The PDC has been going for over 30 years now and whilst the majority of major titles have been collected by the usual suspects such as Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, James Wade and Gary Anderson, there have been some tournaments where the winner completely out of the blue.
In this article, Dartsnews.com takes a look at the ten most surprising and unsuspected winners of major tournaments in PDC history.
Read also
Larry Butler - 1994 World Matchplay
The first and so far only American to lift a major PDC title, Larry Butler shocked the world in 1994 when he left Blackpool with the inaugural World Matchplay title. Although Butler had shown some signs of his abilities with a win over John Lowe in the World Championship earlier that year, few fancied ‘The Eagle’ heading into the World Matchplay.
Nevertheless, with wins over Steve Raw (8-2), compatriot Jerry Umberger (8-2), Jocky Wilson (11-4) and Shayne Burgess (11-7), Butler found himself facing Dennis Priestley in the final at the Winter Gardens. Averaging 92.7, Butler stunned the first ever PDC world champion 16-12, taking the title and what would turn out to be his biggest career win.
Larry Butler entered the history books as the first winner of the World Matchplay
Peter Evison - World Matchplay 1996
Two years after Butler, the big names were again upset at the Winter Gardens. In the opening round, Evison actually defeated Butler 8-3 before taking a massive win in the second round over the great Phil Taylor. Averaging a touch under 104, Evison switched off ‘The Power’ 8-1 and then avoided the fate that so often befalls those who beat Taylor, by backing it up in the next round with an 11-3 win over American Sean Downs.
In the semifinals, Jamie Harvey also fell to Evison before, in the final, much like when Butler won, Dennis Priestley was left rueing a missed opportunity as Evison prevailed By 16 legs to 14, averaging over 100 again and lifting the title.
The 1996 World Matchplay also had a surprising winner in the name of Peter Evison
Roland Scholten - UK Open 2004
Already an established name by the time the 2004 UK Open came around, Roland Scholten had been there or thereabouts in the PDC majors for a few seasons, reaching the final of the 2001 World Grand Prix and semifinals at each of the UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic. In the era of Phil Taylor's most epic dominance however, the Dutchman was by no means expected to lift the title in Bolton in 2004.
When Phil Taylor struck his second televised nine darter in the fourth round, another title for the Power looked on the cards. Scholten meanwhile was quietly moving his way through the draw. In the quarter-finals, Taylor was dumped out by long time rival John Part in a thriller and after Scholten saw off Alan Warriner the draw was suddenly wide open. After recovering from 3-0 down to beat Steve Beaton 8-4 in the semifinals, Scholten then defeated Part 11-6 in the final to lift the title.
Paul Nicholson - Players Championship Finals 2010
For a short spell, Paul Nicholson looked set to take the darting world by storm. Walking out with his trademark sunglasses and tie, Nicholson was the pantomime villain wmto the crowd but could more than back it up on the board too. At the 2010 Players Championship Finals, Nicholson's looked to have kicked on to the next level. Sadly however, it proved to be the sharp peak of the Asset's career in the PDC.
Whilst Nicholson was an emerging talent at the time, his title win and the route to victory ensure his title win enters our list. Incredibly, his route to the final reads like a who's who of the PDC era. Dennis Priestley fell in the opening round before Steve Beaton and Adrian Lewis followed. In the semi-finals however, Nicholson produced arguably his greatest ever performance to dispatch Phil Taylor 10-9 in an absolute thriller. Surviving another testing encounter in the final with Mervyn King 13-11, Nicholson joined the elite list of PDC major winners.
Paul Nicholson crowned himself the surprise winner of the 2010 Players Championship Finals
Scott Waites - Grand Slam of Darts 2010
Whilst the BDO and PDC had often been at odds since the latter's formation, the Grand Slam of Darts offered darts fans a unique chance to view the two codes best players facing off. In truth, the BDO’s often failed to make much of an impact over the years, that is except for two time Lakeside champion Scott Waites.
Joined by Dave Chisnall, John Henderson, Tony O'Shea, Martyn Phillips, Darryl Fitton and Ted Hankey as the BDO representatives, Waites topped a group that included the aforementioned Phillips, Co Stompe and Adrian Lewis. In the first knockout round, Raymond van Barneveld's hopes were ended 10-7, before Stompe was again beaten by Waites 16-10. In the semifinals, Steve Beaton couldn't handle ‘Scotty 2 Hotty’, with Waites setting up a final showdown with James Wade. Having been obliterated 16-2 by Phil Taylor in the previous year's final, Waites would've been forgiven for giving up hope when trailing Wade 8-0. The Englishman refused to be denied again however and mounted an incredible comeback to seal the title with a 16-12 win becoming the only BDO winner of the Grand Slam.
Scott Waites became the only BDO winner of the Grand Slam of Darts in 2010
Kevin Painter - Players Championship Finals 2011
In the first decade of this century, Kevin Painter was considered one of the top players on the PDC circuit. 'The Artist' regularly made it to the final stages at major finals such as the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix, and even stood in the final of the 2004 World Darts Championship. Painter was very close to the world title then, but eventually lost the final 7-6 to Phil Taylor.
Just when Painter seemed past his prime, that long-hoped-for major title still came. In 2011, he won the Players Championship Finals, making his record a major title after all.
Painter had qualified for the tournament in Doncaster as number 18 on the Players Championship Order of Merit. He began the tournament with a 6-2 victory over Colin Osborne before beating Gary Anderson 8-4. Painter then reached the final match after victories over Mervyn King (9-7) and Scott Rand (10-9). He was then too strong for Mark Webster in the final, 13-9.
Mensur Suljovic - Champions League of Darts 2017
From 2015 to 2019, Mensur Suljovic was considered a very tough opponent for all the top players on the PDC circuit. With his unorthodox style of play and headstrong pace, he drove several big names to despair.
In the midst of his heyday, Suljovic managed to win the Champions League of Darts. The BBC tournament then featured eight players, with Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, Michael van Gerwen, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall in addition to Suljovic.
Suljovic found himself in a pool with Anderson, Wright and Chisnall. He beat them all, as 'The Gentle' started the tournament with a resounding victory over Anderson (10-3). After that he also defeated Wright (10-8) and Chisnall (10-5). In the semifinals, he defeated Raymond van Barneveld (11-9), before Suljovic beat Anderson again (11-9) in the final.
Mensur Suljovic is one of the few players to have won the Champions League of Darts
Jose de Sousa - Grand Slam of Darts 2020
At the 2012 World Darts Championship, there was suddenly a Portuguese in the preliminary round of the World Darts Championship. Jose de Sousa failed to win his preliminary round match, then disappeared from the big stage again for several years.
At the 2019 edition, he returned to Alexandra Palace, and then 'The Special One' picked up a Tour Card at the Q-School. That same year, De Sousa already won his first Players Championship title. It turned out to be the prelude to an extraordinary 2020, in which De Sousa won not only a Euro Tour tournament but also a major. The Portuguese darter had never reached the quarterfinals of a major before, but out of nowhere he won the Grand Slam of Darts.
De Sousa lost a group match against Michael Smith (5-2), but advanced to the knockout stage thanks to wins over Krzysztof Ratajski (5-4) and Lisa Ashton (5-1). He then dealt with Dave Chisnall (10-7), Michael Smith (16-14), Simon Whitlock (16-12) and James Wade (16-12) to take the title.
He was already the first Portuguese Players Championship and Euro Tour winner, but also became the first Portuguese major winner at the Grand Slam of Darts in 2020
Ross Smith - European Championship 2022
In October 2022, Ross Smith established his name in the PDC history books as a major winner. 'Smudger' had already reached the quarterfinals at the UK Open once in 2019, but since then never managed to get past the last sixteen of a PDC major. Until the European Championship in 2022.
Smith played only five of 12 Euro Tour tournaments in 2022, but thanks to two quarterfinals he still qualified for the final tournament at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund.
The Englishman opened the tournament with a 6-4 victory over Joe Cullen, before beating Dimitri van den Bergh (10-8), Peter Wright (10-8) and Chris Dobey (11-9) for a spot in the final. Ross Smith seemed the ideal opponent in the final for Michael Smith, who at that point had already lost seven major finals. However, an eighth defeat was added to that, as after a sensational match, Ross Smith drew the longest straw in the final, 11-8.
Ross Smith decided the Battle of the Smiths in his favor and took the title at the 2022 European Championships
Andrew Gilding - UK Open 2023
At 52, winning your first major by beating top favorite Michael van Gerwen in the final. It sounds like a dream, but Andrew Gilding made that dream come true at the 2023 UK Open.
Gilding began his participation in the 2023 UK Open with wins over Darren Webster (6-2), Ricky Evans (10-5), Luke Woodhouse (10-5) and Brendan Dolan (10-8) to qualify for the final day.
In the quarterfinals, he convincingly dealt with Martin Schindler (10-4), before 'Goldfinger' was too strong for another tournament sensation in the semifinals. An 11-6 win kept Adam Gawlas from a final spot.
Van Gerwen led 9-6 and 10-9 in the final, but missed one matchdart in the deciding leg to win the tournament. Gilding then threw his first matchdart into the double 20 to become the oldest darter in PDC history to win his first major final.
Andrew Gilding became the oldest darter in PDC history to win his first major final
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Must be a heavy duty bike.medinabello18-09-2024
- Why's Mace worried about Taylor? Reach his level then you can talk.medinabello16-09-2024
- It's very easy to explain. Once a match fixer, always a match fixer !richieburnettrocks15-09-2024
- Even the Hearns and the PDC have had to kowtow to the DEI brigade or lose sponsorship, the DEI activist base may be small but is very vocal and being cancelled is bad for business and profit. There is a glimmer of hope though as folk do now seem to be pushing back especially as Starmergeddon is waking a lot more people up.Mysstree12-09-2024
- It seems odd that at the World Championship they have dancing ladies in hot pants and pom poms and yet the walk on ladies who were much more elegantly attired get removed from the scene. I met Daniella at Silverstone when she was a grid girl in the F1 race and was very pleasant indeed. It is a massive shame when you lose the ability to earn or be in the public eye due to bullsheet politics.richieburnettrocks12-09-2024