Stumble into any English pub around town and you'll find yourself a dart board. We caught up with Tom Pinkham to find out about drinking and darts, his two favorite bar sports.

How long have you been playing darts?
I joined the Shanghai Darts League in 1998. At that time there were 12 teams in the league. Over the following seven or eight years the league grew dramatically.

Is it really competitive?
I am a casual player who attends matches because of the friendships, the good times and the chance to meet new people. It’s always exciting to strategize and try to beat better teams, and good competition is great fun, but I don’t lose any sleep over a lost darts match.

Is everyone as laid back as you are?
There is a very competitive element in the darts league. A number of players have established themselves as among the best darters in Asia–I’ve seen some of our group on TV on Star Sports in competitions in Guangzhou. There are a growing number of excellent players who practice on a daily basis.

Where do you like to play?
One of the major reasons I like to play is that away games take you to new places. I play for the team out of Wings Bar, and regular stops on the dart circuit include Oscar’s Pub, Kangaroo Bar, Big Bamboo and, more recently, I Love Shanghai.

Do drinks and darts go together?
For me, and everyone I normally dart with, drinks and darts are a good mix. Darts is historically a bar event, and you mostly see a darter with a pint of beer–I have yet to dart with a good Englishman who is not drinking a beer.

How can we get involved?
The next season starts on February 8. It’s a great time to either join an existing team or bring a new team into the league. Contact the bars that currently have teams or check out our website. People can even get six or eight darters together and start their own team.

Want to get involved? Check out the Shanghai Darts League for more information.