The World Axe Throwing League (WATL) is a global governing body of urban axe throwing.
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.
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 WATL, it is also celebrated by anyone with a passion for the sport around the world.
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. WATL implemented a new style of playing online with WATL Live. WATL founder Mario Zelaya was announced as the new Commissioner of the World Axe Throwing League starting in 2021, 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.
2024 The 7th World Axe Throwing Championship was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The WATL launched new programs including the Mentorship Program and Content Initiative. The WATL Rating System was launched. The first Amateur Championships was held in Atlanta, Georgia.
2025 The 8th World Axe Throwing Championship was held in Appleton, Wisconsin. The WATL launched new programs including Community Venues & Flex Leagues. The 2nd Amateur Championships was announced to occur in 2026 with the World Axe & Knife Throwing Championships. Mario Zelaya returned as Commissioner, replacing Sarah Sed.
2026 The 9th World Axe Throwing Championship was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Scoring
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 a local axe throwing facility in Columbus, Ohio, for the Arnold Sports Festival (also known as the Arnold Classic or just "the Arnold", and named after Arnold Schwarzenegger). 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 resultsYearChampionLocation2nd place2018 John Bradley Eric Enriquez2019 Mike Kump Sam Carter2020 Canceled Canceled Canceled 2021 Mike Philabaum Michael Theadorou2022 Mark Tishko 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 resultsYearPro Hatchet ChampionAmateur Hatchet ChampionLocation2023 Brett Jariabek Erik Rimblas
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.
+Amateur Championship resultsYearAmateur Hatchet ChampionLocation2024 Tommy Runkel 2025 Trevor Weaver
World Axe Throwing Hatchet Championship
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.
+Axe Throwing World Champions Year World Champion Location represented Country 2nd place 3rd place2017Chris MorningFar Shot RecreationJon MillerMichael Moore2018Benjamin EdgingtonBad Axe Throwing DenverDavid CyconPaul Gammon2019Sam CarterTap That Axe ThrowingDavid CyconStraun Riley2020Ryan SmitTribal AxeMike KumpNick Rich2021Mike PhilabaumMountain Man Axe ThrowingGarrett GneitingRobert Young2022Dylan TeetsAxe On Axe OffColby DeanLucas Johnson / Mike Philabaum2023Garrett GneitingSocial Axe ThrowingNeil RustDave Alviso / Lucas Johnson2024Dylan TeetsSwamp AxeNick KolomyjaJustin Reese / Lucas Johnson2025Mark TennantShenandoah Valley Axe ThrowingNeil RustJoe Devine / Jayden Thompson
Duals World Champions The World Axe Throwing Championship added duals as a discipline in 2019. Duals is when two throwers are working together as a team to throw a combined score. +Duals ChampionsYearWorld ChampionsLocations represented2nd place3rd place2019Uncle Kump - Mike Kump and Will GelatkoChopper's Hatchet HouseTeam Basura - Julio Romero and Rander MarquezStjep Daddy - Stjepan Rihtaric and Gavin Caissie 2020Brown Johnson - Lucas Johnson and Hayden BrownMurfreesboro AxeTrigger Happy - John Hout and Shane SheppardValkyrian Steel - Joshua Russo and Zach Crawford2021Brown Johnson - Lucas Johnson and Hayden BrownMurfreesboro AxeKingsmen - Michael Theodorou and Colby DeanAxe Mafia - Ronnie Patterson and David Gann2022Brown Johnson - Lucas Johnson and Hayden BrownMurfreesboro AxeVinnit to Win it - Vin Crescenzo and Kyle DurrantSloth Ghost / Fancy but Loose2023Flo Bros - John Doepke and Tyler FlynnBlades & Boards / TimberBeast Axe ThrowingKill Shot Crew - Tyler Hunt and Brett JariabekBrown Johnson / Team Jacob2024Devine Johnson - Lucas Johnson and Joe DevineLumberjack Johnny'sFlo Bros - John Doepke and Tyler FlynnDaddy and the Boy / Kill Shot Crew2025Republic Chophouse - Lucas Johnson and Joe DevineLumberjack Johnny'sWhen Quality Matters - Alex Everson and Logan KeehnNightrunners / Kill Shot Crew
Big Axe Championship
The World Axe Throwing Championship added Big Axe as a discipline eligible for a Championship title in 2020. Big Axe is similar to Hatchet, but the axe is much larger and often thrown with two hands.
+Big Axe Champions Year World Champion Location represented Country 2nd place 3rd place2020Zach CrawfordTimberBeast Axe ThrowingJonathan MorganMarcus Brown2021Mark MirasolThe Lazy AxeJoshua RussoTyler Flynn / Mike Philabaum2022Lucas JohnsonMurfreesboro AxeTyler FlynnManny Kohl / Nick Kolomyja2023Dylan TeetsSwamp AxeJonathan MorganLucas Johnson / Dustin Wellman2024Lucas JohnsonLumberjack Johnny'sDylan TeetsTyler Flynn / Neil Rust2025Lucas JohnsonLumberjack Johnny'sTyler FlynnJohn Doepke / Eli Morton
Commissioners of the World Axe Throwing League The Commissioner of WATL heads the World Axe Throwing League. +WATL Commissioners Years active Name Country 2018 – 2021 Evan Walters 2021 – 2022 Mario Zelaya 2022 – 2023 Mike Morton2024 – 2025Sarah Sed2025 – present Mario Zelaya
WATL Member Countries There are over 300 WATL-affiliated locations in the following countries:
References
See also