Dennis Priestley, a darts legend, recently reflected on the chaotic 1993 World Championship, dubbed the ‘World Championship of Turmoil’. This event was the last unified tournament before a major split in darts, where top players, including Priestley, risked everything to form a new organization. Despite being in the form of his life, Priestley agonisingly missed out on the 1993 title. However, in a remarkable twist of fate, just a year later, he overcame a crisis of confidence to claim the inaugural PDC World Championship, etching his name forever as a pioneer of modern darts.
The Darts Rebellion: A Risky Bet for a Brighter Future
Priestley shared his insights on the tumultuous period of the darts split, a pivotal moment when 16 of the sport’s top players, including himself, made the brave decision to leave the established British Darts Organisation (BDO). Their motivation was clear: a severe lack of broadcasting and advertising opportunities, which limited the sport’s growth and players’ livelihoods.
These pioneering players risked not just their careers, but their homes and financial stability, to form their own organization, initially known as the World Darts Council (WDC) and later the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). This audacious move transformed darts, elevating it to unprecedented global popularity and turning its stars into multi-million-pound celebrities. Many, including Priestley, feel these founding members deserve far greater recognition for their immense sacrifice, especially given that several, such as Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson, and Jamie Harvey, have since passed away.
The 1993 ‘World Championship of Turmoil’
Priestley vividly recalled the 1993 World Championship, which proved to be the final unified world title event. By this point, the seeds of the split had already been sown. The first WDC event, the Lada UK Masters, had taken place in October 1992. It was won by Mike Gregory, who later controversially returned to the BDO. According to fellow WDC member John Lowe’s autobiography, BDO chairman Olly Croft reportedly threatened Gregory with the loss of his home if the WDC’s legal challenges failed.
The atmosphere at the Lakeside venue in January 1993 was incredibly tense. Tensions escalated further when the 16 ‘rebel’ players planned to wear WDC patches on their shirts. Although the BDO initially approved this, they reneged on the agreement at the very last minute. This forced the players into a frantic scramble to either find new shirts or hastily cover up the offending patches, adding to the pressure and uncertainty.
Priestley’s Personal Regret: The Title That Got Away
Reflecting on this chaotic event, Priestley aptly named it “The World Championship of Turmoil.” Yet, his deepest regret wasn’t the drama, but that he failed to win the title. He entered the tournament in the best form of his life.
- “If ever I was gonna win a second Embassy (the World Championships were known as ‘The Embassy’ due to sponsorship by Embassy Cigarettes from 1978-2003) it should’ve been ‘93,” Priestley stated.
- In 1992 alone, he competed in 17 tournaments, winning an astounding 12 or 13 of them, with his other appearances typically ending in semi-finals or finals.
- He genuinely felt he was the best player in the world in 1992, having secured more titles than anyone else, including the prestigious Winmau World Masters, and held the world number one ranking.
His 1993 campaign started brilliantly, with Priestley achieving the tournament’s highest average of 102.63 in a dominant 3-0 victory over Jocky Wilson. However, his journey was cut short in the second round by an inspired Steve Beaton.
A Twist of Fate: From Turmoil to Triumph
In a remarkable turn of events, Priestley recalled that just a year later, heading into the inaugural PDC World Championship, he was in stark contrast to his 1993 self. He lacked form and confidence. Yet, through sheer determination, he played his way into contention, eventually reaching the final.
There, he delivered a legendary performance, handing darts icon Phil Taylor his worst-ever defeat in a World Final. With that victory, Dennis Priestley secured the title and forever etched his name in darting history as the first-ever PDC World Champion. Perhaps, as Priestley himself suggests, everything truly happened exactly as it was meant to be, turning a moment of regret into the foundation of a historic legacy.
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Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
