Carter Otteson Throws Perfect Dart Game
Seven year old throws rare 180 in Bellevue Legion dart league
At an age when most children are still learning to tie their shoes, seven year old Carter Otteson is already accomplishing something many adult dart players spend years chasing.
A perfect game.
Darts may look simple. A board. Three throws. But the game demands precision, control and focus. The highest possible score in a single round is 180, achieved by hitting three triple 20s in a row. Even seasoned league players can go decades without ever throwing one.
On Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Bellevue Legion, Carter did exactly that.
Carter first picked up darts at the age of three, throwing on a magnetic board in the family basement. By five, he had his own set of steel tip darts and was quickly showing natural skill. His father, Cale Otteson, saw the interest grow and asked the Bellevue Legion if Carter could play alongside the adults, with Cale acting as his partner. The Legion agreed.
When Carter turned seven, Diana and Dennis Plaza, who run the Legion dart program, offered to put him into the weekly draw. The format is a blind draw, meaning players randomly pull a card to determine their partner. Age does not matter. Skill and sportsmanship do.
As Carter progressed through league play, he continued to impress players far older than himself. Earlier this season, he threw a 140, made up of two triple 20s and a single 20, a score many players never reach.
Then came the moment no one expected.
That Sunday, Jan. 18, Carter was drawn with partner Tim Juhlin. During the game, Carter stepped to the line and calmly threw three darts, each landing in the triple 20. The scoreboard flashed 180.
A perfect game.
Members of the Bellevue Legion immediately gathered around, offering congratulations and snapping photos to mark the moment. For the Otteson family, who are avid dart players, it was something they had never seen before in a player so young.
Carter’s grandmother Joanne said the moment was as special as it was unexpected. While darts can be competitive, she said the Legion has become a welcoming place where Carter feels supported and encouraged.
Cale said his son looks forward to Sundays at the Legion and plans to keep throwing darts. For Carter, the game is about more than scores. It is about time with family, being part of a community and doing something he loves.