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2016 World Matchplay
The 2016 BetVictor World Matchplay was the 23rd annual staging of the World Matchplay, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, from 16–24 July 2016. Michael van Gerwen successfully defended his World Matchplay title by defeating Phil Taylor 18–10 in the final. It was the first (and would turn out to be, only) time that Taylor has been defeated in a World Matchplay final. Van Gerwen also became only the third player to successfully defend the Matchplay trophy after Taylor and Rod Harrington. The second round was also reduced in length from best of 25 legs to best of 21 legs. This still remains the current format for the World Matchplay. This tournament was the first time in the event's history that no matches went into 'extra legs', the first time that Taylor had been defeated in the final after winning his previous 15, and the first time that Robert Thornton won a match at the event. It was also the firs ... [...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] |
2014 World Matchplay (darts)
The 2014 BetVictor World Matchplay was the 21st annual staging of the darts tournament, the World Matchplay, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament took place at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, from 19–27 July 2014. Phil Taylor won the event for the seventh consecutive year and 15th in total by beating Michael van Gerwen 18–9 in the final. Taylor also threw the event's only nine-dart finish which he did in the second round against Michael Smith. Prize money The prize fund was increased to £450,000 after being £400,000 for the previous five editions of this event. The bonus for a nine-dart finish stood at £10,000 and was won by Phil Taylor. 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 ... [...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] |
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] |
Stephen Bunting
Stephen Bunting (born 9 April 1985) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number four. Nicknamed "the Bullet", Bunting formerly competed in British Darts Organisation (BDO) events. He is a former BDO World Champion, having won the 2014 World Championship. He also won three other BDO major titles: the World Masters in 2012 and 2013 and the 2012 Zuiderduin Masters. He switched to the PDC after accepting a Tour Card in 2014, and has since won seven titles; four ranking Pro Tour titles and three non-ranking. He won his first PDC major title at the 2024 Masters, defeating Michael van Gerwen in the final. He also reached the semi-finals of the PDC World Championship in 2021 and 2025. Bunting won his first two World Series of Darts titles in 2025; at the Bahrain Darts Masters and Nordic Darts Masters. He won his first PDC European Tour title at the 2025 International Darts Ope ... [...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] |
Ian White (darts Player)
Ian White (born 17 August 1970), nicknamed "Diamond", is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. White has won thirteen PDC ranking events, including three titles on the PDC European Tour. He reached his first major semi-final at the 2019 Players Championship Finals. Career In 1997, White reached the final of the PDC's revived News of the World Darts Championship. He defeated Des Byrne, Gary Spedding, Peter Manley and Andy Jenkins on the way to the final, where he was defeated by Phil Taylor. White won the Antwerp Open, Denmark Open and the English National Championship in 2009. He qualified for the 2010 BDO World Darts Championship, but lost in the first round to Stephen Bunting 3–0. Shortly afterwards, he left the BDO and joined the PDC, when fellow Stoke player Adrian Lewis offered to sponsor White and suggested he was capable of being in the world's top eight. A solid first year in the PDC saw him reach the ... [...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] |
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] |
Dave Chisnall
David Chisnall (born 12 September 1980) is an English professional darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked world number twelve; he reached a peak ranking of world number five in 2017 and 2024. He began his career in the British Darts Organisation (BDO) and was the runner-up in the 2010 BDO World Championship. He switched to the PDC a year later where he has since won 26 ranking PDC titles, reached six televised premier event finals, participated in the Premier League four times, and represented England at the PDC World Cup on three occasions, making the semi-finals twice. Chisnall is a two-time runner-up at both the PDC Masters and the World Grand Prix, with his best performance at the PDC World Championship being reaching the semi-finals at the 2021 edition. Career Early career Chisnall was brought up in St Helens and played for a local football team until he was 17 when he broke his foot. He switched t ... [...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] |
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] |
