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2015 World Matchplay
The 2015 BetVictor World Matchplay was the 22nd annual staging of the World Matchplay, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, from 18 to 26 July 2015. Phil Taylor was the defending champion, having won the last seven editions of the event and he reached the semi-finals, where his 38-game unbeaten run came to the end against James Wade. Michael van Gerwen won his first World Matchplay title by defeating Wade 18–12 in the final. Prize money The prize fund was increased to £450,000 after being £400,000 for the previous five editions of this event. Format In previous stagings of the event all games had to be won by two clear legs with no sudden-death legs. However, in 2013 after consulting the host broadcaster Sky Sports, the PDC decided that games will now only proceed for a maximum of six extra legs before a tie-break leg is required. For example, in a best of 19 legs first round match, if the score reach ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Winter Gardens, Blackpool
The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment complex in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, which includes a theatre, ballroom and conference facilities. Opened in 1878, it is a Grade II* listed building, operated by Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited on behalf of Blackpool Council, which purchased the property from Leisure Parcs Ltd as part of a £40 million deal in 2010. The Winter Gardens has hosted the annual Trades Union Congress, the Conservative Party Conference (UK), Conservative Party Conference, Labour Party Conference, and the twice-annual Liberal Democrat Conference. The venue's owners claim that every Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister, since World War II has addressed an audience at the venue. It has also hosted the Blackpool Dance Festival since its inception in 1920, and the World Matchplay (darts), World Matchplay darts tournament since 1994. The annual dance competitions Miss Dance of Great Britain and Dance Master UK are hosted there an ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Peter Wright (darts Player)
Peter Stuart Wright (born 10 March 1970) is a Scottish professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world number fourteen; he was ranked world number one on two occasions in 2022. Nicknamed "Snakebite", he is a two-time PDC World Darts Championship, PDC World Champion, having won the 2020 PDC World Darts Championship, 2020 and 2022 PDC World Darts Championship, 2022 World Championships. He has also won the 2021 World Matchplay. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport, Wright has won 34 events on the PDC Pro Tour, putting him fourth on the all-time list behind Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor (darts player), Phil Taylor and Gary Anderson (darts player), Gary Anderson. When he was 24, Wright qualified for the first round of the 1995 BDO World Darts Championship, 1995 BDO World Championship but then stopped playing darts professionally, working instead as a bu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Benito Van De Pas
Benito van de Pas (born 18 January 1993) is a former Dutch professional darts player who formerly competed in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. Van de Pas obtained a PDC Tour Card in 2014 and won three ranking Players Championship events on the 2016 PDC Pro Tour. He is a three-time quarter-finalist in PDC major events, reaching the last eight at the 2015 Players Championship Finals and the World Grand Prix in 2016 and 2017. However, his form declined and he lost his Tour Card at the end of 2020. Career BDO Van de Pas reached the semi-finals of the 2011 PDC Under-21 World Championship, before losing to Michael van Gerwen 4–1. Van de Pas won the 2011 German Open. This result helped him to qualify for the 2012 BDO World Darts Championship as the fourteenth seed. He lost in the first round against Alan Norris 3–2. He also qualified for the Lakeside in 2013 and 2014, but lost in the first round again on both occasions. PDC In January 2014, van de Pas entered th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vincent Van Der Voort
Vincent van der Voort (born 18 December 1975) is a Dutch former professional darts player who played in British Darts Organisation (BDO) then Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He is nicknamed the "Dutch Destroyer", although he used to go by "Grease Lightning". He is best known for his quick throwing style, which is how he got his temporary nickname "The Fastest Player in the World". He has won 4 ranking PDC titles and was the runner-up at the 2007 UK Open, which helped him become a well known face in the world of darts. He is also a three-time World Championship quarter-finalist. Playing style Van der Voort is well known for his spasmodic style and machine-gun speed of play which has gained him a reputation in both the BDO and the PDC for being one of the more erratic throwers in the darting world. This ties in with his old entrance music, "Fast Fuse" by English band Kasabian. This has resulted in him tending to be either right on or way off his intended target. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jelle Klaasen
Jelle Klaasen (born 17 October 1984), nicknamed the Cobra, is a Dutch professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He previously participated in British Darts Organisation (BDO) tournaments, where in 2006, he became the youngest player to win the BDO World Darts Championship, aged 21 at the time. He also is a Dutch Open champion. Beginnings of his career His first attempt at the international stage was a 2005 Winmau World Masters ended with a 2–3 defeat to Irishman Steve McDonald. On 15 January 2006, Klaasen became the youngest BDO World Darts Champion, aged 21 years 90 days, when he defeated fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld in the final of the 2006 BDO World Championship by 7 sets to 5. He also beat Shaun Greatbatch and world number one Mervyn King on his way to the final. Before the tournament, he was a 100–1 outsider to win the title. As World Champion, he was invited to the 2006 World Darts Trophy in his home country, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kim Huybrechts
Kim Huybrechts (born 16 November 1985) is a Belgian professional darts player competing in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He was runner-up in the 2012 Players Championship Finals, losing to Phil Taylor 13–6. He also made the final of the 2013 PDC World Cup of Darts, representing Belgium alongside his brother Ronny. Huybrechts has won 5 ranking PDC titles during his professional career. Playing career Early career Huybrechts' first tournament wins came in 2007 at the Belgium Gold Cup and the Belgium National Championships. His only victory in a British Darts Organisation sanctioned event came at the 2008 Flanders Open where he defeated Geert De Vos 5–2 in the final. Huybrechts reached the last 16 of the 2009 Winmau World Masters, losing 3–1 to Steve West on his televised debut. In September 2010, he was a quarter-finalist at a PDC Pro Tour Players Championship in Nuland. Later that year, he narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2011 BDO World Darts C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Justin Pipe
Justin Pipe (born 9 November 1971) is an English former professional darts player who competed in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He won six PDC titles. Playing career Pipe was a Boxing, boxer in his youth, and, as a staunch anti-smoker, he refused to play darts in local pubs as the cigarette smoke would make his eyes water. In 2007, a Smoking ban in England, smoking ban was introduced to England which enabled him to restart his darts career. He first emerged at the 2008 UK Open (darts), 2008 UK Open as a pub qualifier. He defeated Geoff Wylie and Lionel Sams before losing 9–3 to James Wade in the third round. Following this performance, he joined the PDC Pro Tour and reached the same stage of the UK Open a 2009 UK Open, year later, this time losing 9–5 against Andy Jenkins. He qualified for the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts as one of four ITV Wildcard qualifiers. He lost all three of his group games to James Wade, Vincent van der Voort, and Tony O'Shea. 2011–20 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Raymond Van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld (born 20 April 1967) is a Dutch professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he was ranked world number one from January 2008 to June 2008. Nicknamed "Barney", he is a five-time World Champion (four-time BDO and one-time PDC). He is also a two-time UK Open champion, and a former winner of the Las Vegas Desert Classic, the Grand Slam and the Premier League. He is also a two-time World Masters winner, and a former World Darts Trophy champion. He is a three-time winner of both the International Darts League, the Dutch Open, and the WDF World Cup singles event. Van Barneveld has won the PDC World Cup of Darts four times (once partnering Co Stompé and thrice partnering Michael van Gerwen) and the WDF World Cup Pairs once (partnering Vincent van der Voort). He also won the PDC World Pairs alongside Roland Scholten. His victory over Phil Taylor in the 2007 PDC World Championship final, added to his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins (born 26 September 1963) is an English former professional darts player who was nicknamed The Bull, having previously used the name "Tucker" for his matches. He reached a peak ranking of world number three in the darts world rankings and was a runner-up in nine major PDC televised finals. Darts career It is a common myth that Jenkins is one of only a few people to exclusively play in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) when, in fact, Jenkins played in the British Darts Organisation (BDO) before, playing various opens from the early 1990s, and even reaching the quarter-finals of the World Masters in 2003. Jenkins began to climb up the Professional Darts Corporation world rankings during 2005 by producing good performances in the tour events, which are played away from the television cameras. He won the Primus Masters in 2005 and added the Antwerp Open and the Open Hotel Zwartwater titles in 2006. Jenkins also played in several BDO events in the early stages ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael Smith (darts Player)
Michael Smith (born 18 September 1990) is an English professional darts player. Nicknamed "Bully Boy", he competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked PDC Order of Merit, world number twenty; he was ranked world number one during the 2023 season. He is a former PDC World Darts Championship, PDC World Champion, having won the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship, 2023 World Championship after hitting a nine-dart finish in the final. He won his first PDC major title at the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts, 2022 Grand Slam after previously finishing as the runner-up in eight major singles finals, including the PDC World Darts Championship, World Championship in 2019 PDC World Darts Championship, 2019 and 2022 PDC World Darts Championship, 2022. He won the PDC World Cup of Darts, World Cup of Darts for List of PDC World Cup of Darts teams#England, England in 2024 PDC World Cup of Darts, 2024, partnering Luke Humphries. He has also won three World Series ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mervyn King (darts Player)
Mervyn King (born 15 March 1966) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He formerly competed in British Darts Organisation (BDO) tournaments. Nicknamed The King, he reached seven PDC premier event finals and a peak ranking of world number four in the PDC Order of Merit. In the BDO he was the 2004 Winmau World Masters winner, and both the Finder Masters and International Darts League champion in 2005, becoming the former BDO world number one during 2000 and 2005. He was the runner-up at the BDO World Darts Championship in both 2002 and 2004 as well as at the 2000 World Masters. In the PDC, King reached the semi-finals at the 2009 PDC World Championship, and was runner-up at the PDC Masters in both 2014 and 2021, the Players Championship Finals in 2010 and 2020, the 2009 Premier League Darts, the 2012 World Grand Prix, and the 2008 Championship League Darts. Early life King first took up the game at the age o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Thornton (darts Player)
Robert Thornton (born 17 July 1967) is a Scottish professional darts player. He competes in World Seniors Darts (WSD) events; he has won the WSD World Championship twice. He also won the 2022 World Seniors Matchplay. Thorton previously participated in British Darts Organisation (BDO) tournaments; he won the 2007 Winmau World Masters and 2008 Dutch Open. He switched to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) in 2008. He won two PDC major titles; the UK Open in 2012, and World Grand Prix in 2015. Additionally, Thornton won eleven titles on the PDC Pro Tour. BDO career Thornton returned to playing darts in 2002, having given up the game for two decades to raise his children. He qualified for the BDO World Championship for the first time in 2005. He beat Martin Atkins and Tony West before losing to Darryl Fitton in the quarter-finals. He then failed to qualify for the 2006 and 2007 events. Thornton's first professional title came in the Central Scotland Open in April 200 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
