Bob Anderson (darts player)
Encyclopedia
Robert Charles "Bob" Anderson (born 7 November 1947 in Winchester
, Hampshire
, England
) is a former world darts
champion. He was ranked
as world number one for over three years in the late 1980s. Nicknamed The Limestone Cowboy, he lives in Clevedon
in Somerset
.
, but broke his arm before the team left for Mexico, an injury which brought an end to his javelin-throwing career. He then turned his attention to football - playing to a moderately high standard for Lincoln United, Guildford, Woking and Farnborough Town. During this time, he had continued to play darts socially and decided to take up the game more seriously when his injury jinx struck again - this time a broken leg in 1970 ended his football career.
in 1988 and the Winmau World Masters
in 1986, 1987 and 1988 - the first man to win the Masters in three successive years (Martin Adams
has since emulated this feat by winning the 2008, 2009 and 2010 tournaments).Although Adams did so after the Split in darts
and against a much weaker field.He also had tremendous success during the 1980s - considered darts' most glorious televised era. Tournaments were regularly broadcast on BBC
and ITV
and Anderson was successful in several televised events.
However, just two years after his World title success, he underwent surgery to fix a back problem which threatened his darts career. He returned to the game professionally, but never managed to eclipse the success he enjoyed during the 1980s. Anderson was amongst the players who formed the Professional Darts Corporation
- an organisation (originally known as the WDC - World Darts Council) which separated from the existing governing body, the British Darts Organisation
in 1992/93. Anderson reached the final of the first ever WDC event, the Lada UK Classic - losing to Mike Gregory.
His world ranking
stayed sufficiently high to earn automatic qualification for most major PDC tournaments, and he went on to reach the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship
in 2004 and 2005.
Anderson was also the driving force behind the Bob Anderson Classic, a major darts tournament held every October. The tournament started in 2002 and ran until 2005.
In 2008, Anderson decided to take part in the BetFred League of Legends which was shown live on Setanta Sports
and play along with the likes of Eric Bristow
, Keith Deller
, John Lowe
and Dave Whitcombe
. However in doing so, he was forced to resign from the PDC to take part in the league. He does, however, remain a lifetime member of the PDPA, granted to him because he was a founder member of the WDC (now PDC). Anderson went on the capture the League of Legends title, beating Keith Deller
in the final.
- with a handicap of six, and trout fishing
. Anderson's sporting hero is golf legend Jack Nicklaus
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) is a former world darts
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
champion. He was ranked
Darts world rankings
Darts world rankings are a system which should determine a list of the best dart players in the world based on their performances in tournaments...
as world number one for over three years in the late 1980s. Nicknamed The Limestone Cowboy, he lives in Clevedon
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of North Somerset, which covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset, England...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
.
Before Darts
Anderson threw his first darts maximum (180) at the age of just five. However, he was renowned as a champion athlete during his teenage years. He was picked as a javelin thrower in the British Olympic team of 19681968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
, but broke his arm before the team left for Mexico, an injury which brought an end to his javelin-throwing career. He then turned his attention to football - playing to a moderately high standard for Lincoln United, Guildford, Woking and Farnborough Town. During this time, he had continued to play darts socially and decided to take up the game more seriously when his injury jinx struck again - this time a broken leg in 1970 ended his football career.
Darts Success
Anderson has had a long and successful darts career winning the World Professional ChampionshipWorld Professional Darts Championship
The World Professional Darts Championship is one of the most important tournaments in the darts calendar. Originally held as an annual event between 1978 and 1993, players then broke off into two separate organisations after a controversial split in the game...
in 1988 and the Winmau World Masters
Winmau World Masters
The Winmau World Masters is one of the longest running and most prestigious professional darts tournaments, which began in 1974 - even before the current World Professional Championship...
in 1986, 1987 and 1988 - the first man to win the Masters in three successive years (Martin Adams
Martin Adams
Martin Adams is an English international darts player. Nicknamed Wolfie or Mr BDO, he is BDO world ranked number one, three-time and reigning BDO World Champion and three-time World Masters champion...
has since emulated this feat by winning the 2008, 2009 and 2010 tournaments).Although Adams did so after the Split in darts
Split in darts
The split in darts refers to an acrimonious dispute between top professional darts players and the game's governing body which began in 1992 and resulted in the formation of a new organisation to arrange tournaments - including a second version of the World Professional Darts Championship...
and against a much weaker field.He also had tremendous success during the 1980s - considered darts' most glorious televised era. Tournaments were regularly broadcast on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
and Anderson was successful in several televised events.
However, just two years after his World title success, he underwent surgery to fix a back problem which threatened his darts career. He returned to the game professionally, but never managed to eclipse the success he enjoyed during the 1980s. Anderson was amongst the players who formed the Professional Darts Corporation
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation is a professional darts organization, established in the United Kingdom during 1992, when a group of leading professional players split from the British Darts Organisation to form what was initially called the World Darts Council...
- an organisation (originally known as the WDC - World Darts Council) which separated from the existing governing body, the British Darts Organisation
British Darts Organisation
The British Darts Organisation, or the BDO for short, is a darts organisation founded on 7 January 1973 by Olly Croft, OBE. The BDO is a founder member of the World Darts Federation which was formed in 1976....
in 1992/93. Anderson reached the final of the first ever WDC event, the Lada UK Classic - losing to Mike Gregory.
His world ranking
Darts world rankings
Darts world rankings are a system which should determine a list of the best dart players in the world based on their performances in tournaments...
stayed sufficiently high to earn automatic qualification for most major PDC tournaments, and he went on to reach the semi-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship
PDC World Darts Championship
The PDC World Darts Championship is a world championship competition for the sport of darts, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation . It was introduced following a dispute in 1994 with the British Darts Organisation, which has run its own world championship since 1978...
in 2004 and 2005.
Anderson was also the driving force behind the Bob Anderson Classic, a major darts tournament held every October. The tournament started in 2002 and ran until 2005.
In 2008, Anderson decided to take part in the BetFred League of Legends which was shown live on Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
and play along with the likes of Eric Bristow
Eric Bristow
Eric Bristow MBE is a British darts player, whose skill at the game in the 1980s helped turn it into a worldwide spectator sport.- Early career :...
, Keith Deller
Keith Deller
Keith Deller is an English darts player, who won the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship in 1983. He was the first qualifier ever to win the championship and remains one of the youngest champions in history...
, John Lowe
John Lowe
John Lowe is an English darts player who was one of the best-known men in darts during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the United Kingdom. Lowe is one of only five players to have won the World Championship 3 times.-Biography:Lowe won the World Championship title in three different decades -...
and Dave Whitcombe
Dave Whitcombe
Dave Whitcombe is an English professional darts player who won several major tournaments and reached two World Championship Finals. He had a long professional career between 1980 and 1992.-Biography:...
. However in doing so, he was forced to resign from the PDC to take part in the league. He does, however, remain a lifetime member of the PDPA, granted to him because he was a founder member of the WDC (now PDC). Anderson went on the capture the League of Legends title, beating Keith Deller
Keith Deller
Keith Deller is an English darts player, who won the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship in 1983. He was the first qualifier ever to win the championship and remains one of the youngest champions in history...
in the final.
Outside Darts
Bob married Sally Attwater on 8 April 2004 - he chose Bristow as his best man. Anderson has two children, Jennie and David. He lists his hobbies as golfGolf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
- with a handicap of six, and trout fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
. Anderson's sporting hero is golf legend Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus , nicknamed "The Golden Bear", is an American professional golfer. He won 18 career major championships on the PGA Tour over a span of 25 years and is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional golfers of all time. In addition to his 18 Majors, he was runner-up a...