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| Darts ref Owen Binks on Littler, world championship and maths | |
| (14 days later) | |
| Owen Binks says his ADHD helped him to become an expert in the world of darts | Owen Binks says his ADHD helped him to become an expert in the world of darts |
| Rubbing shoulders with Ed Sheeran, Sir Stephen Fry and Luke Littler would not be an average day at work for most. | Rubbing shoulders with Ed Sheeran, Sir Stephen Fry and Luke Littler would not be an average day at work for most. |
| But for darts referee and official Owen Binks, from Colchester, seeing the country's most famous faces is just another day at the office. | But for darts referee and official Owen Binks, from Colchester, seeing the country's most famous faces is just another day at the office. |
| The 27-year-old travels the world overseeing some of the sport's biggest occasions - most recently keeping score on stage at the PDC World Darts Championship. | The 27-year-old travels the world overseeing some of the sport's biggest occasions - most recently keeping score on stage at the PDC World Darts Championship. |
| It is a far cry from four years ago, when he was barely holding down the 21st job he had worked in since leaving university. | It is a far cry from four years ago, when he was barely holding down the 21st job he had worked in since leaving university. |
| Mr Binks said it was a phone call from tournament organiser MODUS Super Series that changed everything. | Mr Binks said it was a phone call from tournament organiser MODUS Super Series that changed everything. |
| "They asked me 'can you leave your job and be a full-time referee for us?' and I was like 'yes, absolutely' - so I quit my job on the spot," he explained. | "They asked me 'can you leave your job and be a full-time referee for us?' and I was like 'yes, absolutely' - so I quit my job on the spot," he explained. |
| "I knew that's what I wanted to do and I've been living my dream ever since. | "I knew that's what I wanted to do and I've been living my dream ever since. |
| "I've got a lot to thank them for because that call changed my life." | "I've got a lot to thank them for because that call changed my life." |
| Darts players are not the only big names Mr Binks has shared a stage with | Darts players are not the only big names Mr Binks has shared a stage with |
| Mr Binks said he found office-based jobs were incompatible with his ADHD, but the "hyper-focused" environment of darts was the perfect remedy. | Mr Binks said he found office-based jobs were incompatible with his ADHD, but the "hyper-focused" environment of darts was the perfect remedy. |
| Aside from refereeing, he also marked the scores and acted as a spotter, which involved telling TV directors where to focus their cameras. | Aside from refereeing, he also marked the scores and acted as a spotter, which involved telling TV directors where to focus their cameras. |
| He did this by predicting which shot the darts player would throw next via the use of quick maths and watching their eyes. | He did this by predicting which shot the darts player would throw next via the use of quick maths and watching their eyes. |
| "I've always been good at mental maths, but you need darts maths to be an expert in this field," said Mr Binks, who went to Philip Morant school in Colchester. | "I've always been good at mental maths, but you need darts maths to be an expert in this field," said Mr Binks, who went to Philip Morant school in Colchester. |
| "A lot of it is knowing the patterns, although you have to be on your toes for someone like Luke Littler who sprays around the board." | "A lot of it is knowing the patterns, although you have to be on your toes for someone like Luke Littler who sprays around the board." |
| Mr Binks has overseen matches competed by many elite darts players, including three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen | Mr Binks has overseen matches competed by many elite darts players, including three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen |
| Mr Binks said his ADHD was to thank for the quick mental arithmetic. Without the condition, he felt he would not have a job. | Mr Binks said his ADHD was to thank for the quick mental arithmetic. Without the condition, he felt he would not have a job. |
| He continued: "When I was growing up I was always in trouble at school, being the class clown and getting sent out. | He continued: "When I was growing up I was always in trouble at school, being the class clown and getting sent out. |
| "It really helps when you have a hyper-focus on the thing you love. For me that's darts numbers - how random is that? | "It really helps when you have a hyper-focus on the thing you love. For me that's darts numbers - how random is that? |
| "Maybe it does help becoming obsessed with that and knowing my game to the best I can." | "Maybe it does help becoming obsessed with that and knowing my game to the best I can." |
| There was no break for Mr Binks after the PDC World Darts Championship - he was straight off to another tournament in Bahrain | There was no break for Mr Binks after the PDC World Darts Championship - he was straight off to another tournament in Bahrain |
| Mr Binks could be seen regularly throughout the Darts World Championship, won by the teenage sensation Littler on 3 January. | Mr Binks could be seen regularly throughout the Darts World Championship, won by the teenage sensation Littler on 3 January. |
| He rubbed shoulders with the sport's most elite players, but footballers, actors and pop stars were also among the people he spotted in the crowd. | He rubbed shoulders with the sport's most elite players, but footballers, actors and pop stars were also among the people he spotted in the crowd. |
| The Colchester United supporter even went viral on X when he told Ed Sheeran exactly what he thought of local rivals Ipswich Town while taking a selfie. | |
| 'Greatest sport on earth' | 'Greatest sport on earth' |
| For Mr Binks though, the most excitement came from soaking up the electric Alexandra Palace atmosphere in north London. | For Mr Binks though, the most excitement came from soaking up the electric Alexandra Palace atmosphere in north London. |
| "It's such a privilege to be up on stage as there's no better crowds than the crowds at Ally Pally," he added. | "It's such a privilege to be up on stage as there's no better crowds than the crowds at Ally Pally," he added. |
| "The best thing is I get the best seat in the house to watch the best players in the world do the most amazing things." | "The best thing is I get the best seat in the house to watch the best players in the world do the most amazing things." |
| It was almost futile to ask Mr Binks whether he considered darts to be a sport or a glorified pub game. | It was almost futile to ask Mr Binks whether he considered darts to be a sport or a glorified pub game. |
| "It's definitely a sport," he bit back. "It's the greatest sport on earth." | "It's definitely a sport," he bit back. "It's the greatest sport on earth." |
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