FORGOTTEN DARTERS: Alan Warriner-Little, the 'real' Iceman

Friday, 09 June 2023 at 21:55

In this column, we regularly reminisce about a 'forgotten darter' from the past. Today, it is the turn of Englishman Alan Warriner-Little.

Warriner was born on 24 March 1962 in Lancaster, England. 'Wozza', as he was often called at the time, was working as a psychiatric nurse when he made his debut at the 1989 BDO World Championship. In the opening round, he was 3-0 too strong for his compatriot Arnie Bunn, but in the second round, he had to concede 3-2 to the later world champion Jocky Wilson.

Later that year, Warriner did make a name for himself at international tournaments, winning the Dutch Open and the Belgium Open, among others, and he returned to the BDO World Championship in 1990. This time, however, things went wrong immediately in the first round with a 3-0 defeat against Mike Gregory.

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World Championship final

In 1991 and 1992, Warriner reached the quarter-finals each time at the BDO World Championship, but in 1993 he made a complete breakthrough. After wins against Mitchell Crooks, Ronnie Sharp, Wayne Weening and Steve Beaton, Warriner reached the final. However, that proved to be just one hurdle too far, as John Lowe won 6-3 to take his third and final world title.

It was the last BDO World Championship for Warriner, because together with some others he co-founded the PDC and from then on he would of course play in that association. Warriner did reach the final of the 1998 Winmau World Masters (when PDC players were still allowed to participate), but lost 3-2 to Les Wallace.

Warriner, who was once number one in the world with the PDC, BDO and WDF, reached the semi-finals twice (1999 and 2003), but Phil Taylor proved too strong each time.

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PDC major

He achieved his only PDC major in 2001. At the World Grand Prix, he beat Roland Scholten 8-2 in the final after wins against Andy Jenkins, Shayne Burgess, Dave Askew and Dennis Smith. At the World Matchplay, he lost the final to Phil Taylor in both 1997 and 2000.

Warriner married Brenda Little in 2005 and became Warriner-Little as a result. In 2008, he made one last appearance at the PDC World Championship, but had to drop out in the second round after a 4-1 defeat to Peter Manley. A year later, he ended his career.

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Players' union

Warriner-Little did return to the World Seniors Darts Tour in 2022. At the World Seniors Championship, however, he went down in the first round against Larry Butler. Since then, Warriner-Little did not play in any tournaments for that organisation either.

Warriner is currently still active in darts as a commentator for English broadcaster ITV and as chairman of the players' union PDPA.

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