List of darts players who have switched organisation
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Between 1993 and 2020 professional darts had two rival bodies which staged tournaments and had separate pools of players, the British Darts Organisation (BDO) and the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Both staged its own world championship. In practice, players had to choose which organisation to represent, but many switched between the two, which often caused controversy.
This situation arose following an acrimonious split in the early 1990s between the leading players and the BDO. Darts had boomed in popularity during the 1980s, with as many as 23 televised events in 1983. However, by the end of the decade this had fallen to just one. This, combined with general disillusionment at the BDO's management of the sport, prompted 16 top players to break away and form their own body. Four years of legal action followed, culminating in the 1997 Tomlin order, which confirmed the existence of both bodies, and established that players were free choose which one to play for.
This list documents the players who made the decision to switch from one organisation to the other. In general more players switched from the BDO to the PDC than vice versa, attracted by the greater prize money and better competition offered by the PDC. The BDO folded in 2020, but many of their events were subsequently revived by the World Darts Federation, so the split in darts remains.
World Darts Council foundation
[edit]The sixteen darts defectors who formed the WDC were as follows:
Player | Time with BDO | Notes |
---|---|---|
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1988–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2018. |
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1989–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2014. |
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1987–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007. |
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1985–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2009. |
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1986–1993 | Quit the PDC in 2008 to rejoin the BDO. Returned to the PDC in 2011 and retired from darts in 2018. |
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1984–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2006. |
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1979–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 1996. |
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1979–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007. |
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1983–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007. |
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1975–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007. |
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1979–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2008. |
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1977–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007. |
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1987–1993 | Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007. |
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1988–1993 | Quit the PDC in 2009 due to ill-health but returned to the BDO in 2011. Retired in 2013. |
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1983–1992 | Quit the PDC in 1993 to return to the BDO. Retired from darts in 2005. |
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1986–1993 | Quit the PDC in 1993 and retired from professional darts the same year. |
Since then, many darts players have left the BDO to join the PDC, although some players rejoined the BDO either from finding it difficult on the PDC circuit or lack of sponsorship. The PDC had new talent of their own. However some players left them to join the BDO.
Players who transferred from the BDO to the PDC
[edit]Year of transfer | Player | Time with BDO | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | ![]() |
1992 | Quit the PDC in 2007. Died in 2008 |
1994 | ![]() |
1988–1994 | Quit the PDC in 2005 |
1994 | ![]() |
1992–1993 | Quit the PDC in 1997 but rejoined them in 2007. Quit in 2011 and is now with the BDO |
1994 | ![]() ![]() |
1980–1994 | |
1994 | ![]() |
1993–1994 | |
1994 | ![]() |
1990 | Quit the PDC in 2009 |
1994 | ![]() |
1980–1994 | Quit the PDC in 1996 |
1994 | ![]() |
1985–1994 | Quit the PDC in 1995 but rejoined them in 2003. Quit in 2007 |
1994 | ![]() |
1981–1993 | Quit the PDC in 1997 |
1994 | ![]() |
1987–1993 | Quit the PDC in 2000 |
1994 | ![]() |
1993 | Quit the PDC in 2010 |
1994 | ![]() |
1993 | Quit the PDC in 1995 |
1994 | ![]() |
1993–1994 | Quit the PDC in 1995 |
1994 | ![]() |
1993 | Quit the PDC in 2009 |
1994 | ![]() |
1993 | Quit the PDC in 1995 |
1994 | ![]() |
1993 | Quit the PDC in 2007 to rejoin BDO in 2008 |
1994 | ![]() |
1991–1993 | Quit the PDC in 1996 but rejoined them in 2006. Quit in 2008 |
1994 | ![]() |
1989–1994 | Quit the PDC in 2004 |
1994 | ![]() |
1989–1994 | Quit the PDC in 2008 to rejoin BDO in 2012. Quit in 2014 |
1994 | ![]() |
1993 | Quit the PDC in 2001 |
1995 | ![]() |
1994 | Quit the PDC in 2001 but rejoined them in 2004. |
1995 | ![]() |
1994 | Quit the PDC in 1996 |
1995 | ![]() |
1988–1993 | Quit the PDC in 2006 |
1995 | ![]() |
1991 | Quit the PDC in 2003 |
1995 | ![]() |
1987–1994 | Quit the PDC in 2001 |
1995 | ![]() |
1994 | Quit the PDC in 1995 |
1996 | ![]() |
1983 | Quit the PDC in 1997 |
1996 | ![]() |
1992 | Quit the PDC in 2006 |
1996 | ![]() |
1995 | Quit the PDC in 2008 |
1996 | ![]() |
1995–1996 | Quit the PDC in 2017 |
1996 | ![]() |
1990–1996 | |
1996 | ![]() |
1987–1990 | Quit the PDC in 1996 |
1996 | ![]() |
1990 | Quit the PDC in 2017 |
1996 | ![]() |
1981–1987 | Quit the PDC in 1997 |
1996 | ![]() |
1995 | Quit the PDC in 2000 to rejoin BDO in 2002. Quit the 2017 |
1996 | ![]() |
1975–1976 | Quit the PDC in 2004 |
1996 | ![]() |
1994–1996 | Quit the PDC in 1997 |
1996 | ![]() |
1995–1996 | Quit the PDC in 1997 |
1997 | ![]() |
1991–1997 | Also a pundit for Sky Sports Darts |
1997 | ![]() |
1986 | Quit the PDC in 1998 |
1997 | ![]() |
1995–1997 | Quit the PDC in 2010 to rejoin the BDO in 2011 |
1997 | ![]() |
1986–1994 | Quit the PDC in 1997 |
1997 | ![]() |
1995–1997 | Quit the PDC in 2015 |
1997 | ![]() |
1993–1997 | Quit the PDC in 2004 to rejoin the BDO in 2006. Quit the 2009 |
1997 | ![]() |
1977–1983 | Quit the PDC in 2006. Died in 2014 |
1998 | ![]() |
1994–1997 | Quit the PDC in 2017 |
1998 | ![]() |
1996–1998 | |
1998 | ![]() |
1997–1998 | Quit the PDC in 2001 |
1998 | ![]() |
1998 | Quit the PDC in 2018 |
1999 | ![]() |
1987–1999 | Quit the PDC in 2014 but rejoined them in 2016 |
1999 | ![]() |
1989–1999 | Quit the PDC in 2014 and is now a pundit for RTL7 Darts |
1999 | ![]() |
1998 | Quit the PDC in 2015 but rejoined them in 2018. Quit in 2018 |
1999 | ![]() |
1998 | Quit the PDC in 2014 to rejoin BDO in 2014 |
2000 | ![]() |
1994–1998 | Quit the PDC in 2010. Died in 2018 |
2000 | ![]() |
1988–2000 | Quit the PDC in 2011 |
2000 | ![]() |
1996–1999 | Quit the PDC in 2012 |
2000 | ![]() |
1986–2000 | Quit the PDC in 2015 |
2000 | ![]() |
1998–2000 | Quit the PDC in 2004 |
2001 | ![]() |
1999–2001 | Quit the PDC in 2013 |
2001 | ![]() |
1988–2001 | |
2001 | ![]() |
1990–2001 | |
2001 | ![]() |
1994–2001 | |
2001 | ![]() |
1994–2001 | |
2001 | ![]() |
1990–2001 | Quit the PDC in 2014 and is now a commentator for ITV Sports Darts rejoined the BDO in 2015. Quit in 2016 |
2001 | ![]() |
1993–2001 | Quit the PDC in 2007 |
2001 | ![]() |
1987–2001 | Quit the PDC in 2006 |
2001 | ![]() |
1994–2001 | Quit the PDC in 2011 but rejoined them in 2013. Quit in 2015 |
2002 | ![]() |
1999–2001 | Quit the PDC in 2006 |
2002 | ![]() |
1990–2001 | Quit the PDC in 2007 |
2002 | ![]() |
1990–2001 | |
2002 | ![]() |
1994–1997 | Quit the PDC in 2007 |
2002 | ![]() |
2001 | |
2002 | ![]() |
2002 | |
2002 | ![]() |
2000–2002 | Quit the PDC in 2003 the rejoin BDO in 2005. Quit in 2010 |
2002 | ![]() |
2000-2002 | Quit the PDC in 2015 to rejoin BDO in 2016. |
2002 | ![]() |
1995–2001 | Quit the PDC in 2005 |
2002 | ![]() |
1985–2002 | Quit the PDC in 2016 |
2002 | ![]() |
1995–2001 | |
2002 | ![]() |
1988–2002 | |
2002 | ![]() |
1974–2002 | Quit the PDC in 2005 the rejoin BDO in 2006. Quit in 2007 |
2002 | ![]() |
1994–2001 | Quit the PDC in 2012 to rejoin BDO in 2012. Quit in 2016 |
2002 | ![]() |
1998 | Quit the PDC in 2017 |
2002 | ![]() |
1993–2002 | Quit the PDC in 2012 and is now a commentator for Sky Sports Darts |
2002 | ![]() |
1997–2002 | Quit the PDC in 2004 |
2002 | ![]() |
1997–2002 | Quit the PDC in 2004 to rejoin BDO in 2005. Quit the 2011. |
2002 | ![]() |
2001 | Quit the PDC in 2012 to rejoin BDO in 2013. Quit the 2015 |
2003 | ![]() |
1996–1997 | Quit the PDC in 2008 |
2003 | ![]() |
2002 | Quit the PDC in 2010 to rejoin BDO in 2011 |
2003 | ![]() |
2002 | Quit the PDC in 2010 to rejoin BDO in 2011. Quit in 2015. but rejoined them in 2018 |
2003 | ![]() |
1985–1993 | Quit the PDC in 2009 to rejoin BDO in 2012. Quit in 2014 |
2003 | ![]() |
1985–1986 | Quit the PDC in 2006 |
2003 | ![]() |
1991–1999 | Quit the PDC in 2003 |
2003 | ![]() |
1997–2002 | |
2003 | ![]() |
2002 | Quit the PDC in 2008 to rejoin BDO in 2010. Quit in 2011 |
2003 | ![]() |
2001–2003 | Quit the PDC in 2011 |
2003 | ![]() |
1995 | Quit the PDC in 2014 to rejoin BDO in 2014. Quit in 2017 |
2003 | ![]() |
1989–2002 | Quit the PDC in 2004 |
2003 | ![]() |
1991–2003 | Quit the PDC in 2009 to rejoin BDO in 2013. Quit the 2015 |
2004 | ![]() |
1996–2004 | |
2004 | ![]() |
1989–2004 | Quit the PDC in 2006 |
2004 | ![]() |
2003 | Quit the PDC in 2017 |
2004 | ![]() |
2002–2003 | Quit the PDC in 2007 to rejoin BDO in 2010. Quit in 2017 |
2004 | ![]() |
2004 | Quit the PDC in 2011 |
2004 | ![]() |
1993–2004 | Quit the PDC in 2011 |
2004 | ![]() |
2001–2004 | |
2004 | ![]() |
2004 | Quit the PDC in 2013 |
2004 | ![]() |
1979–1992 | Quit the PDC in 2007. |
2004 | ![]() |
1995–2004 | |
2004 | ![]() |
2003 | Quit the PDC in 2007 |
2004 | ![]() |
2004 | Quit the PDC in 2017 |
2005 | ![]() |
2004 | |
2005 | ![]() |
1985–1990 | Quit the PDC in 2005 |
2005 | ![]() |
1998–2004 | |
2005 | ![]() |
1983–2005 | Quit the PDC in 2016 |
2005 | ![]() |
2004 | |
2006 | ![]() |
1987–2006 | |
2006 | ![]() |
2006 | Quit the PDC in 2017 |
2006 | ![]() |
2000–2005 | Quit the PDC in 2012 |
2006 | ![]() |
2001–2004 | Quit the PDC in 2012 |
2006 | ![]() |
1998 | Quit the PDC in 2015 |
2006 | ![]() |
1989–2004 | Quit the PDC in 2016 |
2006 | ![]() |
1983–1992 | Quit the PDC in 2006 |
2006 | ![]() |
2003–2006 | Quit the PDC in 2015 |
2006 | ![]() |
2006 | |
2006 | ![]() |
1998–2006 | Quit the PDC in 2008 to rejoin BDO in 2011 |
2006 | ![]() |
1991–2006 | Quit the PDC in 2016 to rejoin BDO in 2017 |
2006 | ![]() |
2003–2006 | |
2007 | ![]() |
1992–2007 | |
2007 | ![]() |
2003–2007 | |
2007 | ![]() |
1983 | Quit the PDC in 2015 |
2007 | ![]() |
1994–2007 | |
2007 | ![]() |
2003–2007 | |
2007 | ![]() |
1992–2005 | |
2007 | ![]() |
1987–2007 | |
2007 | ![]() |
2006–2007 | |
2007 | ![]() |
1999–2005 | |
2007 | ![]() |
2001–2007 | |
2007 | ![]() |
1998–2007 | Quit the PDC in 2013 |
2007 | ![]() |
1990–2007 | Quit the PDC in 2011 |
2008 | ![]() |
2006 | Quit the PDC in 2009 |
2008 | ![]() |
1990–1992 | Quit the PDC in 2017 |
2008 | ![]() |
2000–2008 | |
2008 | ![]() |
2002–2007 | |
2008 | ![]() |
1996–2008 | |
2008 | ![]() |
2005–2008 | |
2008 | ![]() |
2005–2007 | Quit the PDC in 2008 |
2008 | ![]() |
2003–2008 | Quit the PDC in 2012 |
2008 | ![]() |
2005–2006 | Quit the PDC in 2015 |
2008 | ![]() |
1980–1992 | Quit the PDC in 2010 to rejoin BDO in 2010 |
2008 | ![]() |
2002–2008 | |
2009 | ![]() |
2000–2009 | |
2009 | ![]() |
1987–2009 | |
2009 | ![]() |
1994–2009 | Quit the PDC in 2011 to rejoin the BDO in 2013 |
2009 | ![]() |
1998–2009 | Quit the PDC in 2015 |
2009 | ![]() |
2006–2009 | |
2010 | ![]() |
2005–2009 | |
2010 | ![]() |
1995–2010 | Quit the PDC in 2012. Died in 2017 |
2010 | ![]() |
2004–2010 | Quit the PDC in 2013 |
2010 | ![]() |
2004–2010 | |
2010 | ![]() |
2007–2010 | |
2010 | ![]() |
2000–2010 | Joined the PDC in 2005 Still plays in the BDO since 2013 |
2010 | ![]() |
2005–2010 | |
2011 | ![]() |
2004–2011 | |
2011 | ![]() |
2003–2011 | |
2011 | ![]() |
2002–2011 | Quit the PDC in 2014 to rejoin BDO in 2014 |
2012 | ![]() |
2002–2012 | Quit the PDC in 2016 |
2012 | ![]() |
2004–2012 | |
2012 | ![]() |
2006–2012 | |
2012 | ![]() |
1994–2012 | Quit the PDC in 2013 to rejoin the BDO in 2014 |
2012 | ![]() |
2008–2012 | Quit the PDC in 2016 but rejoined them in 2018 |
2012 | ![]() |
1995–2003 | Quit the PDC in 2013 |
2013 | ![]() |
1988–2012 | Quit the PDC in 2015 |
2014 | ![]() |
2009–2014 | |
2014 | ![]() |
2002–2014 | |
2015 | ![]() |
2006–2015 | |
2015 | ![]() |
2007–2015 | |
2015 | ![]() |
2008–2015 | |
2016 | ![]() |
2010–2016 | |
2017 | ![]() |
2009–2017 | |
2017 | ![]() |
2010–2017 | |
2017 | ![]() |
2007–2017 | |
2018 | ![]() |
2006–2018 | |
2018 | ![]() |
2012–2018 | |
2018 | ![]() |
2016–2018 | |
2018 | ![]() |
2002–2018 | Quit the PDC in 2018 |
2018 | ![]() |
2006–2018 | |
2018 | ![]() |
1995–2018 | Quit the PDC in 2018 |
2018 | ![]() |
2002–2018 | Quit the PDC in 2018 |
2018 | ![]() |
2013–2018 | |
2018 | ![]() |
2007–2018 | |
2018 | ![]() |
2005–2018 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2004–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2010–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2006–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2004–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2010–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2004–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2012–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2016–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2014–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2016–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2015–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2016–2019 | |
2019 | ![]() |
2006–2019 | Quit the PDC in 2020 |
BDO darts players who joined the PDC before returning
[edit]Year of transfer | Player | Time with BDO | Time with PDC | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | ![]() |
1976–1991 | 1993–2004 | |
2007 | ![]() |
1998–2005 | 2005–2007 | |
2007 | ![]() |
1994–2004 | 2004–2007 | |
2007 | ![]() |
1994–2005 | 2005–2006 | Quit the BDO in 2017 |
2008 | ![]() |
1986–1993 | 1993–2008 | Was one of the 16 WDC defectors. Quit in 2018. |
2009 | ![]() |
1990–1997 | 2002–2005 | |
2009 | ![]() |
2003–2007 | 2007–2009 | |
2010 | ![]() |
2004–2008 | 2008–2010 | |
2010 | ![]() |
1998–2009 | 2009–2010 | Quit the BDO in 2018 rejoined the PDC in 2018. |
2010 | ![]() |
2002–2003 | 2004–2009 | Quit the PDC in 2010. |
2011 | ![]() |
2004–2008 | 2008–2011 | |
2012 | ![]() |
2002–2007 | 2007–2011 | Quit the PDC in 2011 rejoined the BDO in 2012. Quit in 2014. |
2013 | ![]() |
1990–2008 | 2009–2011 | Rejoined the BDO in 2013. |
2014 | ![]() |
1994–2008 | 2008–2013 | Rejoined the PDC in 2018. |
2014 | ![]() |
1995–2012 | 2012–2014 | Rejoined the BDO in 2014. |
2014 | ![]() |
2008–2011 | 2011–2013 | Rejoined the PDC in 2018. |
PDC darts players who joined the BDO before returning
[edit]Year of transfer | Player | Time with PDC | Time with BDO | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | ![]() |
2002–2003 | 2004–2009 | [1] |
2011 | ![]() |
2002–2003 | 2004–2011 | [2] |
2012 | ![]() |
2008–2010 | 2006–2008, 2010–2012 | |
2015 | ![]() |
2003–2007 | 2008–2015 | [3] |
2018 | ![]() |
2011–2013 | 2002–2011, 2014–2017 | |
2020 | ![]() |
2004–2018 | 2018–2020 | |
2020 | ![]() |
2002–2018 | 2018–2020 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Simon Whitlocks World Championship Results". Darts database. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ "John Henderson BDO results". Darts Database. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ "Robbie Green BDO results". Darts Database. Retrieved 24 January 2017.