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  • PDC:  US Masters June 2-3 2023 ITV Sports DAZN Viaplay

  • PDC:  World Cup June 15 - 18 sky sports DAZN Viaplay

  • WSDT:  Masters 24 & 25 BT Sport

  • PDC:  Pro-Tour

  • PDC:  Women's Series

  • Modus:  New Super Series 3, TV Channels Sky 437, FreeSat 250, FreeView 264 and SportyStuff.tv

  • MI9:  Who was the real 'Q' behind the GILBOARD Dartboard - NEW in the History Section

  • Need a Checkout Chart?   Download a FREE Darts501 checkout chart now available in 48 languages

  • Darts Quiz:  Test your Darts knowledge with the New Darts Quiz Page

  • NEW:  New World Records updated and added to the website

  • NEW:  History Section 'Origins of The Bullseye'!

  • Darts501:  Check out the Dart501 website it just gets bigger each week

Darts501
  • Featured Dart Tournaments & Events

Featured Darts Events

PDC World Cup of Darts - 40 Nations, 2023

PDC Darts PDC US Masters - June 2-3

The PDC return to the hulu Theatre, Madison Square Garden, New York for the latest stage in the World Series events. This non-ranking event features some of the cream of the PDC Vs USA Qualifiers. UK viewers can watch via ITV Sport , DAZN and Viaplay

 

PDC Darts PDC World Cup of Darts – June 15 - 18 Sky Sports

The PDC World Cup of Darts expands the number of nations competing to 40. Previously, only 32 nations competed. Additional teams will include Iceland, Ukraine and Bahrain, taking part for the first time.

With the increased number of nations, there is a change to the format. The top four ranked nations, based on the lowest cumulative PDC Order of Merit ranking of the two competing players, will be seeded and will enter the event in the second round. At the same time, the remaining 36 teams will be split into 12 groups. Each group will feature a seeded nation and will play three round-robin first-round matches. The winner of each group will progress to the second round.

 

World Senior Darts Masters - June 24 & 25

The increasingly popular WSDT makes its way to Westlands Yeovil, Somerset, for the second Master's tournament. Players include ex-world champions Phil Taylor, John Part, Martin Adams, Trina Gulliver MBE and a host of top darting stars. This year the form BDO World Champion runner-up Mark McGeeney, known as 'Gladiator', will debut after qualifying via the knockout stages.

 

PDC Darts Players Championships

The PDC Players Championships starts on 11 February. Thirty rounds with increased prize fund. The competition concludes with the Players Champions Finals at the Butlin’s Minehead Resort on 24-26 November. Individual rounds are shown on the PDCTV streaming channel (a subscription is required), and live scoring can be seen free via Dart Connect. The finals will be broadcast live via ITVSport (ITV4 / ITV3), DAZN and Viaplay. See the PDC Website for other worldwide broadcasters.

 

PDC Darts Women’s Series

The PDC Women’s Series is a must-go event for any top-class women’s dart player. With 24 Individual events with increased prize funds. The top eight performing players become eligible to play in the PDC Women’s Matchplay, and the top two book themselves a place in the PDC World Darts Champions. The Women’s World Series can be viewed via the PDCTV streaming channel (a subscription is required), and live scoring can be seen free via Dart Connect.

 

Modus Darts Super Series MODUS: Super Series TV Darts Tournament

The MODUS Super Series continues its exciting new weekly darts competition featuring some of the biggest names in darts. Top international players compete, including Fallon Sherrock, Martin Adams, Robert Thornton, and many more.

Each week's mini-event concludes with a £5K first prize, and the winner then moves on to the Series finals with a chance of winning £20K.

Hosted at a top-spec, purpose-built location in Portsmouth, the MODUS Super Series will see more than 30 hours of matches broadcast LIVE Monday to Saturday every week, currently available on Sporty Stuff TV (SKY 437, Freesat 250, Freeview 264 and online at sportystuff.tv), with players competing for a share of over £1m on offer per year.

 

Modus Super Series Learn More ...

 

PDC & WDF
  • See PDC, WDF, UKDA Calendars for more 2023 Darts Events

Printable PDC, WDF, WSDT and UKDA Dart Events calendars are available on this website. Please select the calendar from the calendar tab above. Due to the frequency of change, please check the last updated date at the top of each calendar and the governing body or organisers websites for further changes. PDC | WDF | WDST | UKDA

Welcome to Darts501

Darts501.com

Many viewers will know I have written several very successful dart websites over the past twenty years, each with their own spin on the sport. I have also written a few professional players websites that you may also have come across. My love of the game has never diminished and with over forty years of playing the game, I would like to share as much about darts the game, the sport, the history and the development of the game.

This website is new and fresh and I have learned on my experience as player, developer and designer to hopefully bring you a little more to the sport millions love and play every week.

This website contains information regarding the ‘01 game played by all plus the many UK regional dartboard differences of both past and present. Players nicknames, music, dart checkout charts and basic tournament charts are available for you to download and print for your personal use. There will be something on this website for everyone, even if it a quick look at the facts and myths that surround the sport.

As a player, I would rate myself as a good pub league player. I never ventured into major competition except for the first year of PDC UK Open, I won locally but was unable to attend regional knockouts. Today I tend to watch as a keen supporter of the sport and love to see people enjoying the sport, even if it is only over a friendly pint or two.

My thanks go to the major dart organisations, dart manufacturers, suppliers, the darts historian Dr Patrick Chaplin, darts legend Trina Gulliver MBE, Mark McGeeney and the many others that have helped me over the years to develop this website and many other dart websites. More details can be found on my acknowledgement page. See footer.

D.King

Darts501.com – UK Darts Knowledge at it’s best.

Latest Page Updates

 

 

Darts News

Supported by the Biggest Names in Darts

Darts News by David King

David King With Phil Taylor, Trina Gulliver MBE and Mark McGeeney

 

TOURNAMENTS
  • Major Dart Tournament Winners History

PDC Darts Tournament History

PDC History

Tournament Winners

  • World Champions
  • Youth W' Champions
  • Premier League
  • World Matchplay
  • Grand Prix
  • UK Open
  • European Champ'ship
  • Grand Slam
  • Players Champ'ship
  • World Cup
  • The Masters
  • Champions League
  • World Series
  •  

 

More info

BDO Darts Tournament History

BDO History

Tournament Winners

  • World Champions
  • Youth W' Champions
  • World Masters
  • World Trophy
  • British Internationals
  • Grand Prix
  • British Open
  • British Classic
  • Gold Cup
  • Youth Masters
  • BICC Champions Cup
  •  

 

More info

England Darts Tournament History

EDO History

Tournament Winners

  • England Open
  • England Masters
  • England Matchplay
  • England Classic
  • National Singles
  •  

 

More info

Scotland Darts Tournament History

SDA History

Tournament Winners

  • Scottish Open
  • Scottish Masters
  • Scottish Singles
  •  

 

More info

WDO Darts Tournament History

WDO History

Tournament Winners

  • Welsh Open
  • Welsh Classic
  • Welsh Masters

 

More info

Northern Ireland Darts Tournament History

NIDO History

Tournament Winners

  • Nr Ireland Open
  • Nr Ireland Matchplay
  •  

 

More info

Dart Players - Nicknames and Walk-on's

Dart Players Nicknames

Professional Dart Players Nicknames & Walk-on Music

An increased number of visitors have contacted me about players walk-on music and nicknames. Some of you have kindly supplied me with more information; therefore, I have updated both the players' nicknames and walk-on pages on this site. I hope to add a few more in the near future, but in the meantime if you know anymore or if any player has since changed either their Nickname or walk-on, please let me know via my contact page.

The revised nickname and walk-on music pages now include several WDDA players.

I do realise there several missing of missing nicknames and walk-on. However, I add more to the lists all the time.

 

MVG Walking man                                                                                                                        Wheelchair Man

Professional Darts

David King - Darts501.com

Darts the Professional Sport

A Brief Introduction to Professional Darts over the past several years

In 2001, the former British Darts Organisation (BDO) introduced a Ladies World Darts Championship, which England's Trina Gulliver MBE won. Trina has won this event for seven consecutive years and made the final yet again in 2008 and 2009, but only to lose to a new up-and-coming star Anastasia Dobromyslova from Russia in 2008 and Francis Hoenselaar from Holland in 2009. In 2010 Trina again regained the title, beating Rhian Edwards from Wales 2-0. She repeated this feat in 2011, again beating Rhain Edwards by the same margin of 2-0. In 2016 Trina won the World Darts title, making her the most successful lady darts player in the World, with a record-breaking Ten World Titles. Trina has been awarded the MBE for services to darts and charitable fundraising.

In 2008, Ladies dart player Anastasia Dobromyslova moved away from the BDO to the PDC. Anastasia played in a preliminary qualifying round for the PDC World Darts Championship 2009 but lost to Dutchman Remco van Eijden 5 legs to 3. She also tried to qualify for the 2010 championship but failed. Anastasia moved back to the BDO in late 2010 / early 2011, and in 2012 she won BDO / WDF Ladies Worlds Darts Championship for the second time and then again in January 2013.

In 2007, the PDC introduced the first Youth World Championship. Arron Monk won this event, who beat Michael van Gerwen 6 - 4 in the final. However, in 2015, the BDO followed suit and introduced its own Youth World Championship. Sixteen-year-old Colin Roelofs from the Netherlands became the first victor, beating seventeen-year-old Harry Ward from England 3 - 0. Harry, unfortunately, didn't win a single leg in the final. However, I am sure we will see a lot more from these youth players in the future.

Lisa Ashton from Lancashire has since been dominant in the ladies game, winning in 2014, 2015, 2017 and again in 2018. However, in 2019 Lisa was sensationally knocked out in the first round by the Japanese soft-tip star, Mikuru Suzuki. Mikuru went on to win the 2019 Lakeside title beating England's Lorraine Winstanley. Mikuru followed this up by winning the Dutch Open the following month. Mikura retained her title in 2020, gain beating the tournament favourite, Lisa Ashton.

During the 2019 Lakeside World Championships calls for a significant review of the ladies' prize fund and short match format were called into question. The winning prize for women was just £12,000 compared to the men's £100,000. The chairman of the BDO at the time said this would be reviewed.

2019 also witnessed a number of the top BDO players move to the more lucrative PDC. With £14M annual prize fund and the BDO contract restrictions taken off, players flocked to win a PDC tour card. The PDC prize fund has steadily increased each year since.

Glen Durrant, who had just won his third consecutive BDO World title, and former BDO No.1 Mark McGeeney, were among the thirty successful players to win a two-year PDC tour card. They were joined by a few others that featured the BDO World Championship event, thus depleting the BDO's main contenders. With the main BDO stars moving to the PDC, the BDO was left with the old ageing guard to re-establish the once firm grip the BDO held in World Darts.

In 2020, with a new chairman on board, Des Jacklin, the BDO moved their world darts championship away from the Lakeside venue to the O2 Arena. The move was not met with overall approval from the loyal BDO darts fans, as they decided not to attend in their thousands. The BDO world championship will go down in history for all the wrong reasons. The change of venue and the recent loss of professional darts referees all added to the BDO's misery. The promised prize money was slashed, and the conversation turned away from the players and was directed to the chairman. The poor management left the BDO in debt, and the organisation's future in 2020 looked in doubt. Des Jacklin later resigned as chairman but was reinstated following a narrow county representative vote victory. However, Jacklin could not convince all, and there was a challenge to the BDO dominance in the UK. The BDO had lost its status as it didn't represent a Country within the World Darts Federation (WDF) and lost its vote. The respective organisation had finally lost its support, and in 2020 several challenges were made to take over the running of the Inter-County Championships. The UK Counties voted for a new organisation UK Darts Association, to take over the running of the England and Welsh County Leagues. The 2021 British Inter-County Championships will now be known as the UK National League, Premier League, League One, Two, Three etc. The WDF introduced a World Darts Championship and World Masters, the first World Championships again being staged at the Lakeside Country Club in January 2022. The PDC now firmly run the professional side of darts, with more players competing to join each year.

In 2019, John Lowe, the former three-time World Darts Champion, was awarded an MBE in the UK Queens New Year's honours list. John became the second male dart player to be awarded the MBE. The late Eric Bristow was the first recipient in 1989. The only other player to date to receive such an award is Trina Gulliver; the ladies ten-time World Darts Champion.

Dart fans may question the above because Phil Taylor was to receive an MBE in 2001. However, he didn't receive it. The award medal was annulled because he was found guilty of an indecent assault. Taylor denied the charges but had to pay £2,000 as a result of his conviction.

UK Awards given by the Crown are subject to conditions. One condition is a recipient's criminal record. Awards issued to others, not necessarily sports stars, that later have been found guilty of a crime also face losing awards and titles issued

In 2010, Russ Strobel submitted to Darts Australia a new recommended dartboard height for Wheelchair users. The height Russ has come up with is 137cm to the centre Bull. The height is based on the perceived origins of the standard clock dartboard's standard hanging height. It said the average height of a man in England, UK was 5'8" around the 1920s, the height of the centre bullseye of a standard board. Modern adjustments make that 173cm. Russ took this analogy and worked out the height of a man of 5'8" (173cm) be sitting in a wheelchair. His exact figure came out to be 136.5cm. However, as Russ explained, adding 0.5cm would make the recommended wheelchair dartboard height easy to remember, 137cm (wheelchair) - 173cm (Standard). Darts Australia accepted the concept of the new height for Wheelchair uses, and in 2012 it was also accepted by the World Darts Federation. Read more about Disability Darts, can is featured on this website.

On this site, you will find a brief history of this intriguing sport and all the information you need to set up the dartboard and organise darting events. You can also learn how boards are constructed using sisal (a material used in rope making) and how dart weights, lengths, shafts and flights can alter the dart's flight.

The site also features traditional games played on today's standard dartboards and UK Regional dartboards, the Yorkshire and the Manchester log-end, to name just two. You can download rules and many games from here, as well as those all-important checkouts.

You will also find Practice routines to improve your accuracy and scoring consistency and information about maintaining your dartboard and darts. Many dart-related links are also linked to professional dart organisations, manufacturers, suppliers, and players. Thanks to them for their help and support in building this site.

I hope you enjoy the website. Your feedback is always welcome, and if you like the site, please inform others.

Darts501 was established in 2004, and from its humble beginnings and a few makeovers, the website has had over well over 20 million viewers, and the increasing trend continues. On average, the website attracted between 1.6 - 2 million pa. However, this figure is vastly undervalued, with more people opting not to have their visit to this website recorded by modern browsers and VPNs. Thanks to all that visit, and keep calling back to see regular updates.

Darts501 has received many good references from professional players, commentators and other writers of the sport. It has become a resource website professionals recommend to others.

Further research into the sport continues and includes dartboards used across the UK over the past 100 years. The use of darts in war, including the secret service in MI9. Enjoy reading.

 

DK

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