Larry Butler: The Bald Eagle who made history by winning the 1994 World Matchplay

In this feature, we look back in the day through the career of a darts player. Today, our focus is on Larry Butler. The American, nicknamed ‘The Bald Eagle’, enjoyed an exceptionally long career. Although he largely disappeared from the international stage for several years after his historic success, he remained active in North America. In 2015, he made an impressive return to the spotlight. By reaching the World Masters final and qualifying for the Grand Slam of Darts, the American proved that even at an advanced age, he was still capable of challenging some of the established names in the sport.

Larry Thomas Butler was born in the United States on July 21, 1957. During the early years of his career, he primarily built his reputation in his home country, where he established himself as one of the standout names in American darts.

Butler collected several prestigious titles in North America. He won the New York Open in 1993, 1994 and 1995. He also claimed the Darts America Championship in 1994. In addition, he enjoyed success at the World Bullshooter Championship, winning the tournament in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

The Cincinnati Spring Fling Open was another tournament where he enjoyed considerable success. Butler won the event in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995. These results underlined his status as one of the strongest darts players on the North American continent.

However, at the time, it was particularly difficult for American players to break through at the highest international level. The major tournaments were primarily staged in Europe, meaning the distance, travel costs and limited opportunities to regularly compete against the world's best players presented significant obstacles.

Nevertheless, Butler was given an opportunity to showcase his abilities on the world stage in the early 1990s. In 1992, he made his debut at the BDO World Championship. However, that first appearance did not bring success, as he was beaten in the opening round by Dennis Priestley, who would later play an important role in the story of Butler's career.

In 1993, a major split occurred in the professional darts world. A group of players decided to break away from the British Darts Organisation (BDO) and establish their own organisation. Initially known as the World Darts Council (WDC), it would later become the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

The new organisation wanted to stage its own tournaments and establish its own World Championship. Several North American players were also invited to compete in its events, and Butler was among those who took advantage of the opportunity.

In 1994, he competed in the inaugural WDC World Championship. Although he failed to progress beyond the group stage, he demonstrated that he could compete with the established names. He defeated John Lowe, the three-time world champion who had claimed the final world title before the darts split just a year earlier.

That victory was an early indication that Butler could also cause surprises outside North America. However, at that point, very few people could have predicted what he would achieve just a few months later.

The 1994 World Matchplay would forever be associated with the name Larry Butler. The tournament in Blackpool was one of the most important events on the calendar of the young WDC and brought together some of the best players in the world.

Butler entered the tournament without being considered a major favourite. The American faced players with considerably more experience on the big European stages. However, as the tournament progressed, he demonstrated that he had not travelled to England simply to gain experience.

In the first round, Butler defeated Steve Raw. He then overcame Jerry Umberger before eliminating Scottish darts legend Jocky Wilson in the quarter-finals. He had already overcome several significant obstacles.

Shayne Burgess awaited him in the semi-finals. Butler won that match too, suddenly finding himself preparing for the final of a major international tournament.

His opponent in the showpiece was Dennis Priestley. The Englishman had already demonstrated in 1994 that he was among the very best players in the world and was regarded as an extremely difficult opponent. For Butler, it was also an opportunity to gain sporting revenge after his defeat to Priestley at the 1992 BDO World Championship.

However, the American was not intimidated by his opponent's reputation. In the final, he produced a 16-12 victory in legs. In doing so, he claimed not only the trophy but also the £10,000 first prize.

The significance of that victory was enormous. Butler became the first American to win a PDC major on European soil. To this day, he also remains the only player from the United States to have achieved that feat.

The achievement was even more remarkable given that the PDC was still in its infancy. The organisation was yet to establish itself firmly alongside the BDO, while the international darts landscape was undergoing considerable change. Butler's victory provided the fledgling circuit with a remarkable story: an American player upsetting the established European order and winning one of the most important tournaments on the calendar.

Following his historic triumph in Blackpool, Butler remained active at other major tournaments. He competed at the PDC World Championship in 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Although he never reached another final, he demonstrated that his World Matchplay title had not been a one-off achievement. Butler recorded victories over several major names, including former world champions Keith Deller and John Lowe. Rod Harrington, who was among the absolute elite and had previously been world number one, also suffered defeat against the American.

However, Butler only managed to progress beyond the group stage at these World Championships on one occasion. That came in 1996. After reaching the quarter-finals, he was eliminated by Jamie Harvey.

Despite that defeat, his record remained impressive. Butler had demonstrated that he could not only dominate in North America but also defeat the best European darts players.

Nevertheless, after the 1997 World Championship, he largely disappeared from the regular international circuit. The major tournaments were predominantly held in the United Kingdom, making it difficult for American players to make the journey across the Atlantic on a regular basis. The combination of travel distances, costs and limited opportunities to complete a full international schedule played a significant role.

For Butler, however, this did not mean he was retiring from the sport permanently. He remained active in North America, competing in tournaments for many years and maintaining his status as one of the continent's strongest players.

In 2007, Butler began competing in international events more frequently again. North American darts was gaining more opportunities within the PDC circuit during this period, giving players from the region further chances to test themselves against international opposition.

Butler took advantage of this development. Among other achievements, he won the USA Dart Classic, a World Darts Federation (WDF) tournament, and began working towards another return to the big stage.

A significant moment followed in 2008. Butler qualified for the Las Vegas Desert Classic, marking his first appearance at a major televised tournament in more than ten years. As one of four North American qualifiers, he was given the opportunity to compete against the international elite.

His televised comeback ended in the first round. He lost 6-4 to England's Alan Tabern. Nevertheless, qualifying for the tournament was an important step for the American, who had once again reached an international audience after years away from the spotlight.

In April 2009, Butler travelled to Europe to compete in various Players Championships and qualifying tournaments for the UK Open. He entered sixteen events and reached the prize-money stages in thirteen of them. His best result was a quarter-final appearance at a regional event in the West Midlands on April 1.

Later that year, he demonstrated his class once again at a Players Championship in Las Vegas. Butler produced a nine-darter, one of the most remarkable achievements a darts player can accomplish. It was a standout moment during a period in which he was attempting to re-establish himself at international level.

However, the perfect leg did not result in a tournament victory. In his second-round match, he lost 6-2 to Jan van der Rassel. Nevertheless, the nine-darter proved that Butler still possessed the scoring power to compete at a high level.

While Butler was rebuilding his international ambitions, he continued to enjoy considerable success in North America. In 2009, he partnered Canadian champion Bob Sinnaeve. Their partnership immediately produced several titles and podium finishes.

At the North American Open in Boston, they won the cricket doubles and finished runners-up in the 501 doubles. They also enjoyed success at the Windy City Open in Chicago, winning the cricket doubles. Butler additionally finished runner-up in the 501 singles.

The American enjoyed further major success at the Peachtree Open in Atlanta. He won both the Pro Singles and 501 singles, adding victories in the blind draw and open 501 doubles. He also finished runner-up in the cricket doubles. The pair ended the year by winning the 501 doubles at the Buckeye Open in Columbus, Ohio.

2010 was another particularly successful year. Butler secured several podium finishes at tournaments in Philadelphia, Huntsville, Syracuse, Indianapolis and New Hampshire. He won both singles and doubles titles and remained a regular presence on the American tournament calendar.

A major highlight came at the USA Darts Classic in Connecticut. Competing in a field of more than 200 players, Butler won both the 501 singles and cricket singles events. These results strengthened his ambition to secure another place on the international stage through the American Darts Organisation (ADO).

His 501 singles victory earned him an invitation to the World Masters. He also secured a place in the United States team for the 2011 WDF World Cup in Ireland thanks to his performances.

Butler continued collecting titles in 2011. In Las Vegas, he won the National Cricket Championship and the 501 singles. He also finished runner-up in the cricket singles and won the 501 doubles, once again underlining his dominance on the American darts circuit.

In 2013, Butler returned to a major televised tournament when he partnered Darin Young at the PDC World Cup of Darts. The tournament, in which nations compete against one another in two-player teams, gave the American another opportunity to face international opposition.

However, it was not a successful campaign for the United States. Butler and Young competed in Group F and lost their matches against Finland and Germany. They were beaten 5-4 by Finland, while Germany proved too strong with a 5-3 victory. As a result, the American duo finished bottom of the group.

A year later, they returned for the 2014 edition. This time, the United States reached the second round, where they faced England. Butler took on Phil Taylor in the singles, with the latter having already established himself as one of the greatest players in darts history. Taylor won their encounter, but Darin Young then produced a surprise by defeating Adrian Lewis.

That meant the tie had to be decided in a doubles match. England proved too strong, winning 4-1 and bringing the American team's campaign to an early end.

Although their results at the World Cup of Darts were limited, these appearances marked Butler's return to the international televised stage. The American also continued competing at an age when many other players had already scaled back their careers.

In 2015, Butler returned to the BDO, the organisation where he had played his first World Championship in 1992. His comeback proved to be an excellent decision.

With victories at tournaments including the Camellia Classic and USA Dart Classic, he collected enough points to win the BDO America Rankings. This once again brought him firmly into the spotlight within international darts.

Butler also impressed in the qualifying tournaments for the Grand Slam of Darts. In October, he secured one of the two available places and earned another opportunity to compete against the absolute world elite. On his way to qualifying, he defeated the likes of Scott Waites and Glen Durrant, two players who were among the strongest names in the BDO circuit at the time.

However, his biggest achievement of the year came at the World Masters. Butler entered the prestigious tournament as an experienced outsider but developed into one of its standout competitors.

He defeated several strong opponents in succession, including Scott Mitchell, Scott Waites and Martin Adams. Mitchell was the reigning BDO world champion at the time, while Waites and Adams also possessed impressive records.

Those victories secured Butler a place in the final, where Glen Durrant awaited him. The Englishman was one of the dominant players in BDO darts and would later enjoy considerable success in the PDC as well.

Durrant proved too strong in the final, winning 7-3. Butler therefore missed out on another major title, but reaching the final was nevertheless an exceptional achievement. Almost two decades after his last appearance at the WDC World Championship, he had once again demonstrated that he could compete with the best players.

The World Masters final also confirmed that his comeback was not simply a brief resurgence. Butler had worked his way back towards the international elite through various tournaments and demonstrated that experience could be a major asset.

In November 2015, the Grand Slam of Darts followed. Butler was drawn into a difficult group alongside Gary Anderson, Raymond van Barneveld and Andy Boulton.

The American began with a defeat against Anderson. The Scot, who was the reigning PDC world champion at the time, secured a convincing 5-0 victory. Butler then recovered by defeating Boulton 5-4.

Van Barneveld, the five-time world champion, awaited him in his final group match. Butler put up a fight but lost 5-3. As a result, he failed to reach the knockout stages.

Nevertheless, his participation was further evidence of his remarkable career. Butler had qualified through the BDO circuit for a tournament that brought together the best players from both organisations. He had therefore returned to a stage that had remained largely out of his reach for many years.

In January 2016, Butler competed at the BDO World Championship. It was his first appearance at the tournament since 1997, a gap of no fewer than 19 years.

He had to begin in the preliminary round, where he faced James Hurrell. Butler came through that encounter 3-2 to book his place in the next round.

Ryan De Vreede awaited him there. That match also ended 3-2, allowing the American to reach the last 32. He then faced top seed Glen Durrant.

Butler was unable to make an impression against the eventual champion. Durrant won 4-0, bringing the American's World Championship campaign to an end.

Although the tournament did not conclude with another shock result, reaching the last 32 was a respectable achievement for a player who had largely disappeared from the spotlight following his successes in the 1990s.

Towards the end of his career, Butler also competed in the World Seniors Championship on two occasions.

In 2022, he reached the quarter-finals following successive victories over Alan Warriner-Little and Keith Deller. He eventually lost 3-1 to Martin Adams.

A year later, his campaign came to an end in the opening round. Butler lost 3-2 to England's Darren Johnson.

The now 69-year-old American still regularly competes at various tournaments in his home country.

Larry Butler will forever be remembered as the American who won the 1994 World Matchplay, achieving something truly unique. His victory over Dennis Priestley was more than just a surprise tournament triumph: it demonstrated that players from outside Europe were also capable of competing at the highest level.

His career subsequently went through several different phases. First came his breakthrough in the 1990s, featuring victories over major names and a historic major title. This was followed by a lengthy period in which he remained primarily active in North America. Eventually, he returned to the international stage and reached another major final in 2015.

His ability to defeat players such as Scott Mitchell, Scott Waites and Martin Adams later in his career underlined his quality and determination. Butler was not simply a player who benefited from one remarkable week in Blackpool, but someone who performed at a high level over many years.

His nickname, ‘The Bald Eagle’, became synonymous with one of the most remarkable stories in international darts history. More than 30 years after his historic victory, his name remains unique: no other American has yet won a PDC major in Europe.