Best Darts Players in The World (Greatest of All Times)

Best Darts Players in The World (Greatest of All Times)

Darts is a very popular game in many countries of the world. It is one of the safest modes of entertainment with opportunities to show techniques and mastery. This game has achieved lots of improvements, popularity with some best and greatest players over time. This article is going to share some pieces of information about a few of the Best Darts Players in The World (Greatest of All Times). It is tough to locate their exact positions in history but for the information purpose, we are presenting them based on the records and popularity as well as contributions.

Player#01: Philip Douglas Taylor:

Phil Taylor is the topmost dart player among the 10 best players in the world. His nickname is ‘Phil Taylor” and he has been known as “The power” worldwide since the middle of the year 1995 from the period of the World Matchplay for his excellent performance.

Early Life:

Philip Taylor studied up to 15 years old. He worked in a few places with versatile tasks. Even he worked in a metal shop as a sheet metal worker. He loved to play football and dart but he was not serious regarding that up to 1986. After a few months later, his wife bought a dark to gift him on his birthday. From then, he started to play dart weekly and occasionally at Bristow’s pub. In 1986, he was selected in his country team at the Super League level. Bristow sponsored him $10,000 as a loan to help him started to play dart professionally, and at that time he left his job.

Individual Component:

  • Full Name: Philip Douglas Taylor
  • Nick Name: The Power
  • Born: In Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, dated August 13th, 1960.  
  • Country: England.

Darts Details:

  • Country: England.
  • Start Playing Darts: Since 1976.
  • Dart Used: 26g Target Phil tailor Legacy.
  • Hit: Right Handed.

Awards/Rewards:

*Major Performances records in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

  • World Championship: Winner (2), 1990, and 1992.
  • The World Master: Winner (1), 1990.
  • World Darts Trophy: Winner (1), 2006.
  • Int. dart League: Quarter Final (1), 2016.

You may find interest in the darts weight used by professionals.

*BestPerformances records in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)”-

  • World Championship   : Winner (14), Year > 1995 – 2002, 2004 – 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013.
  • The World Match play        : Winner (16), Year > 1995, 1997, 2000 – 2004, 2006, 2008 – 2014 and 2017.
  • World Grand Prix        : Winner (11), year > 1998 – 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013.
  • Grand Slam                  : Winner (6), year > 2007 – 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014.
  • Premier League                        : Winner (6), year > 2005 – 2008, 2010, 2012.
  • Desert Classic              : Winner (5), year > 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009.
  • UK Open                     : Winner (5), year > 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2013.
  • Championship League : Winner (4), year > 2008, 2011 – 2013.
  • European Championship: Winner (4), year > 2008 – 2011.
  • US Open                      : Winner (3), year > 2006 – 2008.
  • Player’s Ch’ship Finals: Winner (3), year > 2009, 2011, 2012.
  • Masters                                    : Winner (1), year > 2013.
  • Champions’ league      : Winner (1), year > 2016.

Player#02: Ravmond Van Barneveld:

Ravmond Van Barneveld is a skilled winning dart player of all the time. His nickname is ‘Barney’. He was born in Hague, the Netherlands dated 20th April 1967. He has been in darts since 1984. In the year 1984, he won the said tournament. That win inspired him a lot to determine him to go forward with the darts.

Early Life:

Before playing Professional darts sports he was participating in the competitive events in the region of the Netherlands since 1984. That time he was 14. He won the first tournament at that time in 1984 which was the Rotterdam Open. He achieved the tournaments three times consistently and became a potential player for this game.

Individual Component:

  • Full Name: Ravmond Van Barneveld.
  • Nick Name: ‘Barney’.
  • Born: In the Hague, Netherlands dated 20th April, 1967.
  • Country: Netherlands.

Darts Details:

  • Start Playing Darts: Since 1984.
  • Dart Use: 25g Target RVB95.
  • Hit: Right Handed.

Awards/Rewards:

*Major Performances records in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

  • World Championship               : Winner (4), Year > 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005.
  • Finder Masters                         : Winner (4), Year > 1995, 2001, 2003, 2004.
  • Int. darts league                                   : Winner (3), Year > 2003, 2004, and 2006.
  • World Masters                         : Winner (2), Year > 2001, 2005.
  • World darts Trophy: Winner (2), Year > 2003, 2004.

*BestPerformances records in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)”-

  • World Championship               : Winner (1), Year > 2007.
  • Grand Slam: Winner (1), Year > 2012.
  • Desert Classic: Winner (1), Year > 2007.
  • Premier League                                    : Winner (1), Year > 2014.
  • UK Open                                 : Winner (1), Year > 2006, 2007.
  • US Open                                  : Runner up (2), Year > 2007.
  • World Grand Prix: Runner up (2), Year > 2008, 2009.
  • World Matchplay                     : Runner up (1), Year > 2010.
  • Masters                                                : Runner up (2), Year > 2015, 2018.
  • European Ch’ship                    : Semi final (2), Year > 2011, 2014.
  • Championship league              : Semi final (1), Year > 2007.
  • Player’s Ch’ship Finals: Quarter Final (3), Year > 2009, 2013, 2016.

However, he was the number one ranked player from January to June for the year 2008. Ravmond Van Barneveld declared on November 2018 that he would retire from darts after the 2020 PDC World Championship. On March 28, 2019 he finalised his immediate retirement but reversed that decision the very next day and plans to continue the first of 2020.

Find the history of darts here.

Player#03: Eric John Bristow:

Eric Bristow is the best successful darts player among the top 10 best players. His full name is Eric John Bristow and his nickname is “The Crafty Cockney”. He was born in the London Borough of Hackney dated April 25th, 1957.

He won his first World Championship in 1980. Eric achieved his Title for the second time in 1981 and, after that he won the same title consistently in the year 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1990. Apart from this, he played many tournaments in his life including the British Gold Cup, Belgium Open, British Open, Denmark Open, Cameron Fiesta Open, French Open, North American Open, and so on.

Early Life:

He studied at Hackney Down Grammar School from 1968 to 1971.When Bristow was 14 years old and had passed eleven plus examination; he left his school that time.

Individual Component:

  • Full Name                   : Eric John Bristow.
  • Nick Name: ‘The Crafty Cockney
  • Born                            : Hackney Central, London.
  • Died: April 5th, 2018 at Liverpool, United Kingdom.
  • Country                       : England.

Darts Details:

  • Start Playing Darts: Since 1968.
  • Dart Used: 22g Harrows Eric Bristow.
  • Hit: Right Handed.

Awards/Rewards:

*Major Performances record in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

  • World Championship   : Winner (5), Year > 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985, and 1986.
  • World Master               : Winner (5), Year > 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, and 1984.
  • *BestPerformances record in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)”-
  • World Championship   : Semi Final (1), Year > 1997.
  • World Match Play        : Played 32 Matches (1994-1999).

Commentator:

In the year 2007, he gave up his lively darts and worked as a commentator and expert on sky spots darts coverage.

Marriage and Children:

He started his conjugal life with Jane Bristow. They had two children, a son, and a daughter.

Death:

In the year 2018 on April 5th, Bristow died by a heart attack while attending an event at Premier League Darts at the Echo Arena in Liverpool. After finishing the darts played with some VIPs and was walking back to his car, he collapsed. He was taken to the hospital quickly. During that time, there was a match, was playing between Peter Wright and Daryl Gurney, Bristow’s death was announced at that time and gathered people rewarded honor to Bristow. He was 60 at the time of leaving this game and the world.

Player#04: Michael Van Gerwen:

Mikhael Van Gerwen is a very young star and the number one dart player in the world currently. Before becoming a professional dart player, he played football.  His nickname is “Mighty Mike”.  He was born in Boxtel, the Netherlands dated 25th April 1989. He starts the darts game when he was 13. As a right-handed darter, he has been playing darts since 2002. He is bearing the “number one” ranking in dart game in the world presently.

 He achieved the “World Master Title” award for four years among many awards and till the record is a world record. In the year 2014, he won the PDC World Championship. At the same event, he achieved championship in 2017 & 2019. On the other hand, he again achieved his first “The UK Open Title” in 2015. Before achieving these greatest awards, he had shown extraordinary played in his early days to prepare himself to see him in this respectable position. Mentioning that, in 2012 he got the ranking position of 38 and one year later he climbed up to world number 4 ranking positions in1913. Before becoming a darts player, he worked as a Tiller.

Early Life:

Before engaging in darts Michael Van Gerwen played football as a defender up to 12-year old.

Individual Component:

  • Full Name                   : Michael Van Gerwen.
  • Nick Name                  : Mighty Mike
  • Born                            : Boxtel, Netherlands dated 25th April 1989.                :
  • Country                       : Netherlands.

Darts Details:

  • Start Playing Darts       : Since 2002.
  • Dart Used                    : 23g Mighty Mike XQ-Max Darts.
  • Hit: Right Handed.

Awards/Rewards:

*Major Performances record in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

  • World Master: Winner (1), Year > 2006
  • World Darts Trophy: Semi-Final (1), Year > 2006.
  • Int. Darts League: Quarter Final (1), Year > 2006.

*BestPerformances record in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)”-

  • World Championship: Winner (3), Year > 2014, 2017, and 2017.
  • The World Match Play: Winner (2), Year > 2015, 2016.
  • World Grand Prix        : Winner (5), Year > 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2019.
  • Grand Slam: Winner (3), Year > 2015, 2016, and 2017.
  • Premier League                        : Winner (5), Year > 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.
  • European Championship: Winner (4), Year > 2014, 2015, 2016, 2016, and 2017.

Player#05: James Martin Wade:

James Wade is the youngest and skilled darts player in the darts industry in the world. His full name is James Martin Wade and nick name’s “The Machine”. He was born in Aldershot, England dated April 6th, 1983. James Wade has been playing darts since 1997. He is a left-handed darts player and loves to play darts with 20g weight. His current world ranking is 8.

James Wade began to start playing with the British Darts Organization (BDO) since 2001 and continued up to 2004. And, from the year 2004 to till date, has been playing with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and became a full-time darts professional. Wade achieved remarkable eight major titles that made him the third most winning player in the history of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

Individual Component:

  • Full Name: James Martin Wade
  • Nick Name                  : The Machine
  • Born: Aldershot, England dated April 6th, 1983.                
  • Country                       : England.

Darts Details:

  • Start Playing Darts       : Since 1997.
  • Dart Used                    : 20g Unicorn James wade.
  • Hit: Left-Handed.

Awards/Rewards:

*Major Performances record in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

  • World Championship: Last 16, Year > 2004.
  • Last 64, Year > 2002, 2003: World Masters
  • World Darts Trophy: Last 16, Year > 2003.
  • Int. Darts League: Quarter Final, Year > 2004, 2007.
  • Finder Masters: Last 16 Groups, Year > 2002.

*BestPerformances record in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)”-

  • Match Play                   : Winner (1), Year > 2007.
  • World Grand Prix: Winner (2), Year > 2007, 2010.
  • European Ch’ship        : Winner (1), Year > 2008
  • Premier League                        : Winner (1), Year > 2009.
  • Ch’s ship League         : Winner (1), Year > 2010.
  • UK Open                     : Winner (2), Year > 2008, 2011.
  • Masters                                    : Winner (1), Year > 2014.
  • Grand Slam                  : Runner up (2), Year > 2010, 2016.
  • Desert Classic: Runner up (1), Year > 2008.
  • World’s Ch’ship          : Semi Final (3), Year > 2009, 2012, 2013.
  • Player’s Ch’ship Final: Semi-Final (1), Year > 2009.
  • Champions League      : Semi Final (1), Year > 2016.

Marriage Details:

James Wade married with a model Sammi Marsh dated on August 8th, 2015. They had been in love since 2013. They have a lovely son named Arthur.

Player#06: Gary Anderson:

Scottish professional darts player Gary Anderson is a former world number one rank holder of British Darts Organization (BDO) 2000-2009 and World Darts Federation (WDF) and currently playing with the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) 2009- till now. He is the winner twice of PDC in the year 2015 & 2016. He is the famous player among top 10 greatest professionals. His current world rank is 4.

He was born in Mussel burgh, Scotland dated December 22nd, 1970 and Home Town is Burnham-on-Sea, England. He has been playing darts since 1996.

In the year in 2007, Gary Anderson won the different matches like The International Darts League, The World Darts Trophy, the Zuiderduin Masters etc. On the other hand, he achieved the “Premier League Title” in 2011 and also won the Players Championship Final in 2014. After all, Gary Anderson is a successful darts player who won the Title seven times with BDO and PDC.

Early Life:

Individual Component:

  • Full Name: Gary Anderson
  • Nick Name: The Flying Scotsman.
  • Born                            : In Musselburgh, Scotland.
  • Country: Scotland.

Darts Details:

  • Start Playing Darts: Since 1996.
  • Dart Used                    : 24g Unicorn Maestro Phase 3.
  • Hit                               : Right-Handed

Awards/Rewards:

*Major Performances record in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

  • World Championship   : Semi-Final, Year > 2003.
  • Quarter Final, Year > 2003, 2005: World Masters
  • World Darts Trophy: Winner, 2007.
  • Int. Darts League         : Winner (1), Year > 2007.
  • Finder Masters: Winner (2), Year > 2007, 2008.

*Best records in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)- Premier Events:

  • World Championship   : Winner (2), Year > 2015, 2016.
  • World Match Play: Winner (1), Year > 2018.
  • Premier League                        : Winner (2), Year > 2011, 2018.
  • UK Open                     : Winner (1), Year > 2018.
  • Apart from, He achieved the following events:

World Grand Prix, Desert Classic, European Championship and so on. 

 Player#07: Adrian Lewis:

Adrian Lewis, an English darts professional, has been playing darts since 1995.He was born in Stoke-on-Trent, England dated January 21st, 1985. He achieved the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) twice in the year 2011 and 2012. His current PDC world ranking is 8.

Early Life:

Before joining the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) he won the British Teenage Open in the year of 2003 when he was 18 years old. He didn’t join the British Darts Organization (BDO) before joining to PDC.

Individual Component:

  • Full Name                   : Adrian Lewis
  • Nick Name                  : Jackpot
  • Born                            : In Stoke-on-Trent, England dated January 21st, 1985
  • Country: England.

Darts Details:

  • Start Playing Darts: Since 1995.
  • Dart Used: 22g Target
  • Hit: Right-Handed

Awards/Rewards:

*Performances records in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

  • World Masters                         : Last 128, Year > 2003.
  • World darts Trophy: Last 16, Year > 2007.

*Best records in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)-

  • World Championship: Winner (2), Year > 2011 and 2012.
  • European Championship         : Winner (1), Year > 2013.
  • UK Open                                 : Winner (1), Year > 2014.
  • World Grand Prix                    : Runner up (1), Year > (2010).
  • Premier League                                    : Runner up (1), Year > (2011).
  • Grand Slam                              : Semi Final (2), Year > 2011, 2013.
  • Desert classic                           : Quarter Final (2), Year > 2007, 2009.

Player # 08: John Lowe:

Among 10 best performing darts players, John Lowe is the modern and outstanding player all the time. He is the one out of six players who won Three Times BDO awards. John Lowe won the BDO awards in the year1979, 1987 and 1993. He is a founder member of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). He was born in New Tupton, Derbyshire, England dated 21st July 1945.

Individual Component:

  • Full Name: John Lowe
  • Nick Name: Old Stoneface
  • Born: In New Tupton, Derbyshire, England dated 21st July 1945.
  • Country: England.

Darts Details:

  • Started playing Darts: 1966
  • Dart Used: 21g Unicorn World Champion Golden.
  • Hit: Right-handed.

Awards/Rewards:

*Performances records in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

  • World Championship: Winner (3), Year > 1979, 1987, and 1993.
  • World master                           : Winner (2), Year > (1976, 1980).
  • *Best records in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)-
  • World Championship: Semi-Final (2), Year > 1995, and 1996.
  • The World Matchplay: Semi-Final (2), Year > 1995, and 2002.
  • World Grand Prix: Semi-Final (1), Year > 1995 and 2001.

Commentator:

John Lowe acts as a commentator regularly for the events of BDO televised coverage.

Player # 09: Martin Adams:

Martin Adams is the three times BDO world championship title winner. Martin achieved World Master Championship three times also. He was the captain of the England darts Team from 1994 to 2013 which was the longest role as a captain. He is one of the listed of 10 best darters for all time.

Individual Component:

  • Full Name: Martin Adams
  • Nick Name: Wolfie
  • Born: In Sutton, Surrey, England dated June 4th, 1956.
  • Country: England.

Darts Details:

  • Start Playing Darts: Since 1981.
  • Dart Used                 : Engraved 22 Gram Data dart M3.
  • Hit: Right-handed.

Awards/Rewards:

*Performances records in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

  • World Championship: Winner (3), Year > 2007, 2010 and 2011.
  • World master: Winner (3), Year > 2008, 2009 and 2010.
  • Finder Master: Winner (2), Year > 1996 and 2000.
  • World Darts Trophy: Runner up (2), Year > 2004 and 2006.
  • Int. Darts League                     : Semi Final (2), Year > 2003 and 2005.

*Best records in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)-

  • World Matchplay                     : Semi Final (1), Year > 2001.
  • World Grand Prix: Quarter Final (1), Year > 2001.

Player # 10: John Part:

John Part is a Canadian Professional darts player and under listed of top 10 greatest darts players of all time. His nickname is John Part and was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, dated June 29th, 1966. He won three times World Championship, one is the British Darts Organization (BDO) championship in the year 1994 and another two is The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) championship in 2003 and 2008.

Early Life:

John Part’s parents gave him a dartboard as gift on the occasion of Christmas in 1987. He started up his darts sports since that time and the history is known to the whole world..  

Individual Component:

  • Full Name: John Part
  • Nick Name: Darth Maple
  • Born: In Toronto, Ontario, Canada, dated June 29th, 1966.
  • Country: Canada.

Darts Details:

  • Start Playing Darts: Since 1987.
  • Dart Used: 23g Unicorn Darts.
  • Hit: Right-handed.

Awards/Rewards:

*Performances records in “British Darts Organization (BDO)”-

World Championship               : Winner (1), year > 1994.

Besides, he played many tournaments such as World master (1995, 1997), World Darts Trophy (2007), Int. Darts League (2007) etc.

*Best records in “Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)-

  • World Championship: Winner (2), Year > 2003 and 2008.
  • Desert Classic                          : Winner (1), Year > 2006.
  • UK Open                                 : Runner up (1), Year > 2004.
  • World matchplay: Runner up (2), Year > 2002 and 2005.
  • World Grand Prix: Runner up (2), Year > 2002 and 2003.
  • US Open                                  : Semi Final (1), Year > 2007.
  • Grand Slam: Quarter Final (2), Year > 2007 and 2012.

He played the different darts events like Premier League (2005, 2006), European Championship (2008, 2009, 2011, and 2013), Player’s Championship finals, etc. as well.

Commentator:

John Part worked as a commentator for the BBO World Championship on BBC beside his darts game from 1995 up to 2007. From the year 2013, he started commenting on the World Matchplay on the Sky Sports as well.

Closing Note

Best Darts Players in The World (Greatest of All Times) is the cornerstone of this article. Best players in any sport is not completely without debate as the ranking and emotion play vital roles to identify the best. If you feel any different opinion or want to add someone in the list, let us know. We are open to keep the list updated and acceptable.