Former Premier League winner Jonny Clayton has suffered a shock early exit in the first round of the Queensland Masters – the first of a trio of World Series events taking place Down Under.

The Ferret was up against little-known New Zealander Haupai Puha in the first round in Townsville, turning in a ragged performance, particularly on the doubles. And Puha took advantage to secure one of the biggest wins of his career, 6-2.

Like Clayton, who played rugby before taking up darts professionally, Puha has history in another sport. The 37-year-old was once a semi-professional golfer, but had to give up the game when he moved to Christchurch for a new job, which involved working weekends.

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“When I moved to Christchurch for work I had to work on the weekends which meant I had to give up golf and made me think about starting to play darts competitively,” Puha said in an interview in 2019.

In Christchurch, he joined a local league and was advised to start playing in division four but was soon moved up the ladder.

“In that first year I went undefeated, only losing two legs and throwing a crazy amount of 180s,” he recalled. “Some of the old ladies in the competitions were quite upset and wouldn’t shake my hand after matches because they felt it was unfair. The very next year I got bumped up to A-Grade and won that as well.”

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Puha eventually began mixing it with New Zealand’s best players and represented his country at the World Cup of Darts in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, he teamed up with Cody Harris, with pair defeating Canada’s Jeff Smith and Matt Campbell in the first round.

After that match, Puha admitted not watching darts regularly and therefore knowing little about his opponents helps his game.

“It helps coming from New Zealand,” he said. “I don’t watch darts. I’m sheltered from who’s who. Obviously I know who people like MVG and Michael Smith are but the lower tour card holders, I wouldn’t have a clue. To me, not knowing them makes it easier. There’s no extra pressure.”

Puha has qualified for both the PDC and WDF World Championships in the past but lost in the first round on both occasions.

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