6 replies to this topic

[Geddy]

When I was a lad you only got the Darts World Championships on the BBC from the Lakeside, the likes of John Lowe, Jocky Wilson and Eric Bristow etc etc.

Question is when and why did it split so you now have a World Championship on BBC and Sky?

Also who would likely be the winner from the champ of BBC vs the champ of Sky's versions?

[leccle]

it split because the bdo (bbc) coudnt raise prize money
or find new sponsorship.
phil taylor is the finest player ever to walk gods green earth

[£6 In Tokens]

The split was because the players of the time felt that Ollie Croft (BDO) was not pushing darts and getting the tournaments the players deserved - They were right. That is a brief summary, short version

Saying that I watch both and there not much difference in standard (except for 2 players from the PDC who play darts to a different level to the rest = Phil Taylor & Raymond Van Barneveld).

Also while I acknowledge that Phil Taylor is the greatest player I've ever seen or will ever see, I don't think he would have been a 14 time World Champion if they would not have split, maybe 9 or 10 max.

One thing is certain though, there will never be just one championship again, never a time when all the players play all together which is a shame.

Also BDO is grass roots, county and country. PDC is more invitational....They do nothing to help or promote in the lower echelons of the game.

The worst thing for me was that the BBC decided to drop the old theme tune in 1993....A dam shame, here it is for all those who want a trip down memory lane....Still the best Darts theme:

YouTube - Darts Theme Tune - Full

Hope that helps Geddy

:devil:

[americancola]

It got to the mid 90's, and a certain group of players defected to a new organisation, called the WDC i think and made some sort of deal with sky.

This led to all sorts of legal stuff from the BDO to try and ban people from playing in the WDC, and the WDC was trying to launch itself as a governing body alongside the BDO.

After a few years they both came to the compromise where the PDC would accept the BDO was the governing body and the BDO accepted players could choose who they played for.

Sadly if we're not careful it could be where snooker is going.

Also whilst in the short and mid term it is inconceivable that darts will be united, like the stuff on ITV showed, there are some tournaments where players are united, and who knows, in 10 years time if someone with the money came along who's to say that it wouldn't happen... It has to be said though, it would take the BDO finding someone loyal who's as good as barney or taylor for it to happen.

[curlywill]

i agree that phil taylor would not be a 14 time world champ if the split had not happened. although he is the greatest player ever... and IMO always will be

[Magz]

There's actually a pretty decent longer explanation of the split here:

Professional Darts Corporation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My opinion from watching the 2 tounaments is a bit different to £6's. Especially this year, the standard in the PDC tournament was noticeably higher, with a 100+ average not even giving a guarantee of a quarter final place in one case. Ted Hankey won the BDO final with a sub 100 average.

In addition to Phil and Barney, there are several other players who could have happily won the BDO, any of the top 8 to be honest.

The biggest issue the BDO has, is that in recent years it has become like a feeder organisation to the PDC with large numbers of "up and coming" players moving over. As the PDC is now gaining a foothold in The Netherlands (dart's number 2 country) a lot of the younger Dutch players have also come over leaving a lot less for the BDO to control.

I was really glad to see Co Stompe make the change this year (as a veteran Dutch player). I've always thought he had the game to make it in the PDC, and he proved that by beating Taylor with a whopping 108 average in the last tournament before the world championship.

Mervyn King has also had a good year, making the semis (before getting smashed by Taylor) after a tricky start to his PDC career.

Anyhoo, I actually like having the 2 competitions as it means more darts. I'd just rather get the BDO in first, as for me it's a bit of an anti climax coming after the PDC...

Oh and to answer the question, with a 110+ record average Phil would beat Hankey without losing a leg (and you'd only get around even money for that bet too) :-D...

[£6 In Tokens]

OK the PDC is all razzmatazz, I watched both championships and both were good.

There was a standout moment in the BDO championships when Shaun Greatbatch (who has cancer) lost the match and all the players lined up and shock hands / hugged after the match. Was a genuine touching moment - That sums up the friendship in the BDO, and that is why it will always be No 1 for me anyway.

:devil: