JASON ASKEW will be hoping his dad points him in the right direction as he tries to forge his own career with the arrows.
Askew Jr, 30, followed in his father’s footsteps when he qualified for the UK Open in 2020.
But he still has a long way to go to replicate the career of his famous parent.
That is because Dave Askew, 60, was a two-time PDC World Darts Championships semi-finalist and among the best players in the world in the early 2000s.
‘Diamond Dave’ spent 22 years as a professional from 1988 to 2010, finishing with a decade in the PDC – although he never went full-time and continued with his day job as a bricklayer.
He made an instant impact on the BDO circuit when he beat Cliff Lazarenko 6-0 in the Denmark Open final.
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Askew Sr picked up five Windy City Open titles – including four in a row from 1992 to 1995 – and enjoyed a 8-2 winning record for England in British Internationals, helping his country to five titles.
A 1993 World Cup winner, the Surrey star’s career peaked when he made back-to-back semis at the Worlds in 2001 and 2002 – either side of his quarter-final run at the World Grand Prix.
But on both occasions at the PDC showpiece in Purfleet, he came brutally unstuck by eventual champion Phil Taylor 6-0.
Askew nailed a nine-darter in 2008 but after missing out on the 2009 World Championships, he decided to call it a day soon after as he struggled to replicate his early TV success.
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However, his son Jason has taken on the darts mantle for the family.
Born in October 1993, Askew Jr has certainly inherited the eye for the bullseye.
The 30-year-old generally plays across Surrey – winning a title in March 2023 in Morden – but has also featured on the PDC Challenge Tour.
However, he got his biggest break when he qualified for the 2020 UK Open, held at Butlin’s in Minehead.
Askew won two rounds before falling 6-4 to Jelle Klaasen, who beat Gary Anderson to reach the quarters, while Michael van Gerwen beat Gerwyn Price in the final.
And ahead of the tournament, Jason admitted his desire to emulate his old man at the oche.
Askew Jr said: “I used to watch my dad when I was younger and think, ‘I want to do that’, so now getting the opportunity to replicate that is a real honour.
“I’ve got a long way to go and I’m still learning the game, but I’m taking it in my stride and trying to be the best I can be.
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“There’s a little bit of added pressure as he has been there and done it to a very high standard.
"But I think that helps me and keeps me motivated to follow in his footsteps – two World Championship semi-finals isn’t too bad I suppose!”
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