World Professional Darts Championship
The World Professional Darts Championship is the traditional highlight of the darts calendar. It has been held every year since 1978, when it was held at the Heart of the Midlands nightclub, Nottingham. The following year it moved to the Jollees nightclub, Stoke, where it stayed until 1985. Since then it has been held at the Lakeside Country Club at Frimley Green, Surrey. The event has been organised by the British Darts Organisation, darts' governing body.
Since 1994, following a dispute with the BDO, a rival breakaway group was formed (the Professional Darts Corporation) and has staged its own World Championship each year at Purfleet's Circus Tavern, Essex. By 2006 England's Phil Taylor had won all but two PDC titles. The other victors were fellow Englishman Dennis Priestley in 1994 and Canadian John Part in 2003.
Winners
British Darts Organisation - Lakeside World Darts Championship (previously "The Embassy")
See Main Article: BDO World Darts Championship
- 1978,
Leighton Rees - 1979,
John Lowe - 1980, Eric Bristow
- 1981, Eric Bristow
- 1982,
Jocky Wilson - 1983, Keith Deller
- 1984, Eric Bristow
- 1985, Eric Bristow
- 1986, Eric Bristow
- 1987, John Lowe
- 1988, Bob Anderson
- 1989, Jocky Wilson
- 1990, Phil Taylor
- 1991, Dennis Priestley
- 1992, Phil Taylor
- 1993, John Lowe
- 1994,
John Part - 1995, Richie Burnett
- 1996, Steve Beaton
- 1997, Les Wallace
- 1998,
Raymond van Barneveld - 1999, Raymond van Barneveld
- 2000, Ted Hankey
- 2001, John Walton
- 2002,
Tony David - 2003, Raymond van Barneveld
- 2004, Andy Fordham
- 2005, Raymond van Barneveld
- 2006, Jelle Klaasen
Professional Darts Corporation - (Numerous Sponsors, currently Ladbrokes)
See Main Article: PDC World Darts Championship