WATERLOO - Darts players made Waterloo their ultimate target this weekend.

More than 1,000 competitors from across the state are attending the Iowa Operators of Music and Amusements' state tournament today at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. The four-day event winds down Sunday.

The annual tournament, played on 120 brand-new dart boards inside the center, is the largest in the state and has been going for more than 20 years. This year's numbers, though, are down 8 to 9 percent over 2008, said IOMA's Dave Knupp.

"It wasn't terrible," Knupp said. "Just the economy and stuff probably."

But the diehard fanatics who keep coming back wouldn't miss the biggest dart party of the year.

"Just the adrenaline, the rush, playing against different people, the atmosphere," Chris "Butchy" Kemmerer of Dewar said after winning his first round of doubles Cricket on Friday.

Kemmerer and his teammate Mike Frost of La Porte City, members of Kathy's Korner Dart League in Dewar, advanced to the winners bracket and would eventually take on other partner teams. Today they'll compete in teams of four in Cricket and 501.

Spectators are admitted free, and even those who aren't darts players should stop by and check things out, Kemmerer suggested.

The 67 rooms at the downtown Quality Inn & Suites were booked Friday and Saturday. Ramada Inn, across the street from the Sullivan center, had also filled its 228 rooms both days.

Contact Tina Hinz at (319) 291-1484 or tina.hinz@wcfcourier.com.