3 days ago
From local bars to global tournaments: Hong Kong dynamic duo on turning pro and making their mark in world of darts
When Hong Kong representatives Mathew Lee and Hugo Leung made their entrance at the 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, Germany, in March, a song many Hongkongers knew well began playing in the background.
'Hey ya hey ya hey hey ya hey ya hey…' – the upbeat tune featuring traditional Chinese instruments amped up the stadium as the dynamic duo high-fived enthusiastic spectators. Lee and Leung danced to the familiar rhythm of the theme song from the Cantonese sitcom Virtues of Harmony, which first aired more than 20 years ago.
After shaking hands with their opponents, Lee and Leung threw their fists in the air and kept dancing until the music faded. It was a cheerful start to their quarterfinal match against Wales.
Lee and Leung eventually lost to the No. 2 seed, but their top-eight finish still marked the best result achieved by any Hong Kong player in the past decade. Darts World magazine called the pair – the only Asian players who reached the tournament's quarterfinals – 'the pride of Asian darts.'
To their surprise, their lighthearted entrance also went viral. Many netizens praised the song choice as both unique and representative of Hong Kong, while actress Nancy Sit thanked them for choosing her song and even invited them to perform her signature cross-step dance together.
But the darts duo also faced questions from people who thought the song was 'too playful' for a prestigious tournament.
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Leung, 26, told HKFP that many international darts competitions allow players to choose their own entrance songs. He described the tournament as more of a 'large-scale carnival,' where players enter the stadium to music they personally enjoy.
In the past, the Hong Kong duo have chosen Cantonese theme songs from iconic anime series – all meant to evoke passion and the spirit of perseverance – when competing in individual events.
'We received some messages asking why we picked that song, questioning whether we were there to 'make jokes' or actually compete. Honestly, we were just being ourselves,' Leung said in Cantonese.
Lee and Leung say that they are the only darts players in Hong Kong who make a living from their cash prizes and sponsorships. Both waited years before going full-time, gradually collecting enough titles and winnings to prove they had what it took to turn professional.
Nicknamed 'Dragon Boy,' 24-year-old Lee said his breakthrough came in 2020, when he earned second place in the 10th event of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) Development Tour.
Setting foot on the international darts stage convinced him that going pro was no longer just a dream.
Leung, who made his international debut at the 2017 PDC World Youth Championship, said launching a full-time darts career was challenging. It wasn't until 2022 – when he reached the top eight at the PDC World Youth Championship – that he began seriously considering it.
His biggest hurdle was Hong Kong's high cost of living, which once forced him to take on part-time jobs between overseas competitions to stay afloat.
As he started winning more prizes, sponsorship opportunities followed, allowing him to quit his part-time work and fully focus on darts.
Still, the duo have to pay for their own flights, accommodation, and entry fees when travelling abroad for tournaments. Learning to cope with not earning enough prize money to cover these costs – and to make a living – remains a 'major lesson' for both of them, Leung said.
Pointing at Lee, Leung joked that his teammate had 'more authority' when it came to persevering through a dry spell.
'It must be tough to open your bank account and see the balance when you keep missing out on titles but still have to spend money to compete,' Leung said.
In response, Lee said he was currently adjusting after switching to a new darts brand. He said he was confident that he would eventually find the optimal combination of point, barrel, shaft, and flight to perform at his best.
These days, Lee and Leung spend most of their time travelling – mainly across Asia – chasing tour rankings and prize money. On average, they spend only about 10 days a month in Hong Kong.
Despite not being able to see their loved ones often, the duo said their families have been very supportive. In fact, family members played a role in introducing them to the world of darts.
Lee, who grew up in Taiwan, first tried the sport when a friendly customer at his family's cha chaan teng invited his parents to a bar to play darts. He tagged along with them, and it turned out he loved it. Years later, after moving to Hong Kong and joining Asian leagues, Lee ran into the same man again – only to realise it was none other than Singaporean darts legend Paul Lim, who is still competing at the age of 71.
Over in Hong Kong, Leung picked up darts at the age of 14 from his mother, who learnt the game at a bar. A former baseball player, he initially underestimated the sport, thinking it was just 'throwing stuff at a dartboard.' But once he gave it a try, he realised it was easy to pick up but hard to master.
The sport, which requires players to repeatedly land their 'arrows' (slang for darts) accurately on specific beds of the board – and, of course, the bullseye – demands strong mental focus, especially during competitions that can last an entire day.
'You're competing to make the fewest mistakes,' Leung said. 'And it's very difficult to keep your mistakes to a minimum.'
Lee added that physical stamina is also crucial in the sport. He recalled one competition that lasted for 19 hours – from 8am until 3am – during which he took around 38,000 steps walking back and forth to the dartboard.
Lee and Leung often opt to compete in tournaments abroad – instead of local leagues – partly because of the need to maintain their rankings in Asia – a requirement for invitations to international events – and because of the disparity in prize money.
Leung said that winning a single event in Japan could be equivalent to winning 10 in Hong Kong, and that overseas tournaments are held more frequently, increasing their chances of winning.
As local darts competitions continue to attract more participants, Leung believes that what the city needs may not be greater monetary incentives, but rather more resources to help organisers accommodate larger numbers of contestants and host events more regularly. This will also raise awareness of the sport, he said.
Large-scale dart events in Hong Kong were often held at the Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre (KITEC), which shut in June last year for redevelopment. Its closure meant the city lost one of its key medium-sized venues for concerts and other events.
Another venue that used to host local darts competitions – Magic Fun Bowling World in Tsuen Wan – also closed in 2020.
As a result, many competition organisers have been left with no choice but to hold events in bars, which limits the number of contestants and spectators.
'Enrolling in a local competition is sometimes as difficult as getting a concert ticket,' Lee said.
In November, the Hong Kong Professional Darts League will organise an open tournament at a new venue in a commercial complex in Kai Tak. Lee said he was excited to see the venue's size for the first time.
Lee and Leung are determined to unlock more achievements in the world of darts in the coming years, although both admit it is hard to predict how long their careers will last. Looking up to the Singaporean master, Lee said he would continue throwing darts 'as long as I'm not dead.'
His partner takes a more pragmatic view, acknowledging that he may not be able to travel as much once he settles down and starts a family. He is also mindful that an unexpected injury could abruptly pause – or even end – his career.
'I can't tell you how long I'll go down this path' as a professional darts player, Leung said. 'I'll just keep going until I can't.'
