
In the bustling aisles of a frozen food warehouse in Bridgend, Wales, where the hum of forklifts and the chill of sub-zero temperatures define the daily grind, an extraordinary story unfolded this autumn. Amid stacks of Iceland grocery deliveries, 40-year-old darts enthusiast Paul Owen—better known to fans as “Stack Attack”—received the life-altering news that would catapult him from the world of part-time labor to the glittering stage of the PDC World Darts Championship. It was a moment straight out of a feel-good sports film, one that underscores the raw, unfiltered passion driving many in the darts community. Owen, a father of three juggling overtime shifts with relentless practice sessions, had just secured his spot in the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship at Ally Pally, the iconic London venue where dreams are made or shattered under the brightest lights.
Picture the scene: Owen, clad in his high-visibility vest and work boots, maneuvering crates of ice cream and ready meals through the labyrinthine warehouse. His phone buzzed insistently during a brief break, pulling him away from the routine. On the other end was the confirmation he’d been chasing for months—a hard-fought qualification earned through the grueling PDC Qualifying School and a string of impressive Pro Tour performances. “I was right in the middle of a delivery route when the call came through,” Owen later shared with a mix of disbelief and elation. “One minute I’m loading up the van with frozen pizzas, and the next, I’m staring at my phone, heart pounding, realizing I’m heading to the Worlds. It’s surreal—like something out of a dream you didn’t even know you had.”
Owen’s path to this pinnacle hasn’t been paved with early sponsorships or junior academies. Instead, it’s been carved from sheer grit and the unyielding rhythm of a double life. Since June 2023, he’s held down a part-time contract as a delivery driver for Iceland Food Warehouse, rising before dawn to hit the roads and returning home to squeeze in three hours of daily darts practice, no matter how exhausting the day. With a 14-year-old son, a 10-year-old daughter, and a seven-month-old baby keeping the household in perpetual motion, Owen’s schedule is a testament to his unshakeable work ethic. “I work as an Iceland delivery driver on a part-time contract, but I manage to cram it all in,” he explained. “I practice darts three hours a day even if I work overtime, and I also have my family to look after—it’s all go. But that’s what keeps me grounded.”
What makes Owen’s story particularly resonant is how his warehouse colleagues only recently discovered his burgeoning darts career. For months, he’d been slipping away for tournaments without fanfare, his high-visibility vest swapped for the sharp suits of the oche. It wasn’t until he requested time off for the World Championship preparations that the truth emerged. “Many colleagues did not actually realise I am a professional darts player until I told them about my upcoming time off a couple of weeks ago,” Owen revealed, chuckling at the memory. Now, in every neighborhood he delivers to, he’s greeted not just as the friendly driver but as “the darts guy.” “In all the areas I deliver to, everyone knows me, and now they all know me as a professional darts player too,” he added. The revelation has sparked a wave of local support, with customers sharing tips on doubles and even organizing impromptu watch parties for his matches.
At 40, Owen enters the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship as a decided underdog, one of 128 players vying for glory in the expanded field. The tournament, set to run from December 15, 2025, through January 4, 2026, at Alexandra Palace, boasts a staggering £2.5 million prize fund, with the champion walking away a millionaire. For Owen, the stakes are sky-high—not just for the £500,000 winner’s purse, but for the chance to etch his name into darts history alongside legends like Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. Yet, even as whispers of potential victory swirl, Owen remains steadfastly loyal to his day job. “Even if I win the World Championship and that £500,000, I’ll still keep my job at Iceland,” he insisted. “I love the camaraderie, the routine—it keeps me real. Darts is my passion, but this warehouse is my foundation.”
This double life has forged Owen into a resilient competitor, one whose “Stack Attack” moniker nods to his warehouse roots and explosive playing style. He’s already turned heads on the Pro Tour, notching up key wins that propelled him through the rankings. His qualification came via a nail-biting run at Qualifying School, where he outlasted younger, flashier rivals in a marathon of best-of-11-leg battles. Observers note his unflappable demeanor at the board, a trait honed amid the unpredictability of delivery routes and family life. “Paul’s got that old-school hunger,” said a fellow qualifier. “He’s not in it for the glamour; he’s in it because he lives and breathes darts.”
Owen’s ascent mirrors a broader surge in darts, a sport that’s exploded in popularity thanks to prodigies like Luke Littler and the PDC’s savvy marketing. Viewership for the 2025 World Championship shattered records, drawing over 3 million tuned-in fans, and the 2026 edition promises even more drama with its doubled field size. For players like Owen, it’s a reminder that the oche is the great equalizer—where a warehouse worker can stand toe-to-toe with millionaires. As he prepares for his debut, Owen reflects on the whirlwind journey: “I feel like I’m living a double life sometimes, but it’s the best kind. Who knew stacking shelves could lead to stacking up legs on the biggest stage?”
As the Ally Pally lights beckon, Owen’s tale inspires a new generation: proof that in darts, as in life, persistence trumps pedigree. Whether he claims the trophy or not, “Stack Attack” has already delivered a knockout punch to the notion that dreams have deadlines. His first-round draw awaits, but one thing’s certain—the warehouse will be watching, deliveries paused, as their own takes aim at immortality.
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