Wellington
Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...
) is a former professional
darts
Darts or dart-throwing is a competitive sport in which two or more players bare-handedly throw small projectile point, sharp-pointed projectile, missiles known as dart (missile), darts at a round shooting target, target known as a #Dartboard, dar ...
player from New Zealand.
Career
Szabo claimed the 2010 New Zealand National Championship by beating Koha Kokiri 4–0 in the final.
He qualified for the 2014 PDC World Darts Championship after winning the New Zealand National Championship in July 2013.
After beating England's Ian Moss 4–3 in the preliminary round he led Phil Taylor 1–0 in sets and 1–0 in legs before losing 3–1 in sets, in the first round. His performance received high praise from numerous darts pundits including
Wayne Mardle
Wayne Elliot Mardle (born 10 May 1973) is an English former professional darts player who played in events of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and British Darts Organisation (BDO). He was runner-up in three PDC majors, losing to Phil ...
, and from Taylor himself. In June, Szabo made his debut in the
World Cup of Darts
The PDC World Cup of Darts is a team darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation, and was one of the three new tournaments introduced into the PDC calendar in 2010. It is broadcast live by Sky Sports.Craig Caldwell and they lost 5–3 to Spain in the first round.
Szabo was defeated 6–1 by John Weber in the final of the Warilla Bowls Club Open and Weber was also the winner when the pair met in the final of the Oceanic Masters, this time triumphing 8–2.
Szabo won the 2015 DPNZ Tararua Open by beating
Mark McGrath
Mark Sayers McGrath (born March 15, 1968) is an American singer who is the lead vocalist of the rock band Sugar Ray. McGrath is also known for his work as a co-host of '' Extra'', and he was the host of '' Don't Forget the Lyrics!'' in 2010. ...
7–5. He played with
Warren Parry
Warren "Wazza" Parry (born 9 January 1964) is a New Zealand professional darts player who played in the World Darts Federation (WDF) events. Parry is widely considered the greatest New Zealand player of all time.
Career
Parry reached the final o ...
in the 2015 World Cup and they secured New Zealand's first win in the event since 2010 by knocking out Canada 5–4. They faced Northern Ireland in the second round with Szabo losing 4–1 to
Brendan Dolan
Brendan Gabriel Dolan (born 2 August 1973) is a Northern Irish professional darts player from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He is best known for becoming the first player to hit a ...
and Parry losing 4–0 to
Michael Mansell
Michael Alexander Mansell (born 5 June 1951 in northern Tasmania) is a Tasmanian Aboriginal leader who, as an activist and lawyer, has worked for social, political and legal changes to improve the lives and social standing of Tasmanian Aborigi ...
to exit the tournament. He won the New Zealand qualifier for the 2016 World Championship by defeating Craig Caldwell 9–3. He overcame Michael Rasztovits 2–0 in the preliminary round, before losing 3–0 to
Jamie Caven
Jamie Robert Caven (born 10 March 1976) is an English former professional darts player who plays in British Darts Organisation (BDO) events. He has won seven events on the PDC Pro Tour, including two in the same weekend in May 2013. Caven was ...
in the first round. His attempt to return to Alexandra Palace for the 2017 World Championship was ended in the final of the New Zealand Qualifying Event 7–3 by Parry. Szabo lost in the final of the DWA Grand Prix to
Corey Cadby
Corey Patrick Cadby (born 18 March 1995) is an Australian professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He was the 2016 World Youth champion.
Career
A native of Tasmania, Cadby began competing in Darts ...
, but won the Harrows Australian GP by thrashing Damon Heta 6–0. At the 2017 World Cup, Szabo and Cody Harris were eliminated 5–2 by Belgium in the opening round.
World Championship results
PDC
* 2014: First round (lost to Phil Taylor 1–3) (sets)
* 2016: First round (lost to
Jamie Caven
Jamie Robert Caven (born 10 March 1976) is an English former professional darts player who plays in British Darts Organisation (BDO) events. He has won seven events on the PDC Pro Tour, including two in the same weekend in May 2013. Caven was ...
0–3)
Personal life
Szabo is a semi-pro darts player and earns a full-time living as a builder for Wellington construction company LT McGuiness.