British Matchplay

British Matchplay
Tournament information
VenueSeashore Holiday Camp, Great Yarmouth
CountryEngland
Established1976
Organisation(s)BDO Major (23 editions)
FormatSets
Final Year1998
Final champion(s)
Ronnie Baxter

The British Matchplay championship was a major darts tournament organised by the British Darts Organisation.

The tournament lasted for twenty three years and contained eight-man draws. The tournament was usually televised by Anglia Television, who owned the ITV franchise for the East of England.

British Matchplay finals

The complete list of final results:[1]

Year Champion Score Runner-up Prize money Sponsor TV coverage
1976 Bill Lennard 4–3 Alan Glazier Ladbrokes ITV (World of Sport & Anglia Television)[2][3]
1977 Rab Smith 3–2 Eric Bristow £1,500 to winner[4] Ladbrokes ITV (Anglia Television)[5]
1978 John Lowe 2–1 Tony Brown £1,500 to winner[6] Ladbrokes ITV (Anglia Television)[7]
1979 Cliff Lazarenko 2–0 Tony Brown £2,000 to winner[8] Ladbrokes ITV (Anglia Television)
1980 Jocky Wilson 2–0 Leighton Rees £2,000 to winner[9] Ladbrokes ITV (Anglia Television)[10]
1981 Jocky Wilson 2–0 Cliff Lazarenko Holsten ITV (Anglia Television)[11]
1982 Eric Bristow 2–0 Dave Whitcombe £2,400 to winner[12] Fosters ITV (Anglia Television)[13]
1983 Eric Bristow 3–2 Keith Deller Fosters ITV (Anglia Television)[14]
1984 Mike Gregory 3–2 Keith Deller £3,000 to winner[15] Yorkshire Bitter ITV (Anglia Television)[16]
1985 John Lowe 3–0 Cliff Lazarenko Norwich Bitter ITV (Anglia Television)[17]
1986 Eric Bristow 3–1 Dave Whitcombe Fosters ITV (Anglia Television)[18]
1987 Dave Whitcombe 3–0 Eric Bristow ITV (Anglia Television)[19]
1988 Bob Anderson 3–2 John Lowe Poacher Bitter ITV (Anglia Television)[20]
1989 Bob Anderson 3–0 Cliff Lazarenko ITV (Anglia Television)[21]
1990 Alan Warriner-Little 5–4 Bob Anderson £3,500 to winner[22] BSB[23]
1991 Dennis Priestley 5–2 Phil Taylor ITV (Anglia Television)[24]
1992 Ronnie Baxter 5–4 Martin Phillips
1993 Steve Beaton 5–2 Ronnie Baxter
1994 Richie Burnett 5–4 Ronnie Baxter
1995 Andy Fordham 5–4 Dave Askew
1996 Martin Adams 3–2 Steve Beaton
1997 Kevin Painter 3–0 Steve Beaton
1998 Ronnie Baxter 3–1 Richie Davies

See also

References

  1. ^ "British Matchplay Winners". DartsDatabase. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  2. ^ "TV listings". Daily Post, Merseyside. 23 October 1976. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  3. ^ "TV listings". Sports Argus (Birmingham). 9 October 1976. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  4. ^ "Rab hits top form". Evening News & Star (Carlisle). 8 October 1977. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  5. ^ "TV listings". Daily Telegraph. 13 October 1977. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Darts". Daily Record (Glasgow). 4 October 1978. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  7. ^ "TV listings". Daily Mirror. 26 October 1978. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Yarmouth gala goes ahead again next year". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 6 October 1979. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  9. ^ "Darts upset". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 1 October 1980. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Anglia to deliver 3 hours of bowls". Cambridge Evening News. 31 October 1980. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  11. ^ "TV listings". Cambridge Evening News. 26 November 1981. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  12. ^ "Jocky may escape this time". Daily Mirror. 7 July 1982. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  13. ^ "TV listings". Daily Telegraph. 28 October 1982. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  14. ^ "TV listings". Daily Telegraph. 18 November 1983. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Contract coup for champ Gregory". Bristol Evening Post. 18 December 1984. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  16. ^ "TV listings". Cambridge Evening News. 19 October 1984. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  17. ^ "TV listings". Cambridge Evening News. 4 October 1985. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  18. ^ "TV listings". Cambridge Evening News. 3 October 1986. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  19. ^ "TV listings". Cambridge Evening News. 2 October 1987. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  20. ^ "TV listings". Cambridge Evening News. 5 October 1988. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  21. ^ "TV listings". Cambridge Evening News. 13 October 1989. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Darts". Evening Chronicle (Newcastle). 18 October 1990. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  23. ^ "TV listings". Evening Chronicle (Newcastle). 6 October 1990. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
  24. ^ "TV listings". Daily Gazette (Colchester). 11 October 1991. Retrieved 28 October 2025.