The Darts World 50: 1992

The Darts World Years, and our ongoing 50th Anniversary celebrations, is not the first time we have celebrated the history of the game and our contribution to it. Although it’s barely credible that another 30 years have passed since this celebratory piece.

The three pages, from this superb issue, are full of all types of memorable moments and even an ‘Oscars style’ ‘In Memorium’ section near the end. The quotes from Unicorn’s Michael Lowy have proven prophetic, although the microchip dartboard is yet to be perfected.

Despite the best efforts of Darts World to concentrate on the many positives that we had seen, over the previous twenty years, the looming troubles managed to dominate the closing section of the piece. Comments about the proposed boycott of the 1993 World Championships (over that video of the Taylor v Gregory final) and a conclusion looking toward the impending battle between WDC and BDO.

The quiz that was published to right is definitely not easy with or without hindsight. Adrian Edgington did a fine job. Have a go today and see what information you have stored from our first twenty years. (See our archive for more)

A Fresh Start?

Devon Peterson may be the Icon of African darts today, but Darts World was recording the re-entry of South Africa into the mainstream of International darts back in 1992. The story below marked the official, end of segregated darts in that country and noted the forming of a new body to take the game forward.

Perhaps Darts World will ask Devon his views on the progress made since that date. Are there thousands of young ‘Devons’ lining up from across SA society to play or too step up to the level of international or professional play?

In the meantime it is to be hoped that the example set by players such as Paul Lim, Kyle Anderson and Devon himself proves an inspiration to players, of all nations, to take up and play darts.

Nine, Germany’s First Perfect Tungsten Moment:

More evidence of the early rise of German darts. Have you heard of Volker Backes. Perhaps you should have….

The recent surge in popularity, and success, of German darts, has so what masked the steady development that Darts World had reported for many years. The first record we have of a competitive 9 Darter was struck in 1992.
The details of the story reveal much. Backes opponent was one other than the long time German international and regular world championship qualifier, Andrew Welge.

Andre went on to win the game and Backes had to settle for a special £300 prize! Better than the usual whip round, eh!

Welge was a talented player who often threatened to reach the highest level despite just falling short. He is also remembered as the opponent when Colin Lloyd ‘lost it’ and punched the board in the 2010/11 World Championships.

Less easily spotted is the fact that there were 776 entrants in that Dortmond Open. Looks like it not just football they were keen on keen on!

So, the rise of German darts is a long, slow burning, story in which Volker Backes should hold a place

The Darts World 50

Very few publications can lay claim to being “The Official Voice” of their sport. But then not many are almost 50 years old and have coexisted side by side with the object of their affection throughout the swings and roundabouts of two golden eras and at least one near collapse.

In the early 1970s, a handful of ingredients were coming together to form the recipe for the massive success of the hitherto lesser-known pub game. Darts World Magazine was one of those ingredients.

Editor, proprietor, and instigator, Tony Wood, welcomed readers to the new Darts World magazine for our November/December 1972 debut (Issue 1). The ingredients mentioned above could all be seen within those first 36 pages and then in every issue that followed.

DW has chronicled the ups and downs, the major events, and the minutiae while championing the game at every opportunity.

The Darts World 50 offers 50 highlights selected direct from our pages during what must now be thought of as the ‘Golden Age/s of Darts’.