FORGOTTEN DARTERS: Tony Green: Iconic darts commentator who called the first World Championship nine-darter

In this column, we regularly reminisce about a "forgotten darter" from the past. Today it is the turn of Englishman Tony Green.

Tony Green was born Jan. 29, 1939, in Kingston upon Hill. Green played for many years at the amateur level, which is how he was active in the English ⁸county system. However, it was only as a commentator that he gained fame in Britain. But also far beyond, because in the 1980s the BBC was often one of the only foreign channels that people in the Netherlands and Belgium could watch.

Green commented on the first BDO World Championship in 1978 and eventually did so until the last one broadcast by the BBC in 2016. He himself also played a role in the organization of the BDO and in that capacity he was also involved in the split between the BDO and a number of players that later resulted in the creation of the PDC.

Green became most legendary with his comments during the first ever nine-darter at a World Championship. In the second round of the 1990 BDO World Championship, Paul Lim took on Jack McKenna. Lim, then still playing for the USA, first threw 180 twice and then finished the leg with triple 20, triple 19 and double 12. This to the delight of commentator Green who shouted out how unique this was. Lim earned a cool £52,000 with that nine darter, a round later he would lose 4-0 to Cliff Lazarenko.

In 2010, Green briefly disappeared from the screen when he had to be treated for tongue cancer. He recovered and a few months later he was already commentating again. In addition to the BDO World Championship at Lakeside, Green also regularly commented on the Winmau World Masters and was also host of the program "Bullseye" on ITV for many years.

Green always remained loyal to the BDO, although in 2007 he did give a one-off commentary on Challenge TV at the PDC US Open. After the BBC dropped out as television partner of the BDO World Championship, Green also stopped commentating. Meanwhile, he is enjoying a well-deserved retirement.