"I don't class myself as a legend" - Thornton reflects on brilliant career and he isn't finished yet

Robert Thornton won three majors in his career. These days, the now 56-year-old Scotsman is mostly active on the World Seniors Darts Tour.

Thornton did not make his debut in the BDO until 2004, by which time he was 37. "I met my wife and we stopped and brought the kids up but always practiced everywhere I went. A dart board was always the first thing up in a house," Thornton said.

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In 2007, Thornton won the Winmau World Masters. "I missed out on the Lakeside by one game and the way go get in was to win the World Masters and it just so happened that I did. To me it was still a hobby. I'd never really taken it seriously but that win gave me the opportunity to move to the PDC."

"Those early years at the PDC were quite difficult," continued 'The Thorn'. "I had to travel everywhere because I wanted to move up in the rankings. For two years solid I think I was the only player in the PDC that played every tournament."

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First PDC major

In 2012, Thornton won the UK Open despite battling pneumonia. "I was off for quite a bit and I think the UK Open was my first major back. I was laid up for three or four months and I couldn't even lift the darts."

Three years later, Thornton won the World Grand Prix, the second and, for now, last PDC major of his career. "It's my favourite tournament. Double start, double finish that is my favourite game and I used to practice it quite a lot," he recalls. "I don't mind them calling me a legend when I retire but as long as I'm still playing I'm not a legend. Jocky Wilson is a legend, Eric Bristow is a legend, I don't class myself as a legend."

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Tour Card

Thornton lost his Tour Card in late 2020 and has since been mostly active on the World Seniors Darts Tour, where he managed to win the World Chanpionship in both 2022 and 2023. "Look at Martin Adams, he's what 67? If I'm throwing like that at 67 I'd want to keep playing, it's fantastic."

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