WATL was founded in 2017 by representatives from Canada, the United States, Brazil, and Ireland. It has 19 axe throwing nations with membership. Members include over 200 member companies (affiliates). It organizes international tournament events such as the U.S. Open, Canadian Open, European Open, the North American Arnold Open, South American Arnold Open, and most notably the World Axe Throwing Championship.[3][4]
It appoints judges who officiate at all sanctioned leagues and tournaments. It promulgates the WATL Code of Conduct, which sets professional standards of discipline for urban axe throwing.
International Axe Throwing Day
This day (13 June) was created by the World Axe Throwing League to celebrate, raise awareness and unify the sport of urban axe throwing. Though primarily celebrated with affiliates in the WATL, it is also celebrated by anyone with a passion for the sport around the world.[5]
History
2017
WATL was founded.
International Axe Throwing Day (June 13) was founded.
Representatives from five countries joined the WATL: the United States, Canada, Ireland, Brazil and Denmark.
The first annual World Axe Throwing Championship was held.
2018
Evan Walters was announced as the Commissioner of WATL.
Representatives from 10 countries joined the WATL: the United Kingdom, Turkey, Russia, Spain, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, New Zealand, Slovenia, and Indonesia.
The first annual U.S. Open tournament was held.
The second annual World Axe Throwing Championship was held, and was the first urban axe throwing production to be featured on ESPN.
2019
Representatives from four countries joined the WATL: South Africa, Australia, Belgium and China.
The first Canadian Open tournament was held.
2020
The spring and summer leagues for 2020 were cancelled as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic and many locations around the world enforcing a quarantine, the WATL helped establish the Quarantine Axe Throwing League with co-founders Gavin Caissie, Mike Morton. This made headway continuing the sport from the homes of players, so they might continue axe throwing despite the mandatory restrictions on social contact.[6]
WATL implemented a new style of playing online with WATL Live.
WATL founder Mario Zelaya was the new Commissioner of the World Axe Throwing League, and Evan Walters became Head of Development for the World Knife Throwing League.
2021
With COVID-19 restrictions lessened around the world, Axe Throwing League seasons reopened for standard League play.
The first affiliated location in India started.
The World Axe Throwing League announced the formation of a new sister league, the World Knife Throwing League.
At the 2021 World Axe Throwing Championship, Mario Zelaya announced he would be stepping down as Commissioner, with Mike Morton to be his replacement.
2023
Mike Morton announced he would be stepping down as Commissioner with Sarah Sed to be his replacement starting in January 2024.
In 2023 it was announced that the World Axe Throwing League and World Knife Throwing League were replacing the annual U.S. Open tournament with a Pro-Am tournament.
Sarah Sed was announced as the Commissioner starting in 2024.
2024
The 7th World Axe Throwing Championship is Held in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The WATL launches new programs including the Mentorship Program and Content Initiative.
The WATL Rating System was launched.
The first Amateur Championships is held in Atlanta, Georgia.
2025
The 8th World Axe Throwing Championship is held in Appleton, Wisconsin.
The WATL launches new programs including Community Venues & Flex Leagues .
The 2nd Amateur Championships is announced to occur in 2026 with the World Axe & Knife Throwing Championships.
Scoring
A standard axe throwing target design to compete in the World Axe Throwing League in 2024
Scoring is a match system where ten axes are thrown per match. The player with the highest points of their ten thrown axes wins the match. In case of a tie, a "sudden death" throw is made for the highest score. Sudden death throws are done until one thrower scores higher than the other. Scoring is determined by where the axe strikes into the target. The WATL targets have a red bullseye ring, followed by five empty rings, and then a blue ring. The scoring is 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 point respectively. Additionally, there are blue dots in the 1 point ring, known as "kill-shot," which can only be used when called, twice per match for 7 or 8 points. Point designation is based on the highest point value the axe touches when it lands and sticks.
WATL tournaments
In 2018, WATL started working on a tournament format to help include any throwers who could not regularly participate in the WATL axe throwing seasons. This started off by working with Columbus Axe Throwing, to bring urban axe throwing to Columbus, Ohio, for the Arnold Sports Festival (also known as the Arnold Classic or just "the Arnold", and named after Arnold Schwarzenegger).[7] As of 2024 WATL has worked with its affiliated axe throwing locations on a tournament circuit where there are dozens of axe throwing tournaments held internationally. These tournaments help players earn spots to the World Axe Throwing Championship just as leagues do.
WATL still directly hosts an annual World Axe Throwing Championship and typically one other tournament as well, that has varied in name and format over the years.
US Open results
Year
Champion
Location
2nd place
2018
John Bradley
Chicago, Illinois
Eric Enriquez
2019
Mike Kump
Des Moins, Iowa
Sam Carter
2020
Canceled
Canceled
Canceled
2021
Mike Philabaum
Atlanta, Georgia
Michael Theadorou
2022
Mark Tishko
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Lucas Johnson
In 2023 the World Axe Throwing League discontinued the U.S Open in favor of re-branding it as the Pro-Am Championship. This tournament was made to highlight professional throwers as well as amateur ones, in addition to introducing many new styles of gameplay for axe and knife throwing, known as the Skills Challenges.
Pro-Am results
Year
Pro Hatchet Champion
Amateur Hatchet Champion
Location
2023
Brett Jariabek
Erik Rimblas
Appleton, Wisconsin
In 2024 the World Axe Throwing League decided to focus on the amateur competitors with its tournament and rebranded the Pro-Am to the Amateur Championship. The Amateur Championship is aimed at giving newer players a way to experience a higher level of competition without the higher stakes of a World Champion title attached, but with the ability to earn a spot at the World Axe Throwing Championship. [8]
Amateur Championship results
Year
Amateur Hatchet Champion
Location
2024
Tommy Runkel
Atlanta, Georgia
World Axe Throwing Hatchet Championship
World Axe Throwing Championship trophy, 2017-2021
The World Axe Throwing Championship takes place once a year. The format has slight changes from year to year, to be announced before the beginning of the yearly competition. 2018 marked the first time that an axe throwing championship was presented on ESPN.[9]
The World Axe Throwing Championship added duals as a discipline in 2019. Duals is where two throwers are working together to throw a combined score.
Duals Champions
Year
World Champions
Locations represented
2nd place
3rd place
2019
Uncle Kump - Mike Kump and Will Gelatko
Chopper's Hatchet House
Team Basura - Julio Romero and Rander Marquez
Stjep Daddy - Stjepan Rihtaric and Gavin Caissie
2020
Brown Johnson - Lucas Johnson and Hayden Brown
Murfreesboro Axe
Trigger Happy - John Hout and Shane Sheppard
Valkyrian Steel
2021
Brown Johnson - Lucas Johnson and Hayden Brown
Murfreesboro Axe
Kingsmen - Michael Theodorou and Colby Dean
Axe Mafia
2022
Brown Johnson - Lucas Johnson and Hayden Brown
Murfreesboro Axe
Vinnit to Win it - Vin Crescenzo and Kyle Durrant
Sloth Ghost / Fancy but Loose
2023
Flo Bros - John Doepke and Tyler Flynn
Blades & Boards / Timberbeast
Kill Shot Crew - Tyler Hunt and Brett Jariabek
Brown Johnson / Team Jacob
2024
Devine Johnson - Lucas Johnson and Joe Devine
Lumber Jack Johnny's
Flo Bros - John Doepke and Tyler Flynn
Daddy and the Boy / Kill Shot Crew
Big Axe Championship
The World Axe Throwing Championship added Big Axe as a discipline eligible for a Championship title in 2023. Big Axe is similar to Hatchet, but the axe is much larger and often thrown with two hands.
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