For Brian Hedderick, darts has never been just a game—it’s been a community, a lifelong passion, and, at times, a calling. As he celebrates another birthday this week, Brian is doing it the way he knows best: with friends, competition, and a birthday darts tournament that reflects nearly four decades of dedication to the sport.

Brian’s journey with darts began back in 1985, almost by accident. His ex-wife’s brother invited them to join a summer league team in the Minute Man Dart League (MMDL) in Boston. At the time, the MMDL was a juggernaut—14,000 shooters strong and the largest dart league in the world. Even today, with numbers closer to 4,000, it still holds that title.

“That fall we started our own team,” Brian recalls. League play was serious business: teams of six to nine players, multiple formats including 601, cricket, and 501, and a season-long grind of home-and-away matches followed by playoffs. It was a demanding structure, but it hooked him for life.

By the late 1980s, Brian began to realize he could compete at a higher level. He had success in local tournaments and made his first foray into national competition in 1989. That same year, after moving to New Hampshire, he noticed something missing—there was nowhere to play darts. So, true to form, he built something himself.

Brian founded the Lakes Region Dart League in a county of just 30,000 people. It started with eight teams. Within three seasons, it exploded to 500 adult players, with an impressive 30 percent female participation. When there was nowhere to buy dart supplies, Brian sold them out of a suitcase. When bars needed equipment, he installed cabinets and stocked them every two weeks. Wherever there was a gap in the darts world, Brian filled it.

That same entrepreneurial spirit led him to tournament directing. In 1990, he ran his first two-day event at a local hotel, guaranteed $1,000 in prize money. Attendance was light—it was Mother’s Day weekend, after all—but Brian was hooked. Over the next decade, that tournament grew and moved from venue to venue, honoring legends like Dave Kelly and Larry Butler, expanding to 60 boards at one point, and eventually reaching a $28,000 prize pool. When Brian sold the event in 2005, it was the third-largest darts tournament in the United States. Remarkably, it’s still running today, more than 30 years later.

The game itself has changed since Brian first stepped to the oche. While participation has grown globally, he believes equipment has made the biggest difference. Modern blade boards, he notes, offer roughly 20 percent more scoring area—a huge advantage compared to earlier generations.

When asked about memorable matches, one moment stands above the rest. In the final of a $10,000 tournament, Brian found himself deep in trouble during a deciding cricket leg. Down roughly 140 points, he needed six bulls while his opponent needed just one. Then it happened: six bulls in three darts. “It was the first time I ever hit six bulls in three darts,” he says—even counting practice.

Not all lessons came from winning. Brian fondly remembers warming up at the Witch City Open when none other than Eric Bristow wandered over and asked to join a casual game of 101 di-do. “He absolutely schooled us,” Brian laughs. The moment reinforced one of the most important lessons darts taught him: sportsmanship and humility matter, on and off the board.

Age has brought its own challenges. Brian is candid about losing muscle memory and tight groupings over time. “At first, I’d get upset with myself,” he admits. “I had to learn how to cope with it.” These days, he focuses on enjoying the game, staying competitive in a healthy way, and doing the best he can—an approach that mirrors his broader outlook on life.

Practice, he believes, should always be structured but realistic. Simple routines like Around the Clock, focused work on doubles and triples, and solo games like 101 di-do still have value. The key is setting achievable goals and tracking progress, not chasing perfection.

For younger players trying to break through, Brian’s advice goes beyond mechanics. Sportsmanship comes first. Forgive yourself quickly after mistakes. Don’t make excuses. And above all, embrace positive thinking. “You can get mad for a second,” he says, “but you have to refocus right away.”

As Brian celebrates his birthday with another darts tournament, it’s clear the legacy isn’t just in trophies or prize money. It’s in the leagues he built, the tournaments he grew, the players he inspired, and the countless moments shared at the oche. For Brian, that’s the real win—and it’s one worth celebrating.