Competitive dart players gather at the U.S. Cellular Center for tournament

For those walking across the floor of the U.S. Cellular Center, it's impossible to escape certain smells.

For some, the bouquet of beer, burgers and sweat and the hint of smoke pervading the day's playing field smells like victory. For others, it was the stench of defeat.

In the 2010 State of Iowa Dart Championships, there was plenty of both to go around for the competitive dart players whom descended upon Cedar Rapids from across the state. Organized by the Iowa Operators of Music and Amusements, the tournament has pulled in thousands of players over the past 20 years.

In its first year in Cedar Rapids, the annual tournament will draw more than 1,500 between Thursday and Sunday. But organizers said they're a few hundred people short from their usual tournament brackets.

“Our attendance is down quite a bit,” said Larry Elbert, IOMA member and co-organizer. “It's been driven by the bad economy, but that doesn't mean much to a lot of the people playing.”

Leroy Edwards is one of those. The 52-year-old came down Thursday morning from Correctionville, just east of Sioux City, and brought 23 years of darts experience with him.

“It's more of an adrenaline rush than just playing with your friends,” said Edwards. “I got first place last year in team cricket, we'll try and do it again.”

Leroy is taking on the competition with his son, Jon. Darts, for this father and son combo, is something that's always been there. Playing competitively is nothing new for them either.

“We've been playing darts in our living room ever since he was old enough to step up on a chair and pull his down,” Edwards said. “Thing is, he gets better the older he gets. I don't.”

The seven event tournament stretches four days and covers a complex bracket of skill levels. With more than 100 electronic dart boards and $83,000 worth in prizes, the state tournament gives top finishers the chance to go to the national tournament in Las Vegas this April. But for most, it offers a chance to enhance what is a favorite way to pass the time.

“We're not gonna get to the Olympics, so this will do for now,” said Carla Walker, 39, of Waterloo. After her four-woman cricket team finished an unsavory third out of sixth earlier yesterday, Walker felt defeated, but wouldn't let her lackluster performance keep her down.

“We play darts because it's real fun,” Walker said. “We'll stop competing when it stops being fun.”

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