The Faversham Online Darts League welcomed special guest James ‘Ruthless’ Richardson on Monday and he almost treated viewers to a nine-dart finish.

Former PDC World Championship last-16 contender Richardson was taking part in the Faversham Virtual Darts Challenge night, having just been crowned 2020 Remote Darts League 1 champion.

The event raised around £550 for charity and follows a series of online countywide open events that have raised funds to buy products to assist health workers in Kent.

Richardson missed a double 12 for a nine-darter - a perfect leg in darts.

At the start of the night Richardson pledged to give £5 for every 180 he threw, £5 per 100+ and £2.50 per 140 hit. That was matched by regulars Peter Allen and Ryan Hope. The event was broadcast live on the league’s facebook pages and on YouTube.

Richardson’s darts were raffled off at the end of the night. He had just been crowned the Remote League champion from a group of players that included Paul Hogan, Jim Williams, Dean Winstanley and Tony O’Shea.

The league hope that money raised will now go towards buying fleeces for the coronavirus swabbing team at the Kent & Canterbury Hospital.

Tunbridge Wells thrower Carl Wilson secured the inaugural Faversham Darts Virtual Stay-at-Home crown after defeating fellow county-level player Peter Allen in Friday night’s live final.

2019 Kent Open winner Allen avenged that defeat, however, by beating Wilson in the second final. Those events raised money to buy NHS supplies, including handcream.

This week the league have supplied goods to make snack bags for staff and patients.

Allen, by now a two-time champion, was no match for Richardson on Monday night, however.

Fellow Kent County A player Ryan Hope, and Faversham Virtual Darts Division 1 leader, bid for a chance to take on Richardson himself, and won the match 10-8, the pair throwing 11 180s between them to keep the fundraising efforts ticking over.

There is now a permanent Faversham Virtual Darts League running and a live event being broadcast this Sunday.

One of the league's organisers, Jordan Dadd, has said that if any NHS staff need anything they can get in contact by emailing favershamdarts@hotmail.com

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