BullShooter Magazine April 2018 Number 4 Volume 35 | Page 16

When we watch world class athletes compete, regardless of the sport, it is
easy to feel like these players are a chosen few who possess talents and mental
toughness that have reached unattainable levels for most of us mere mortals.
Almost always however, there are many unknown things that these elite ath-
letes have overcome. Darts are certainly no exception to this rule. Let’s talk
darts with Dennis Sanden.
Dennis lives in Baldwin, Illinois, located between Carbondale, Illinois and St.
Louis. Kim is his lovely wife of 33 years. They have a son, Keith (30 years old),
and a daughter, Keri (25 years old). He has been a member of Labors Union
Local 42 for 25 years. And like Paul Harvey used to say, “Now the rest of the
story.”
Dennis Sanden
Pacer:
The Tournament of
Champions, with the Galaxy 3 being
their official dart game, has become
one of the most prestigious electronic
dart tournaments. As the only two-
time winner of this event, you have
literally become a part of the tourna-
ment’s history.
Dennis: When I walk into that
building, I can almost feel a power
running through my body. Everyone
knows who I am, and some of them
even call me Mr. TOC. I almost feel
like I’m some kind of a big celebrity or
a rock star (both laughing). Tom, it
really is kind of humbling.
Dennis teamed up with Nate Fowler in Pro
Doubles at BullShooter 30 and won 4th place.
Pacer: Tell us a little about your
two wins.
Dennis: In 2013, I drew Scott
Techota, from Iowa, for a partner.
Honest to God, we won the $20,000
and went from meeting each other for
the first time to becoming life-long
friends. We played together for four
or five hours and now we’ll probably
keep in touch for the rest of our lives.
Pacer: That old dart family just
keeps growing. Tell us how lighten-
ing struck again in 2015.
Dennis: In 2015, I was playing one
of my Qualifiers and I noticed how
well this guy was playing on a board
next to me. I thought, boy I wouldn’t
mind drawing him for a partner! Well,
when they announced the pairings
for the finals, I got a guy named Rob
Talbot, from Wisconsin. When we got
together it turned out to be the same
guy I had been watching play before.
I couldn’t believe it!
Pacer: Dennis, I know you would
love to “three peat” at the Tournament
of Champions. If you don’t mind,
explain to our readers why this would
be a truly amazing success story.
Dennis: Well Tom, shortly after
Ron and I won in 2015, I was diag-
nosed with Osteomyelitis in one of my
fingers. I was told that the only treat-
ment for the disease is amputation.
Pacer: Wow, that had to be a shock.
Dennis: I can’t even say how I
felt at that moment. I can’t lose that
finger. I told the Dr. there is no way
we’re cutting my finger off.
Pacer: I can’t imagine what was
going through your mind at that
moment.
Dennis: I still don’t know if I cut my
hand at work or whatever, but here I
am with this infection that they say
there is no cure for. At 6 o’clock the
next morning I checked myself into
the hospital, because that was the
quickest way I could see a specialist
in that disease. He comes in the room
right at 6 a.m. and says I haven’t
looked at your chart, but I want to
take a quick look at your finger. He
looked at my hand and he said, “Son,
I hate to tell you this, but you’re going
to lose that finger.” I remember say-