Gary Mawson
Encyclopedia
Gary Mawson is a Canadian-born American darts player, who currently resides in North Royalton, Ohio
, United States
. He moved from Niagara Falls
to Ohio to further increase his chances of success on the growing American darts circuit. He uses the nickname The Mauler for his matches. Mawson's parents were born in England
and as a result, he holds dual Canadian and British citizenship. Despite living in the United States for many years, Mawson is yet to become a US citizen.
He first entered the Canadian National Darts Championship in 1992 and reached the last 16. When the World Darts Council
(now the Professional Darts Corporation - PDC) was first formed in 1994, players from the North American circuit were added to the 14 who broke away from the British Darts Organisation
to bring the number of players up to the total required for a tournament. Mawson was among those who were selected.
He appeared at each PDC World Matchplay between 1995 and 2000 and also the PDC World Darts Championship
between 1996 and 2000 - but the last 16 was his best performance. He did manage to reach the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Grand Prix
which remained his best performance in a PDC event until he made it to the quarter finals of the 2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic
.
As a result of his performances on the North American circuit including his Vegas quarter-final, he qualified for the inaugural Grand Slam of Darts
in 2007 and was back at the World Championships in 2008 for the first time since 2000.
2008 also saw Mawson defeat Raymond van Barneveld
in the US Open
. He eventually reached Last 16 of the tournament, losing to Ronnie Baxter
.
Mawson had a great run in the 2008 UK Open, reaching the Final where he was beaten by James Wade
. It was a tournament Mawson nearly did not play in, as he left his passport in an American airport and had only arrived in the country on the day the tournament began. He defeated Darren Johnson and Mark Frost
in the first two rounds, before beating Alex Roy
, Mark Lawrence
, Mark Dudbridge
and Wayne Jones
to reach the semi finals before upsetting reigning champion van Barneveld to reach his first major final. It was the second time that he had beaten van Barneveld in a matter of weeks.
During the tournament, Mawson became popular with British fans due to his resemblance to Liverpool
manager Rafael Benítez
. The resemblance caused chants such as 'Rafa give us a wave...' and 'Rafa Rafael, Rafa Rafael, Rafa Rafael, Rafael Benitez'. After the match, when asked in jest whether he should change his nickname to Rafa, he proclaimed that "Rafael Benitez is changing his name to Gary Mawson. The new manager of Liverpool is Gary Mawson".
Mawson played in the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts
, which he earned a place in by reaching the final of the 2008 UK Open but lost out in the group stages.
North Royalton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,647 people, 11,250 households, and 7,695 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,345.9 people per square mile . There were 11,754 housing units at an average density of 552.2 per square mile...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He moved from Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
to Ohio to further increase his chances of success on the growing American darts circuit. He uses the nickname The Mauler for his matches. Mawson's parents were born in 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...
and as a result, he holds dual Canadian and British citizenship. Despite living in the United States for many years, Mawson is yet to become a US citizen.
He first entered the Canadian National Darts Championship in 1992 and reached the last 16. When the World Darts Council
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...
(now the Professional Darts Corporation - PDC) was first formed in 1994, players from the North American circuit were added to the 14 who broke away from 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....
to bring the number of players up to the total required for a tournament. Mawson was among those who were selected.
He appeared at each PDC World Matchplay between 1995 and 2000 and also 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...
between 1996 and 2000 - but the last 16 was his best performance. He did manage to reach the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Grand Prix
1998 World Grand Prix Darts
The 1998 World Grand Prix was a darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation and held at the Casino Rooms in Rochester, Kent...
which remained his best performance in a PDC event until he made it to the quarter finals of the 2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic
2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic
The 2007 Las Vegas Desert Classic was the sixth time that the Professional Darts Corporation stage the prestigious darts tournament...
.
As a result of his performances on the North American circuit including his Vegas quarter-final, he qualified for the inaugural Grand Slam of Darts
Grand Slam of Darts
The Grand Slam of Darts is a darts tournament organised by the Professional Darts Corporation and is known as the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts for sponsorship purposes. The PDC also invites the best performing players from its rival the British Darts Organisation...
in 2007 and was back at the World Championships in 2008 for the first time since 2000.
2008 also saw Mawson defeat Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
in the US Open
2008 US Open Darts
The 2008 US Open is the second year of a darts tournament, organized by the Professional Darts Corporation . It was played at the Mohegan Sun Casino Resort, Connecticut, USA between May 16 and May 18, 2008.Phil Taylor successfully defended his title....
. He eventually reached Last 16 of the tournament, losing to Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
.
Mawson had a great run in the 2008 UK Open, reaching the Final where he was beaten by James Wade
James Wade
James Wade is an English professional darts player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation . He became the youngest player ever to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in July 2007...
. It was a tournament Mawson nearly did not play in, as he left his passport in an American airport and had only arrived in the country on the day the tournament began. He defeated Darren Johnson and Mark Frost
Mark Frost (darts player)
Mark Frost is an English darts player from Stoke-on-Trent. He plays in Professional Darts Corporation events and uses the nickname Frosty the Throw Man for his matches. He is not a professional and works as a scaffolder....
in the first two rounds, before beating Alex Roy
Alex Roy (darts player)
Alex Roy is a darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events. He uses the nickname Ace of Herts for this matches and is with Dave Holland Management....
, Mark Lawrence
Mark Lawrence (darts player)
Mark Lawrence is an English darts player, currently playing in Professional Darts Corporation events.Lawrence qualified for the 2007 PDC World Darts Championship, and lost in the first round to Terry Jenkins by 3 sets to 1....
, Mark Dudbridge
Mark Dudbridge
Mark Daniel Dudbridge is an English professional darts player.-Darts career:He started playing in his very early teens, citing Dennis Priestley as one of his heroes...
and Wayne Jones
Wayne Jones (darts player)
Wayne Alan Jones is an English darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation tournaments. He uses the nickname The Wanderer for his matches....
to reach the semi finals before upsetting reigning champion van Barneveld to reach his first major final. It was the second time that he had beaten van Barneveld in a matter of weeks.
During the tournament, Mawson became popular with British fans due to his resemblance to Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
manager Rafael Benítez
Rafael Benítez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes is a football manager, and former player. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager of Internazionale in December 2010....
. The resemblance caused chants such as 'Rafa give us a wave...' and 'Rafa Rafael, Rafa Rafael, Rafa Rafael, Rafael Benitez'. After the match, when asked in jest whether he should change his nickname to Rafa, he proclaimed that "Rafael Benitez is changing his name to Gary Mawson. The new manager of Liverpool is Gary Mawson".
Mawson played in the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts
2008 Grand Slam of Darts
The 2008 Grand Slam of Darts was the second staging of the darts tournament, the Grand Slam of Darts organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The event took place from 15–23 November 2008 at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall...
, which he earned a place in by reaching the final of the 2008 UK Open but lost out in the group stages.