Portuguese · Portugal · Born 25 February 1974Portuguese darts player known as 'The Special One', the first player from Portugal to win a PDC major title, claiming the 2020 Grand Slam of Darts.
Born in Portugal on 25 February 1974, José Augusto Oliveira de Sousa spent much of his early life playing soft-tip darts, winning more than 50 tournaments in that format before earning a PDC Tour Card at European Q-School in 2019, at which point he gave up his job as a kitchen fitter to pursue darts full time. De Sousa's rise was rapid. In late 2020 he won his first PDC European Tour title at the European Darts Grand Prix, beating world number one Michael van Gerwen in the final, and weeks later won the Grand Slam of Darts, defeating nine-time major champion James Wade 16-12 to become the first player from the Iberian Peninsula to win a PDC major title. His unorthodox throwing style, distinctive 'Axe Flights' darts, and unusual manner of counting his own scores made him one of the sport's most recognisable personalities. He reached a career-high ranking of world number six in 2022 and reached the final of the 2021 Premier League, losing to Jonny Clayton. De Sousa also reached the semi-finals of the 2021 PDC World Championship, where he lost to eventual champion Gerwyn Price. De Sousa's form declined sharply from 2023 onward, and by the mid-2020s he was fighting to retain his professional status, a steep fall for a player once ranked among the world's best. He remains the standard-bearer for Portuguese darts and the country's first PDC major champion.
Becoming the first Portuguese player to win a PDC major title, the 2020 Grand Slam of Darts
How They Played
Unorthodox, high-scoring attacking player with a distinctive counting style
Lasting Impact
The pioneering figure of Portuguese professional darts
Portuguese Athletes