# Rob Szabo

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rob_Szabo
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Rob_Szabo.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Szabo
> Source revision: 1352749332
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{short description|New Zealand darts player}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox darts player
| name = Rob Szabo
| image =
| fullname = Robert Szabo
| nickname = The Hurricane
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|10|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [Wellington](/source/Wellington), [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| hometown = [Wellington](/source/Wellington), New Zealand 
| since = 1988
| darts = 24 Gram Shot Signature
| music = "[Thunderstruck](/source/Thunderstruck_(song))" by [AC/DC](/source/AC%2FDC) 
| laterality = Right-handed
| BDO = 
| PDC = 2013–2017
| currentrank = 
| BDO World =
| World Masters =
| World Darts Trophy =
| Int. Darts League =
| PDC World = Last 64: 2014, 2016
| Matchplay =
| Grand Prix =
| UK Open =
| Vegas =
| Premier League =
| results = {{aligned table|leftright=y|fullwidth=y|class=nowrap
| '''DPNZ Capital Open''' | 2013
| '''DPNZ Tararua Open''' | 2015
| '''Australian Grand Prix''' | 2016
| '''New Zealand Ch'ship''' | 2010
| '''PDC New Zealand Qualifier''' | 2013, 2015
}}
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [Darts](/source/Darts)}}
{{MedalCountry | {{NZL}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [WDF Asia-Pacific Cup](/source/WDF_Asia-Pacific_Cup)}}
{{MedalBronze | [2010 Tokyo](/source/WDF_Asia-Pacific_Cup) | Men's singles}}
{{MedalBronze | [2010 Tokyo](/source/WDF_Asia-Pacific_Cup) | Team event}}
}}

'''Robert Szabo''' (born 29 October 1965)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pumadarts.com/PLAYERS/NEW+ZEALAND/ROB+SZABO.html |title=Rob Szabo |website=pumadarts.com/ |accessdate=15 December 2013}}</ref> is a former professional [darts](/source/darts) player from New Zealand.

==Career==
Szabo claimed the 2010 New Zealand National Championship by beating Koha Kokiri 4–0 in the final.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=2687 | title=2010 New Zealand National Championships Results | publisher=Darts Database | accessdate=9 December 2014}}</ref>

He qualified for the [2014 PDC World Darts Championship](/source/2014_PDC_World_Darts_Championship) after winning the New Zealand National Championship in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/92qlebzsainl1uirjr5otclnc/title/Szabo%20Wins%20New%20Zealand%20Championship |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807100739/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/92qlebzsainl1uirjr5otclnc/title/Szabo%20Wins%20New%20Zealand%20Championship |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 August 2013 |title=Szabo wins New Zealand championship |date=15 July 2013 |website=pdc.tv/ |accessdate=15 December 2013}}</ref>
After beating England's Ian Moss 4–3 in the preliminary round he led [Phil Taylor](/source/Phil_Taylor_(darts_player)) 1–0 in sets and 1–0 in legs before losing 3–1 in sets, in the first round. His performance received high praise from numerous darts pundits including [Wayne Mardle](/source/Wayne_Mardle), and from Taylor himself.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11172594  | title=Wellington builder stuns the world of darts | date=14 December 2013 | work= The New Zealand Herald| accessdate=15 December 2013 | first1=Rebecca | last1=Quilliam | first2=Chris | last2=Reed }}</ref> In June, Szabo made his debut in the [World Cup of Darts](/source/2014_PDC_World_Cup_of_Darts) as he represented New Zealand with [Craig Caldwell](/source/Craig_Caldwell) and they lost 5–3 to Spain in the first round.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/13ot1jnntsvt21nv34y1z7tv3u/title/bwin-world-cup-of-darts-first-round | title=bwin World Cup of Darts First Round | publisher=[PDC](/source/Professional_Darts_Corporation) | accessdate=6 June 2014 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043925/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/13ot1jnntsvt21nv34y1z7tv3u/title/bwin-world-cup-of-darts-first-round | url-status=dead }}</ref>
Szabo was defeated 6–1 by [John Weber](/source/John_Weber_(darts_player)) in the final of the Warilla Bowls Club Open and Weber was also the winner when the pair met in the final of the Oceanic Masters, this time triumphing 8–2.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=5902 | title=2014 Warilla Bowls Club Open Results | publisher=Darts Database | accessdate=9 December 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/187fxp795xad71omi6atd2387y/title/weber-wins-2014-oceanic-masters | title=Weber Wins 2014 Oceanic Masters | publisher=[PDC](/source/Professional_Darts_Corporation) | accessdate=9 December 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125212048/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/187fxp795xad71omi6atd2387y/title/weber-wins-2014-oceanic-masters | archivedate=25 November 2014}}</ref>

Szabo won the 2015 DPNZ Tararua Open by beating [Mark McGrath](/source/Mark_McGrath_(darts_player)) 7–5.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=9812 | title=2015 DPNZ Tararua Open Results | publisher=Darts Database | accessdate=2 January 2016}}</ref> He played with [Warren Parry](/source/Warren_Parry) in the [2015 World Cup](/source/2015_PDC_World_Cup_of_Darts) and they secured New Zealand's first win in the event since 2010 by knocking out Canada 5–4.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/rjv0onelm17g1nkud1m6pz07w/title/bwin-world-cup-of-darts-day-two | title=bwin World Cup of Darts Day Two | publisher=[PDC](/source/Professional_Darts_Corporation) | accessdate=20 June 2015 | archive-date=15 July 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715151616/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/rjv0onelm17g1nkud1m6pz07w/title/bwin-world-cup-of-darts-day-two | url-status=dead }}</ref> They faced Northern Ireland in the second round with Szabo losing 4–1 to [Brendan Dolan](/source/Brendan_Dolan) and Parry losing 4–0 to [Michael Mansell](/source/Michael_Mansell_(darts_player)) to exit the tournament.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/s3stxvty6erc1aovmfj7o03yz/title/bwin-world-cup-of-darts-second-round | title=bwin World Cup of Darts Second Round | publisher=[PDC](/source/Professional_Darts_Corporation) | accessdate=20 June 2015 | archive-date=6 October 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006112343/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/s3stxvty6erc1aovmfj7o03yz/title/bwin-world-cup-of-darts-second-round | url-status=dead }}</ref> He won the New Zealand qualifier for the [2016 World Championship](/source/2016_PDC_World_Darts_Championship) by defeating [Craig Caldwell](/source/Craig_Caldwell) 9–3.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=6099 | title=2015 PDC World New Zealand Qualifying Event Results | publisher=Darts Database | accessdate=2 January 2016}}</ref> He overcame Michael Rasztovits 2–0 in the preliminary round, before losing 3–0 to [Jamie Caven](/source/Jamie_Caven) in the first round.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.radiosport.co.nz/sport-news/other-sport/rob-szabos-world-champs-bid-ends-within-a-day/ | title=Rob Szabo's world champs bid ends within a day | publisher=Radio Sport | accessdate=2 January 2016}}</ref> His attempt to return to Alexandra Palace for the [2017 World Championship](/source/2017_PDC_World_Darts_Championship) was ended in the final of the New Zealand Qualifying Event 7–3 by Parry.<ref>{{cite web|title=Parry Secures World Championship Return|url=http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1ij14bvvx9s3u1b8g4lg6t7ggn/title/parry-secures-world-championship-return|publisher=[PDC](/source/Professional_Darts_Corporation)|date=11 July 2016|accessdate=13 December 2016|archive-date=12 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712184811/http://www.pdc.tv/news/article/1ij14bvvx9s3u1b8g4lg6t7ggn/title/parry-secures-world-championship-return|url-status=dead}}</ref> Szabo lost in the final of the DWA Grand Prix to [Corey Cadby](/source/Corey_Cadby), but won the Harrows Australian GP by thrashing Damon Heta 6–0.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResultsPrize.aspx?EventKey=10945| title=2016 DWA Grand Prix Player Prize Money| publisher=Darts Database| accessdate=22 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=7734| title=2016 Harrows Australian GP Results| publisher=Darts Database| accessdate=22 December 2016}}</ref> At the [2017 World Cup](/source/2017_PDC_World_Cup_of_Darts), Szabo and [Cody Harris](/source/Cody_Harris_(darts_player)) were eliminated 5–2 by Belgium in the opening round.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/EventResults.aspx?EventKey=11145| title=2017 PDC World Cup of Darts Results| publisher=Darts Database| accessdate=5 June 2017}}</ref>

==World Championship results==

===PDC===

* 2014: First round (lost to [Phil Taylor](/source/Phil_Taylor_(darts_player)) 1–3) (sets) 
* 2016: First round (lost to [Jamie Caven](/source/Jamie_Caven) 0–3)

==Personal life==

Szabo is a semi-pro darts player and earns a full-time living as a builder for Wellington construction company LT McGuiness.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Szabo, Rob}}
Category:1965 births
Category:Living people
Category:New Zealand darts players
Category:Sportspeople from Wellington City
Category:New Zealand people of Hungarian descent
Category:Professional Darts Corporation associate players
Category:PDC World Cup of Darts team New Zealand
Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen
Category:Sportspeople of Hungarian descent

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rob Szabo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Szabo) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Szabo?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.