Ronnie “The Rocket” Baxter was one of darts’ most electrifying and beloved figures, renowned for his captivating style and ability to produce unforgettable matches. Despite reaching multiple major finals in both the BDO and PDC, including epic showdowns against legends like Phil Taylor and Raymond Van Barneveld, Baxter famously never secured a major title. This article delves into the remarkable career of the man who was consistently “the bridesmaid, never the bride,” yet left an indelible mark on the sport with his sheer entertainment value and a string of heartbreakingly close calls.
The Rise of “The Rocket”: Early Career and BDO Success
Born in Blackpool on February 5th, 1961, Ronnie Baxter, affectionately known as ‘The Rocket’, began his serious darts career in the 1980s. Initially making his mark on the North American circuit, he quickly found success in the British Darts Organisation (BDO). His first notable victory came at the Syracuse Open in 1987, a harbinger of many open titles to follow.
Baxter’s major tournament debut was at the 1988 Winmau World Masters, where he impressively reached the quarter-finals before falling to eventual champion Bob Anderson. The same year, he made it to the quarter-finals of the prestigious News of the World Championships. By 1991, he was making his mark at the sport’s pinnacle, the BDO World Championship at Lakeside, and secured his biggest title yet: the Welsh Open.
The Heartbreaking Near Misses: Major Finals and Epic Battles
Ronnie Baxter became synonymous with thrilling matches and agonizing near-misses in major finals. His career is punctuated by a series of high-stakes encounters where victory was often just a single dart away.
The 1997 Winmau World Masters Final
After a strong run, Baxter reached his first major final at the 1997 Winmau World Masters. Despite maintaining a higher average throughout the match, he lost a tightly contested final 3-2 to Graham Hunt, setting a pattern of ‘almost’ that would define much of his career.
1998: The PDC World Matchplay Masterpiece
1998 marked a pivotal year, even though Baxter was still primarily a BDO player. He qualified for the PDC World Matchplay in his hometown of Blackpool, where the crowd roared their support. This tournament showcased Baxter at his absolute best:
- He faced reigning champion and darts legend Phil “The Power” Taylor in the quarter-finals.
- Despite being significantly behind at 9-5 and 10-8, Baxter staged an incredible comeback to defeat Taylor 13-10 – a victory many consider his greatest ever.
- He then overcame Chris Mason 13-11 in a high-quality semi-final.
- The final against PDC world number one Rod Harrington became an instant classic. Baxter led for much of the game, even having a dart at ‘tops’ to win 18-16. However, Harrington rallied spectacularly, snatching the title 19-17 in overtime. It remains one of the most dramatic finals in darts history.
Back-to-Back BDO World Championship Finals (1999 & 2000)
Undeterred by the Matchplay heartbreak, Baxter quickly regrouped to reach his first World Championship final at the 1999 BDO World Championships. He had an exceptional run, beating top players like Ritchie Burnett and Kevin Painter, and then Roland Scholten and Andy Fordham. In the final, he faced defending champion Raymond Van Barneveld. History seemed to repeat itself as Baxter led 3-1 and 5-4, but ‘Barney’ ultimately clinched a deciding set victory, 6-5. Baxter later called it the best game he ever played.
The following year, Baxter repeated the feat, reaching the 2000 BDO World Championship final again. However, this time the outcome was a crushing 6-0 defeat to Ted Hankey in a mere 46 minutes – still the shortest World Championship final ever. It was a stark contrast to his previous epic battles.
Switching to the PDC and Further Challenges
After his final BDO World Championship appearance in 2001, where he lost to future three-time winner Martin Adams in the quarter-finals, Ronnie Baxter made the significant move to the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). He hit the ground running, making his PDC World Championship debut in 2002 and reaching the quarter-finals.
The 2002 Las Vegas Desert Classic Final
In 2002, Baxter reached his last major final, and his only one as a PDC player, at the inaugural Las Vegas Desert Classic. After beating Andy Jenkins, John Part, and Roland Scholten, he once again met his nemesis, Phil Taylor, in the final. Taylor, averaging an astonishing 103.98, secured a decisive 3-0 victory.
Baxter’s consistent performances saw him climb to a career-high World Number Three in the PDC rankings. This achievement earned him a debut in the prestigious Premier League in 2006, where he narrowly missed the playoffs.
Later Career: Resilience, Resurgence, and Retirement
Following his initial Premier League appearance, Baxter’s form dipped, largely due to a persistent back injury. Despite this, he showed flashes of his old brilliance, including back-to-back quarter-finals at his beloved Winter Gardens in 2006 and 2007, which notably included a comeback win over an 18-year-old Michael van Gerwen.
2009 marked a significant resurgence for ‘The Rocket’:
- At the World Championships, he pushed Raymond Van Barneveld to a deciding leg, missing darts to avenge his 1999 Lakeside defeat.
- He reached the semi-finals of both the UK Open and the World Matchplay, becoming the first player to beat James Wade at the Winter Gardens before a final.
This renewed success propelled him back into the world’s top ten, qualifying him for a return to the Premier League in 2010. He had a fantastic season but, agonizingly, missed out on the playoffs by just five legs on leg difference, highlighting his career-long battle with the finest margins.
As the 2010s progressed, Baxter’s career gradually wound down. His final World Championship appearance was in 2015, and his last major PDC appearance came at the 2017 UK Open. After losing his Tour Card, he attempted a comeback, even securing a new Tour Card via Q-School in 2018, but ultimately became less active.
Despite promising a return in 2020, this never fully materialized. Baxter has since been seen on the exhibition circuit and briefly in the World Seniors Darts Championship in 2023. While the elusive major title remained out of reach, Ronnie Baxter will forever be remembered as one of darts’ most entertaining and fiercely competitive players, whose battles captivated audiences and left an enduring legacy of thrilling moments.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
