Darts World Champions

PDC, BDO,WDF, WDDA

 

Darts World Champions

PDC / WDF / BDO and WDDA World Champions

 

The World Dart Champions of the past and present. For many, some of the names now might not be known, but they all form part of darts professional history. Below is a glossary of the darts world championship(s) history, the breakaway from several prominent players to form the World Darts Council, Now Professional Dart Corporation (PDC) and more.

There are two recognised World Dart Champions: the former BDO, now run by the WDF and the PDC World Champion. The first World Championship was won by Leighton Rees from Wales. Leighton beat John Lowe of England 11 legs to 7 and won £3,000. The final was played in legs, not sets as it is today. The first World Championship was held at the 'Heart of the Midlands' nightclub in Nottingham before moving to the Jollees Club Stoke-on-Trent, where it remained until 1985.

From 1986 – 2019, the World Darts finals were held at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey. In 2020, The BDO changed the venue to the iconic O2 Arena, London, which was to begin the organisation's downfall.

1992 saw several players split from the BDO and form their own darts organisation, The World Darts Council, later renamed the Professional Darts Corporation PDC. In 1994, the WDC (PDC) staged their first World Darts Championships to rival The BDO Championship. Many of the best names in darts at the time moved to form the WDC (PDC), and it has always been a bitter rivalry of who is the best. Many now believe the PDC holds that title due to the amount of prize money it offers, At the time five times that of the BDO.

In 2001, the BDO introduced the first women's World Darts Championship. Trina Gulliver from England has won this event every year from 2001-2007. In 2008, Trina reached the final again, but this time, she was defeated by Russia's Anastasia Dobromyslova 2-0. Trina lost again in the 2009 final to Francis Hoenselaar but regained her crown in 2010, 2011 and 2016. Trina qualified for the all-BDO-managed World finals.

Sadly, in September 2020, the BDO went into liquidation. The World Darts Federation WDF then took over some of the major events previously managed by the BDO. The World Darts Championships and the World Masters United Kingdon Darts Association now manage the former British County Championships, now known as the National League.

The lists below show the World Champions of the past and present. Many dart fans can recall the World Champions, but not many can name the runners-up or the score final.

Few darts players have dominated the sport. However, there are a couple of exceptions. Phil Taylor won 16 World Titles before retiring at the beginning of 2018. His record of World Titles will stand for many years to come and may never be beaten. On the lady's side of darts, Trina Gulliver MBE dominated the 2000, a decade in which she won seven straight World Titles. To date, Trina has won 10 World Champions Titles, and there might be more still to come.

Three players have been awarded the British Empire Medal (MBE) for Services to darts and their charitable fundraising work: Eric Bristow, Trina Gulliver and John Lowe (2019)

 

 

PDC PDC World Darts Champions

Professional Darts Corporation World Darts Champions

PDC World Championships Main Sponsors:

1994 - 1995 Skol International, 1995 - 1996 Proton Cars, 1996 - 1997 Vernons, 1998 - 2002 Skol International, 2003 - 2014 Ladbrokes, William Hill 2015 - 2022, Cazoo 2023, Paddy Power 2024 - Current

For more information on PDC events please visit the PDC website

 

Year

Winner

Sets

 

Sets

Runner-up

2024 Luke Humphries 7 - 4 Luke Littler
2023 Michael Smith 7 - 4 Michael van Gerwen
2022 Peter Wright 7 - 5 Michael Smith
2021 Gerwyn Price 7 - 3 Gary Anderson
2020 Peter Wright 7 - 3 Michael van Gerwen
2019 Michael van Gerwen 7 - 3 Michael Smith
2018 Rob Cross 7 - 2 Phil Taylor
2017 Michael van Gerwen 7 - 3 Gary Anderson
2016 Gary Anderson 7 - 5 Adrian Lewis
2015 Gary Anderson 7 - 6 Phil Taylor
2014 Michael van Gerwen 7 - 5 Peter Wright
2013 Phil Taylor 7 - 4 Michael van Gerwen
2012 Adrian Lewis 7 - 3 Andy Hamilton
2011 Adrian Lewis 7 - 5 Gary Anderson
2010 Phil Taylor 7 - 3 Simon Whitlock
2009 Phil Taylor 7 - 1 Raymond van Barneveld
2008 John Part 7 - 2 Kirk Shepherd
2007 Raymond Van Barneveld 7 - 6 Phil Taylor
2006 Phil Taylor 7 - 0 Peter Manley
2005 Phil Taylor 7 - 4 Mark Dudbridge
2004 Phil Taylor 7 - 6 Kevin Painter
2003 John Part 7 - 6 Phil Taylor
2002 Phil Taylor 7 - 0 Peter Manley
2001 Phil Taylor 7 - 0 John Part
2000 Phil Taylor 7 - 3 Dennis Priestley
1999 Phil Taylor 6 - 2 Peter Manley
1998 Phil Taylor 6 - 0 Dennis Priestley
1997 Phil Taylor 6 - 3 Dennis Priestley
1996 Phil Taylor 6 - 4 Dennis Priestley
1995 Phil Taylor 6 - 2 Rod Harrington
1994 Dennis Priestley 6 - 1 Phil Taylor

 

 

BDO WDF World Darts Champions (Men)

The World Darts Federation (WDF) first World Championship was scheduled to be played in January 2022. However, it was postponed due to covid-19 and the fear of UK Government venue restrictions.

The WDF took over the World Championships following the demise of the British Darts Organisation (BDO).

The last BDO managed World Championships was held at the London O2 Arena, moving the tournament from the famous Lakeside venue. Many fans boycotted the event and thus caused additional issues, one being the expected prize fun was drastically reduced. As a further backlash, the management of the British County Darts Championships also changed.

Past event winners can, however, can still be seen below.

 

World Darts Federation World Darts Champions (Men)

WDF World Darts Championships Main Sponsor: 2022 Lakeside Country Club (Bob Potter)

Year

Winner

Sets

 

Sets

Runner-up

2023 Neil DuffAndy Baetens 6 - 1 Chris Landman
2022 Neil Duff 5 - 4 Thibault Tricole

 

 

BDO BDO World Darts Champions (Men)

British Darts Organisation World Darts Champions (Men)

BDO / WDO World Championships Main Sponsors:

Embassy Tobacco 1978 - 2003, Lakeside Country Club (Bob Potter) 2003 - 2019, 2020 - (Last BDO World Championship)

The first nine-dart leg achieved in the BDO World Darts Championship was by Paul Lim (USA) in the second round of the 1990 Championships against Irishman Jack McKenna. Paul won £52,000 for his achievement. Since then the BDO World Championships has not seen another nine-dart leg achieved but serval have come close.

 

Year

Winner

Sets

 

Sets

Runner-up

2020 Wayne Warren 7 - 4 Jim Williams
2019 Glen Durrant 7 - 3 Scott Waites
2018 Glen Durrant 7 - 6 Mark McGeeney
2017 Glen Durrant 7 - 3 Danny Noppert
2016 Scott Waites 7 - 1 Jeff Smith
2015 Scott Mitchell 7 - 6 Martin Adams
2014 Stephen Bunting 7 - 4 Alan Norris
2013 Scott Waites 7 - 1 Tony O'Shea
2012 Christian Kist 7 - 5 Tony O'Shea
2011 Martin Adams 7 - 5 Dean Winstanley
2010 Martin Adams 7 - 5 Dave Chisnall
2009 Ted Hankey 7 - 6 Tony O'Shea
2008 Mark Webster 7 - 5 Simon Whitlock
2007 Martin Adams 7 - 6 Phil Nixon
2006 Jelle Klaasen  7 - 5 Raymond Van Barneveld
2005 Raymond Van Barnveld 6 - 2 Martin Adams
2004 Andy Fordham 6 - 3 Mervyn King
2003 Raymond Van Barneveld 6 - 3 Richie Davies
2002 Tony David 6 - 4 Mervyn King
2001 John Walton 6 - 2 Ted Hankey
2000 Ted Hankey 6 - 0 Ronnie Baxter
1999 Raymond Van Barneveld 6 - 5 Ronnie Baxter
1998 Raymond Van Barneveld 6 - 5 Richie Burnett
1997 Les Wallace 6 - 3 Marshall James
1996 Steve Beaton 6 - 3 Richie Burnett
1995 Richie Burnett 6 - 3 Raymond Van Barneveld
1994 John Part 6 - 0 Bobby George
1993 John Lowe 6 - 3 Alan Warriner
1992 Phil Taylor 6 - 5 Mike Gregory
1991 Dennis Priestley 6 - 0 Eric Bristow MBE
1990 Phil Taylor 6 - 1 Eric Bristow MBE
1989 Jocky Wilson 6 - 4 Eric Bristow MBE
1988 Bob Anderson 6 - 4 John Lowe
1987 John Lowe 6 - 4 Eric Bristow MBE
1986 Eric Bristow MBE 6 - 0 Dave Whitcombe
1985 Eric Bristow MBE 6 - 2 John Lowe
1984 Eric Bristow MBE 7 - 1 Dave Whitcombe
1983 Keith Deller 6 - 5 Eric Bristow MBE
1982 Jocky Wilson 5 - 3 John Lowe
1981 Eric Bristow MBE 5 - 1 John Lowe
1980 Eric Bristow MBE 5 - 3 Bobby George
1979 John Lowe 5 - 0 Leighton Rees
1978 Leighton Rees 11 - 7 John Lowe

 

 

BDO WDF World Darts Champions (Women)

World Darts Federation World Darts Champions (Women)

WDF World Darts Championships Main Sponsor:
2022 Lakeside Country Club (Bob Potter)

 

Year

Winner

Sets

 

Sets

Runner-up

2023 Beau Greaves 4 - 1 Aileen de Graaf
2022 Beau Greaves 4 - 0 Kirsty Hutchinson

 

 

BDO BDO World Darts Champions (Women)

British Darts Organisation World Darts Champions (Women)

BDO / WDF World Championships Main Sponsors:

Embassy Tobacco 2001 - 2003, Lakeside Country Club (Bob Potter) 2003 - 2019, 2020 - (Last BDO World Championship)

Since the Women’s World Darts Championship was conceived in 2001 one woman has dominated the ladies darts scene, Trina Gulliver MBE. Trina's achievement of playing in all of the World Championships finals stages is something no other lady player can boast. Trina has won the women’s World Championship title ten times to date and has been the runner-up on two occasions. There has always been a debate on the best ladies player ever, I say no more her World Championship Record speaks for itself.

 

Year

Winner

Sets

 

Sets

Runner-up

2020 Mikuru Suzuki 3 - 0 Lisa Ashton
2019 Mikuru Suzuki 3 - 0 Lorraine Winstanley
2018 Lisa Ashton 3 - 1 Anastasia Dobromyslova
2017 Lisa Ashton 3 - 0 Corrine Hammond
2016 Trina Gulliver MBE 3 - 2 Deta Headman
2015 Lisa Ashton 3 - 1 Fallon Sherrock
2014 Lisa Ashton 3 - 2 Deta Hedman
2013 Anastasia Dobromyslova 2 - 1 Lisa Ashton
2012 Anastasia Dobromyslova 2 - 1 Deta Hedman
2011 Trina Gulliver MBE 2 - 0 Rhian Edwards
2010 Trina Gulliver MBE 2 - 0 Rhian Edwards
2009 Francis Hoenselaar 2 - 1 Trina Gulliver MBE
2008 Anastasia Dobromyslova 2 - 0 Trina Gulliver MBE
2007 Trina Gulliver MBE 2 - 1 Francis Hoenselaar
2006 Trina Gulliver MBE 2 - 0 Francis Hoenselaar
2005 Trina Gulliver MBE 2 - 0 Francis Hoenselaar
2004 Trina Gulliver MBE 2 - 0 Francis Hoenselaar
2003 Trina Gulliver MBE 2 - 0 Ann Kirk
2002 Trina Gulliver MBE 2 - 1 Francis Hoenselaar
2001 Trina Gulliver MBE 2 - 1 Mandy Solomons

 

 

Youth World Champions

Although the BDO has been the bedrock for youth darts for many years, it was the PDC who first introduced a World Darts Championship. Until this point, the biggest accolade a youth player could hold was the Winmau Masters title. The masters introduced a joint boys and girls (Youth) Championship in 1986. In 1999 this was split into two separate titles one for boys the other girls.

BDO classify a youth player of 18 years or younger, however, the PDC have revised their youth tournament age minimum 16 years – 23 years. Personally, 23 seems a little old for a youth player especially when Jelle Klassen won the BDO World Championship at the age of 21.

 

PDC PDC Youth World Champions

Year

Winner

Sets

 

Sets

Runner-up

2023 Luke Littler 6 - 4 Gian van Veen
2022 Josh Rock 6 - 1 Nathan Girvan
2021 Ted Evetts 6 - 4 Nathan Rafferty
2020 Bradley Brookes 6 - 5 Joe Davis
2019 Luke Humphries 6 - 0 Adam Gawlas
2018 Dimitri van den Bergh 6 - 3 Martin Schindler
2017 Dimitri van den Bergh 6 - 3 Josh Payne
2016 Corey Cadby 6 - 2 Berry van Peer
2015 Max Hopp 6 - 5 Nathan Aspinall
2014 Keegan Brown 6 - 4 Rowby-John Rodriguez
2013 Michael Smith 6 - 1 Ricky Evans
2012 James Hubbard 6 - 3 Michael van Gerwen
2011 Arron Monk 6 - 4 Michael van Gerwen

 

BDO WDF World Darts Champions (Boys)

World Darts Federation World Darts Champions (Boys)

WDF World Darts Championships Main Sponsor: 2022 Lakeside Country Club (Bob Potter)

 

Year

Winner

Sets

 

Sets

Runner-up

2023 Bradley Van der Velden 3 - 0 Adam Dee
2022 Bradly Roes 3 - 1 Charlie Large

 

BDO WDF World Darts Champions (Girls)

World Darts Federation World Darts Champions (Girls)

WDF World Darts Championships Main Sponsor: 2022 Lakeside Country Club (Bob Potter)

 

Year

Winner

Sets

 

Sets

Runner-up

2023 Aurora Fochesato 2 - 0 Krisztina Turai
2022 Eleanor Cairnes 2 - 0 Wibke Rieman

 

Elkadart Elkadart World Youth Singles

During the mid-1980s, 1986-1989, Elkadarts sponsored a World Youth Singles Championship. The event was held alongside the Winmau Masters. At the time, the Winmau Masters were also billed as the World Championships and later World Championships World Masters. As it was known, the Elkadart World Youth Singles was later taken over by Winmau and formed part of the World Masters. Hence, the listed Elkadarts Youth winners were collectively referred to as the first winners of the new sponsored event. Here is a list of the Elkadarts World Youth Singles Champions. For the others that followed, please see the World Masters listing.

Year

Winner

Score

 

Score

Runner-up

1989 Dennis Beisser 3 - 1 Peter van Tilburg
1988 Sean Dowling 3 - 2 Paul Linwood
1987 Sean Bell 3 - 1 Mark Day
1986 Harith Lim 3 - 0 Rowan Barry

 

 

 

BDOBDO Youth World Champions

(Last BDO World Championship 2020)

Year

Winner

Sets

 

Sets

Runner-up

2020 Keane Barry 3 - 0 Leighton Bennett
2019 Leighton Bennett 3 - 0 Nathan Girvan
2018 Justin van Tergouw 3 - 1 Killian Heffeman
2017 Justin van Tergouw 3 - 0 Nathern Girven
2016 Joshua Richardson 3 - 2 Jordan Boyce
2015 Colin Roelofs 3 - 0 Harry Word

 

 

Unicorn Darts Ladies World Championship

In 2010 Unicorn (Darts Manufacturer) introduced an alternative Womens World Darts Championship. The final took place in the Winter Gardens Blackpool, UK and consisted the best of 11 legs and was won by Stacy Bromberg (USA). The event as not been staged since and there seems no plans for its return.

Trina Gulliver MBE the most successful ladies dart player to grace the earth did not play in this event but went on to win the 2010, 2011 & 2016 BDO World darts Championship a total of 10 World Championship wins to date.

 

Year

Winner

Legs

 

Legs

Runner-up

2010 Stacy Bromberg 6 - 5 Tricia Wright

Sadly Stacy died on the 12th February 2017 aged 60

 

 

WDDA Winmau WDDA Masters 2014 - 2018 / World Championship 2020 -

(WDDA) Masters / World Championship

The Winmau WDDA World Masters (Disability Championship) first event took place in 2014 as a demonstration event following a long campaign to review the dartboard height for wheelchair players. The World Disability Darts Association (WDDA) finally gained approval from the WDF and BDO for the reduce dartboard height for Wheelchair players, 137cm to the centre of the bullseye the rest is now history.

The Disability final is best of 5 legs played on a dual board set-up designed explicitly, so a wheelchair player and a standing player are competing directly against one another.

This event has now been replaced with the WDDA World Championships (Sponsored by Winmau). The WDDA Masters formed part of the sponsored Winmau (BDO) Masters. However, in 2019 the BDO gained a new sponsor for the Master and dartboards used across their events and the disability event was not part of the agenda. Winmau in their wisdom, moved the WDDA Master to the Netherlands and renamed the WDDA masters to the WDDA World Championships. I have kept the event history as one event because the qualifying path is the same.

This event has now been replaced with the WDDA World Championships (Sponsored by Winmau)

 

WDDA World Masters 2014 -2018 / World Championships 2020 - Past Champions

The Masters was not played in 2019

Year

Winner

Legs

 

Legs

Runner-up

2020 Kwanghee Cho 3 - 1 Mike Callaghan
2018 Michael Davis 3 - 1 Ricky Chilton
2017 Kevin Turner 3 - 1 Phil Lees
2016 Vince D'Hondt 3 - 0 Richard Green
2015 Vince D'Hondt 3 - 0 Ricky Chilton
2014 Ricky Chilton 3 - 2 Phil Lees

 

 

World-Softtip- Champions World Soft-tip Darts Champions

World Soft-tip Darts Finals consist of several stage rounds where a player can earn points to an overall event achievement. Unlike steel-tip darts matches played in the PDC / BDO, soft-tip darts best of 5 - 7 games. These games include 701 and Cricket and a point is awarded to the winner of each game. Unfortunately, I do not have the full break down of results or indeed a list of past runners-up. Should I managed to obtain these from an authority source I will publish the missing detail.

Learn more about soft-tip darts and more about the Soft-tip World Championships

For other major tournament winners, please visit Darts501.com.

 

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