Most of the darts fans are familiar with him: Aleksandr Oreshkin. The ‘Russian Whitlock’ participated two times at the PDC World Championship, by winning the EADC (EuroAsian Darts Corporation) Qualifier. Last month it became clear that the EADC has suspended Oreshkin from playing any EADC tournaments. Darts Actueel got its hand to this exclusive story that got more difficult and interesting than expected.
Rules EADC Tour
The EADC is responsible for the organization of six ranking tournaments and a World Championship Qualifier every year. The six ranking tournaments count for the Order of Merit that rolls on a two-year basis and is used to compose the World Cup of Darts team of Russia. If a player qualifies for the PDC World Championships through the EADC Qualifier, he/she has to relinquish 10% of his prize money to the EADC. The same story goes for the World Cup of Darts. This money is used by the EADC as extra money for emergencies and to pay for the Russian ticket to the PDC Youth Championship.
The story
Aleksandr Oreshkin had his debut on the PDC in 2015 where he qualified for the 2016 World Championship. Igor Dzasokhov, head of the EADC, assisted the Russian player with the reservations of cheap hotels and plane tickets. Dzasokhov offered his help because of Oreshkin’s lack of English and experience of traveling abroad. This same help was offered in 2016 and 2017 when Oreshkin participated at the World Cup of Darts, and with the World Championships in 2018. However, 2018 was also a turning point in the relationship between Oreshkin and Dzasokhov. Oreshkin qualified himself again for Team Russia at the PDC World Cup of Darts in 2018, but did not get any help with hotel and plane bookings. Oreshkin informed Dzasokhov about these costs and his difficulties to pay the money, but Dzasokhov did not help. This got Oreshkin annoyed.
Oreshkin and Koltsov lost their first round to Spain and could go back to Russia in no time. Although a fixed amount of Oreshkin’s prize money was expected to be transferred to the EADC (35.692 RUB = 350 pounds), Oreshkin did not hand off part of his prize money. Oreshkin thought the money was used for the EADC assisting with booking hotels and plane tickets, and not for the so called extra funding for youth players and emergancies. Oreshkin spoke to a Russian journalist and said he was convinced he did not had to pay the money. Strangely enough, the rule about handing off part of your prize money to the EADC, was not written in official documents; it was merely an oral rule.
Suspension
A couple of weeks after the World Cup of Darts, the 59-years-old Russian player got a call from Dzasokhov with the statement he still had to pay part of his prize money. Oreshkin said he had no money. After that Dzasokhov called Oreshkin back several times but got no response. Since contact was lost, he did not know about his suspension. Oreshkin did not play any tournaments since 2018, but last month he appeared again at the start of the EADC Pro Tour season in Moscow. The Russian player had an 8 hour drive form St. Petersburg to Moscow, to realize he could not play the tournaments when arrived. Oreshkin will stay suspended untill he pays the amount to the EADC. Untill then, Oreshkin will not play at the EADC Tour and cannot participate in the EADC World Championship Qualifier.
Oreshkin’s reaction
The Russian darts journalist, Vitaly Verkhovksy, had an interview with Aleksandr Oreshkin while he was at the EADC Tour in Moscow.
”When I qualified myself for the first time for the World Championships I was so happy. I had given all my prize money to Igor Dzasokhov if he asked for it, it was worth it to play on the big PDC-stage. The main factor was my lack of English and my lack of understanding how to buy plane tickets abroad. Dzasokhov helped me with all of this, which was amazing. I saw him as a manager. Without him I would have lost an incredible amount of money, I am very thankful for his help.”
”After the six EADC Pro Tours I qualified for the World Cup of Darts in 2018. I understood that Dzasokhov, just as he did with my other darts travels, would help me with booking the trip. Ten days before I would have left, no contact was made. I was worrying about it and decided to call Dzasokhov but he said he was very busy. Igor Druzhinin (co-founder of the EADC) told me a booking was already made, and there was no place for me anymore. This made me angry, because I had to pay everything myself out of a sudden. I called Dzasokhov once again and told him about the financial problems I got myself into after booking the expensive trip.”
“The total costs were very high. After I calculated my finances I realized I had only 300 pound left. Dzasokhov called me a couple of days later and asked me when I was going to bring the money. I said that I don’t have money. After that he called me like 10 times, which I did not answer. I do not deny that part of the story.”
“I thought I paid the EADC because Dzasokhov worked for me as a manager. At the PDC World Cup of Darts in 2018 he didn’t help me and that’s why I didn’t pay. The story of the part of the prize money that ends up in extra funding was therefore completely new for me. There were no official documents stating the rights and obligations of both parties. “
“If this conflict had not happened with the trip to Frankfurt, I would have liked to continue my cooperation with Dzasokhov. If it is possible to solve these problems, I am willing to continue to pay for Dzasokhov’s work. I am sure that this interview will reach him. Maybe we will solve this situation somehow.”
