BDO World Darts Championships to be staged at the O2 after leaving Lakeside

By Chris Hammer

Darts

Fri August 02, 2019 · 5y ago

The BDO World Darts Championships will now be held at the Indigo in the O2 following the decision to leave the iconic Lakeside.

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Click here for 2019 Lakeside results

The tournament has been held at it's 'spiritual home' since 1986, when Eric Bristow won the fifth of his world titles, having been previously staged at Jollees in Stoke from 1979, with the inaugural edition of 1978 taking place in Nottingham.

Glen Durrant gave the Lakeside a fittingly historic send off back in January when emulating Bristow's record of winning three successive crowns thanks to victory over Scott Waites while Mikuru Suzuki became the first female champion outside Europe and 13-year-old Leighton Bennett brought the house down with his stunning youth title.

🏆🏆🏆 Eric Bristow 1984, 1985, 1986
🏆🏆🏆 Glen Durrant 2017, 2018, 2019

History makers.pic.twitter.com/RNxiDzjGLo
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) January 13, 2019

A 121 checkout on the bullseye to win a title on TV, aged 13.

Leighton Bennett's celebration defines the joy of sport!pic.twitter.com/OeWwZESaJa
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) January 10, 2019

A statement from the BDO read: "After four decades of this prestigious competition residing at The Lakeside, we are excited to announce that the new home of the BDO World Professional Darts Championships is Indigo at the O2, London!

"We have such fond memories and are extremely grateful to The Lakeside, especially Bob & Barbara Potter and all that have helped over the years to make the most famous darts tournament in the world, such a success.

"Moving to The O2, the most popular venue in the world, is an amazing opportunity and we look forward to working with the O2 and their partners over the coming years to develop a new future for the BDO World Professional Darts Championships.

"Further announcements to follow soon regarding on-sale dates and tournament/venue information. See you in London January 2020!"

One of 'the' great BDO moments. Competing against doctors orders & wearing a steel corset to protect his broken back, @BobbyGeorge180 wins a 9th leg in a row after surviving match dart.

The atmosphere, commentary, celebrations & sportsmanship. Even Magnus Caris' flights! Magic. pic.twitter.com/7WkBvVyJk4
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) January 5, 2019

There have been no end of incredible moments from the Lakeside in years gone by including Paul Lim's nine-darter, Bobby George beating Magnus Caris on one leg, the many battles between Bristow, John Lowe, Jocky Wilson and Leighton Rees, Raymond van Barneveld's first title against Richie Burnett, Ted Hankey's whitewash of Ronnie Baxter that he finished with a 170 checkout, Martin Adams almost blowing a 6-0 lead against Phill Nixon and many, many more.

Paul Lim returns tonight for his 23rd world championship, almost 37 years after his first. Amazing.

And this never gets old. pic.twitter.com/O6U1xIhZRh
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) December 16, 2018

Nathan Aspinall's 170 checkout brought back fond memories of @TedHankeyDarts' heroics... pic.twitter.com/Y08L9eKDyw
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) March 4, 2019

So many great Lakeside memories but one of my favourites was the closest ever whitewash in the history of darts between @Raybar180 and @Stevebeaton180. I was mesmerised by the standard, sportsmanship and atmosphere at the Lakeside. What an era that was. pic.twitter.com/82uiMVzw4l
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180) August 2, 2019

A whole host of champions in the BDO - as well as those who didn't quite get their hands on the trophy - also went on to become big stars in the PDC, not least the two-time winner Phil Taylor and four-time king Barney.

And who knows what Durrant will go on to achieve as his astonishing debut season in the PDC continues.

Below we list all the past winners of the BDO World Championship in both the men's and women's tournaments.

BDO World Championship history: Men's and Women's

THE MEN

The BDO World Darts Championship began in 1978, when Leighton Rees triumphed over a future three-time winner John Lowe.

The likes of Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson, Keith Deller, Dennis Priestley and Phil Taylor got their hands on the famous trophy before the breakaway of the PDC in 1994.

Raymond van Barneveld became the second-most successful player in the competition's history behind five-time champion Bristow when lifting the trophy on four occasions between 1998 and 2005 before he eventually left to the PDC.

Martin 'Wolfie' Adams has since won it three times while Scott Waites and Ted Hankey are recent names to have become multiple winners before Glen Durrant equalled Bristow's feat of three in a row back in January.

Previous finals

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

Most successful multiple male champions

Eric Bristow - 5
Raymond van Barneveld - 4
John Lowe - 3
Martin Adams - 3
Glen Durrant - 3
Ted Hankey - 2
Phil Taylor - 2
Scott Waites - 2
Jocky Wilson - 2

THE WOMEN

The women's World Championship was introduced in 2001, with Trina Gulliver beginning an era of dominance with seven successive titles before Russian sensation Anastasia Dobromyslova dethroned her.

Twelve months later Francis Hoenselaar gained revenge on Trina Gulliver for five previous final defeats by defeating her 2-1 but the Englishwoman bounced back with two more back-to-back titles.

Dobromyslova reminded the world of her talents in the next two editions as she lifted the trophy for the second and third times but the runner-up in 2013 - Lisa Ashton - would go one better a year later.

The Lancashire Rose has won four of the last six World Championships, with Gulliver edging out Deta Hedman for her 10th crown in 2016, while the most recent winner is Japan's Mikuru Suzuki, who was the first Asian woman to compete on the Lakeside stage.