Darts has come a long way from its humble beginnings in British pubs to become one of the nation’s most popular sports. What started as a casual activity to pass the time over drinks transformed into an organised competitive event with devoted followers all over the UK. Today, darts draws huge crowds to major tournaments and its top players have achieved celebrity status. But how did this pub game grow into a professional sport with millions of pounds up for grabs?
Origins in Inns and Taverns
The origins of darts can be traced back to the Middle Ages in England. Inns and taverns provided entertainment for their patrons by offering games like shuffleboard and billiards. To avoid damage to the walls, proprietors placed targets on the floor or boards placed over barrels. Patrons threw short arrows or darts at these targets in games of skill and chance. These casual matches were the earliest predecessors to the game as we know it today. The word “dart” itself derives from the French word “dard” meaning “spear.”
Standardisation of Rules and Equipment
As dart games gained popularity in pubs across England, each establishment had its own set of rules and target dimensions. This lack of standardisation prompted the National Darts Association to form in 1924 to codify the rules and regulations. They settled on key specifications like the dartboard diameter of 17 3/4 inches and the distance from the toe-line to the board at 7 ft 9 1/4 inches. Standard dart weights were also determined to be between 12-50 grams. These uniform rules allowed serious competition between players across pubs and regions.
Some key milestones in the standardisation and growth of darts include:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1924 | Formation of the National Darts Association to standardise rules and equipment |
| 1927 | First News of the World Darts Championship held |
| 1978 | First BDO World Professional Darts Championship held in Nottingham |
Growth of Local and Regional Competitions
With official rules in place, darts started to take off as an organised sport with county and regional competitions between the 1920s and 1950s. The sport’s popularity was largely driven by breweries like Guinness which ran tournaments and sponsored players as a marketing exercise to boost beer sales. Guinness’ initiatives paved the way for the establishment of the News of the World Championship in 1927, regarded as the premier event until the British Darts Organization (BDO) took over in 1978.
The BDO World Professional Championship
The formation of the British Darts Organization proved to be a turning point, signalling darts’ transition from pub pastime to an professional organised sport. The BDO instituted rules and organised tournaments with star players attracting sponsors and media coverage. In 1978, the first World Professional Darts Championship was held at the Heart of Nottingham with a 1,000-pound prize purse. Top players like Eric Bristow, Bob Anderson, and John Lowe helped popularise the tournament through the ‘70s and ‘80s turning darts into a major spectator sport regularly broadcast on the BBC.
Rise of Television and Split in the Sport
The rich prizes and expanded television coverage in the ‘90s and ‘00s made players household names and fueled the sport’s popularity. However, there were growing concerns over stagnant prize funds. In 1992, the game’s elite players broke away to form the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), dividing the sport in two. The PDC secured lucrative sponsorships and established new majors like the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix. Players enjoyed larger purses with Phil Taylor dominating between 1995-2013 winning 16 world titles.
Recent Resurgence and Reunification Efforts
After years of division, momentum has been building behind reunification. The PDC now firmly dominates due to its TV reach and richer purses. BDO tournaments have declined, struggling to attract top talent. However, grassroots efforts and rising female stars are fueling a resurgence. The BDO and PDC have discussed collaborating on a single world championship.While this remains an ongoing debate, darts continue to grow with icons like Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and Fallon Sherrock inspiring new generations of fans.
Some recent milestones demonstrating the changing landscape of darts include:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1992 | Top players break away to form the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) |
| 1995-2013 | Era of dominance by Phil Taylor, winning 16 World Championships |
| 2007 | First PDC Women’s World Championship held |
| 2018 | First woman, Lisa Ashton, qualifies for PDC World Championship |
| 2019 | Fallon Sherrock becomes first woman to win a match at PDC World Championship |
| 2020 | BDO goes into liquidation due to bankruptcy |
To sum up, darts has completed an extraordinary journey – from casual pub recreation to a showpiece event of the British sporting calendar. Its growth was driven by standardisation of rules, organisation of competitions, sponsorship, and television broadcasting into homes nationwide. Despite its split identity, darts’ popularity is surging to new heights. With its working-class roots, communal atmosphere, unpredictable drama and larger-than-life stars, darts seems poised to remain ingrained in British culture for generations of fans to come.