{{Short description|Japanese darts player}} {{Western name order|Higuchi Yuya}} {{Infobox darts player | name = Yuya Higuchi<br />樋口 雄也 | image = | caption = | fullname = | nickname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|11|11|df=y}} | birth_place = Tokyo, Japan | hometown = Tokyo, Japan | since = 2016 | darts = 17g Target | laterality = Right-handed | music = | BDO = 2016–2020 | PDC = 2018–2019 | WDF = 2016– | currentrank = {{WDF Rankings|Yuya Higuchi}} | BDO World = | World Masters = | World Darts Trophy = Last 32: 2017 | Australian Open = Last 24: 2022 | PDC World = | Matchplay = | Grand Prix = | Grand Slam = | UK Open = | European = | Premier League = | PC Finals = | Masters = | World Series Finals = | results = }} {{Nihongo|'''Yuya Higuchi'''|樋口 雄也|Higuchi Yuya|born 11 November 1976}} is a Japanese professional soft-tip and steel-tip darts player who currently plays in World Darts Federation (WDF) events. He took part in the BDO World Trophy and Australian Darts Open. He is famous for his unique dart throwing routine.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportvideos.tv/yuya-higuchi-the-strangest-throwing-action-ever-2/| title=Yuya Higuchi – The Strangest Throwing Action Ever?| publisher=sportvideos.tv| access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>
==Career== Higuchi made his first international appearance at the Japan Open in 2016, where he advanced to the final phase. In 2017, Higuchi qualified as an Asian Qualifier for the 2017 BDO World Trophy, where he lost to Wesley Harms in the first round match by 2–6 in legs. In the same year, he participated in the qualification for the PDC World Darts Championship, but lost to Seigo Asada by 2–5 in legs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dartsdatabase.co.uk/PlayerDetails.aspx?playerKey=25749| title=Yuya Higuchi| publisher=dartsdatabase.co.uk| access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref> As a national player, he represented Japan at the 2017 WDF World Cup. In the individual competition he lost in the first round to Daniel Larsson by 2–4 in legs. In the pairs and team competition he was eliminated at the beginning phase.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dartswdf.com/wdf-cups/wdf-world-cup/2017| title=2017 WDF World Cup| publisher=World Darts Federation| access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>
From 2018, Higuchi played regularly on the PDC Asia Tour, where there have been three semi-finals so far. He also advanced to the semi-finals at the Japan Open. Higuchi did not play any other international tournaments successfully, even though he sometimes took part in other World Darts Federation events. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, he was not active in international steel-tip tournaments.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://mastercaller.com/players/yuya-higuchi| title=Yuya Higuchi| publisher=mastercaller.com| access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>
In August 2022, Higuchi qualified for the final phase of the 2022 Australian Darts Open. In the group stage he faced Neil Duff and Darren Carson. Against Carson he won by 5–0 in legs and take a first place in the group, but against Duff he ended up lost 3–5 in the legs and was eliminated from the tournament.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dartsnews.com/wdf/duff-klaasen-puha-and-smith-set-for-australian-darts-open-mens-quarter-finals-greaves-and-suzuki-lead-womens-semi-final-line-up| title=Duff, Klaasen, Puha and Smith set for Australian Darts Open Men's Quarter-Finals, Greaves and Suzuki lead Women's Semi-Final line-up| publisher=dartsnews.com| access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref> He also took part in the Pacific Masters, but lost in the first round to Justin Thompson.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dartswdf.com/players/yuya-higuchi| title=Yuya Higuchi| publisher=World Darts Federation| access-date=26 October 2022}}</ref>
==Performance timeline== {| class="wikitable" style="width:20%; margin:0" |- ! Tournament !! 2017 !! 2018 !! 2019 !! 2020 !! 2021 !! 2022 !! 2023 |- | colspan="8" style="text-align:left" |<small>'''WDF '''Ranked televised events</small> |- | style="background:#efefef;"| {{nowrap|World Trophy}} | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"| 1R | colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"| DNQ | colspan="4" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"| NH |- | style="background:#efefef;"| {{nowrap|Australian Open}} | colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"| NH | style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"| DNQ | colspan="2" style="text-align:center; color:#ccc;"| NH | style="text-align:center; background:#afeeee;"| RR | |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Higuchi, Yuya}} Category:Living people Category:1976 births Category:Japanese darts players Category:Sportspeople from Tokyo