The British Open was an iconic event in the game of darts’ evolution and still continues as a fully affiliated WDF ranking event to this day. The men’s event began in 1975 and women’s was commissioned only 4 years later.
Alan Evans, the Rhonda Legend, was the first winner on the men’s side with Judy Campbell kicking off the women’s list.
During the peak of darts first ‘golden age’ the British Open was televised on ITV and sponsored by furniture superstore MFI. A superb example of this period remains accessible on You Tube where you can see the dramatic highlights of John Lowe vs Eric Bristow in the final from 1985.
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The list of winners includes almost every major name to play BDO / WDF darts we can trace a direct line from Evans ‘The Arrow’ to Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler who claimed the crown in 2024.
The same is true on the Women’s side where you can go from Maureen Flowers to Beau Greaves via Lisa Ashton, Trina Gulliver and almost every iconic female player along the way. Only the Covid-19 year of 2020 is missing from both.
Men’s Winners British Open Darts Championship
from 1975
1975 – Alan Evans
1976 – Jack North
1977 – John Lowe
1978 – Eric Bristow
1979 – Tony Brown
1980 – Cliff Lazarenko
1981 – Eric Bristow
1982 – Jocky Wilson
1983 – Eric Bristow
1984 – Cliff Lazarenko
1985 – John Cosnett
1986 – Eric Bristow
1987 – Bob Anderson
1988 – Brian Cairns
1990 – Alan Warriner
1991 – Mike Gregory
1992 – Phil Gilman
1993 – Dennis Priestley
1994 – Martin Adams
1995 – Al Hedman
1996 – Roland Scholten
1997 – Kevin Painter
1998 – Colin Monk
1999 – Raymond van Barneveld
2000 – Mervyn King
2001 – John Walton
2002 – Tony Eccles
2003 – Darryl Fitton
2004 – Martin Adams
2005 – Brian Buur
2006 – Mick Reed
2007 – Gary Anderson
2008 – John Henderson
2009 – Dave Chisnall
2010 – Ted Hankey
2011 – Scott Waites
2012 – Martin Atkins
2013 – Garry Thompson
2014 – Scott Mitchell
2015 – Mark McGeeney
2016 – Cameron Menzies
2017 – Ross Montgomery
2018 – Richard Veenstra
2019 – Wesley Harms
2021 – Scott Marsh
2022 – Reece Colley
2023 – Luke Littler
2024 – Carl Wilkinson
2025 – Mitchell Lawrie
2026 – Graham Usher
Women’s British Open Darts Championship Winners
1979 – Judy Campbell
1980 – Linda Batten
1981 – Ann-Marie Davies
1982 – Maureen Flowers
1983 – Sandy Earnshaw
1984 – Ann-Marie Davies
1985 – Linda Batten
1986 – Gwen Sutton
1987 – Sharon Colclough
1988 – Jane Stubbs
1989 – Cathie McCulloch
1990 – Sharon Colclough
1991 – Pauline Dyer
1992 – Sandra Greatbatch
1993 – Sandra Greatbatch
1994 – Sandra Greatbatch
1995 – Francis Hoenselaar
1996 – Pauline Dyer
1997 – Francis Hoenselaar
1998 – Trina Gulliver
1999 – Trina Gulliver
2000 – Trina Gulliver
2001 – Trina Gulliver
2002 – Mieke de Boer
2003 – Francis Hoenselaar
2004 – Trina Gulliver
2005 – Clare Bywaters
2006 – Anastasia Dobromyslova
2007 – Anastasia Dobromyslova
2008 – Trina Gulliver
2009 – Deta Hedman
2010 – Trina Gulliver
2011 – Lorraine Farlam
2012 – Linda Ithurralde
2013 – Deta Hedman
2014 – Deta Hedman
2015 – Deta Hedman
2016 – Deta Hedman
2017 – Corrine Hammond
2018 – Lisa Ashton
2019 – Lisa Ashton
2021 – Fallon Sherrock
2022 – Lisa Ashton
2023 – Eve Watson
2024 – Beau Greaves
2025 – Paige Pauling
2026 – Natalie Gilbert
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The 2026 event featured Darts World contributor and ambassador Natalie Gilbert winning the women’s event and adding to her already impressive CV. Graham Usher confirmed that Darts is not only a new young player’s game as he broke the runs of teenage winners and claimed the title despite qualifying for seniors events.
Images: DartsWorld
