At Top of Darts in Belgium, Bert stepped behind the scenes three times as a score operator. He types in the thrown scores live, after which the digits immediately appear on the large screens next to the players. No glamorous spotlight, just pure focus. How do you end up there, what does the setup look like, and what do you do if the caller says something different than what you saw? We asked Bert.

Dartschool: How did that opportunity come about?

Bert: Together with Dartshop Madhouse, we had a stand in Kortrijk for Top of Darts. During the first match, it was noticed that entering the scores on the boards wasn't going very smoothly. Someone from the organization asked if 'anyone was good at mental math' to take over. I said 'I'd be happy to do that.' A unique experience! That’s also where I met the spotter and we were off.

Were you extensively briefed?

I received a general explanation of how it works and within moments it was time. I was given a laptop, several screens, and a headset connected to the caller. For the first few arrows, I didn't even have a good front-facing view. That was a bit of a search.

What does the control room look like?

We sit with 2–3 screens. The spotter operates buttons for camera angles (20-bed, 19-bed, full frame...) and switches along live. I type in the scores, but it is the caller who speaks 'the truth.' If I think it's 82 and he says 92, I have to follow the caller.

Can you always hear the caller clearly?

Usually yes via the headset, but sometimes it's tough. That’s why I always ask to have the right screens in front of me, preferably a top-down view of the board. That provides peace of mind.

What happens if there is a misunderstanding or an error?

Then we correct it immediately. If necessary, we turn off the projection for a moment and check with the written scoreboard so everything matches again. The important thing is: don't get stuck on it. Fix the error and move on.

Were you nervous, especially that first time?

"I prepare during the warm-up: I set up my screens and already start counting along. Real stress only hits after the first mistake. My trick: resetting. A new throw is a new opportunity."

Where exactly were you located in the venue?

"That varied: to the left of the podium, sometimes at the back of the room, depending on the edition. Being at the back of the room is harder. But as long as I have the caller and a good view, I am happy."

How many matches do you input on an evening like that?

"Roughly eight. It’s a long time, but if it’s your passion, you stay sharp."

PS: Interested in Bert's Best Math Tips?

Bert also shared concrete tools to write faster and more calmly (e.g., learning patterns, warming up smartly, preventing column errors). You can find his tips here.