbean (CDLC) Order of Merit, winning two of the four events held in 2024. In Montego Bay, Jamaica, in July, he defeated Costa Rica’s Guillermo Soto 6–5 in the final, while in October in Santiago, Chile, he earned a 6–1 victory over Sudesh Fitzgerald to win his second event. He was denied back-to-back titles by Soto, who recovered from 5–3 down to win Event 4.[5] At the World Championship, Sweeting became the first player to represent the Bahamas at the competition. He was drawn against Jeffrey de Graaf in the first round. Sweeting won the first set of the match 3–1, following seven missed doubles from de Graaf. Sweeting had the opportunity to go 2–0 up in sets, but missed set darts. De Graaf tied the game at 1–1 before winning the next two sets to defeat Sweeting 3–1.[6]
Despite defeat, he earned the attention of fans and media for his arrival - heading in the wrong direction[7] - and for celebrating a 180 with the "cold" celebration of Chelsea F.C.'s Cole Palmer.[8] As tournament sponsor, Irish gambling company Paddy Power were donating £1,000 to charity Prostate Cancer UK for every 180 hit at the event, they showed their appreciation for Sweeting's 180 by paying for his travel costs.[9]
Personal life
[edit]His walk-on music is "I'm a Bahamian (That's What I Like)" by Nakhaz, which he selected to dispel myths about the people of his nation.[3] Away from the sport, Sweeting works as an immigration officer.[3]
World Championship results
[edit]PDC
[edit]- 2025: First round (lost to Jeffrey de Graaf 1–3)
References
[edit]- ^ "Rashad Sweeting - Mastercaller".
- ^ "Rashad Sweeting". PDC.
- ^ a b c Swan, by Craig (17 December 2024). "Meet Bahamas darts star aiming for a crack at Gary Anderson". Daily Record. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Rashad Sweeting - DartsWDF". WDF.
- ^ Gorton, Josh (7 October 2024). "Sweeting makes history to confirm World Championship debut". PDC. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ Gill, Samuel (17 December 2024). "Jeffrey de Graaf comes from a set down against Ally Pally cult hero Rashad Sweeting to set up Gary Anderson clash". DartsNews. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ^ "World Darts Championship: Debutant Rashad Sweeting takes WRONG TURN on way to Ally Pally stage". Sky Sports. 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Darts results: Ryan Meikle beats Fallon Sherrock to set up Luke Littler showdown while Rashad Sweeting lights up the Ally Pally with a magical 180 and Cold Palmer celebration". Sporting Life. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
- ^ Dzifa Seeberg, Lea (19 December 2024). "World Darts Championship star Rashad Sweeting getting heartwarming present from Paddy Power". MyLondon. Retrieved 21 December 2024.