This Week in Darts: World Grand Prix Memories

World Grand Prix week may have moved a little over the years since its 1998 inauguration. But it has been very consistent in content terms. Early shocks, player breakthroughs, and dominance from the champions of the age seem to the be the basic ingredients, this week will likely follow the recipe:

Ten Darts Years Ago

Michael Van Gerwen continued the amazing run he had been on throughout the year. Although Simon Whitlock and Phil Taylor had halted his consecutive events and ProTour runs, ‘The Green Machine’ continued blitzing the major events in Dublin. No one got within 2 sets of the Dutchman in the later stages.

Fifteen Darts Years Ago

Brendon Dolan struck his legendary 9 darter and history was made. The Northern Irishman may have mentioned it, on occasion, since….

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Mark ‘Mile High’ Hylton (main image) continued an impressive climb with his second major quarter final of 2011. The former air steward had broken through in 2010 and undermined his talent here by removing Mark Walsh and then Simon Whitlock – who was ranked in the top five.

Twenty Five Darts Years Ago

Alan Warriner Little’s finest hour? Many think so and the man himself might not disagree. The Iceman’s win arrived in the middle of Phil Taylor dominance ( 5 from the first 6 went to The Power). Only Dennis Smith got close to Alan and his last 32 average of 106.45 is still the leading winning average in the event’s history!

Thirty Darts Years Ago

Meanwhile, away from Dublin, Roland Scholten began to win titles consistently. The Dutchman had claimed a World Cup singles crown a few years before. But, by the summer of 1996, well remembered by England fans everywhere, ‘The Tripod’ was claiming the British, North Holland and Swedish Opens before starting to claim PDC titles the following year.

Back in 2018 Dartsworld magazine was acknowledging Gerwyn Price’s picking up his first European Tour crown in our 550th issue!