John Walton (darts player)
Encyclopedia
John Michael Walton is an English
darts
player who is a former World Champion. He has adopted the nickname The Boy and uses the song Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex
as his walk-on theme.
on his first round debut.
He failed to qualify for the World Championship in 2000, but in the autumn of that year he won the prestigious Winmau World Masters
. Despite that success, he was 50/1 with the bookmakers to win the World title in the New Year, and his Masters form possibly led to him being tipped by darts pundit Bobby George
at the start of the BBC televised coverage as a possible winner.
He opened his 2001 campaign with a 3-1 first round win over Ritchie Davies
and averaged an excellent 100.62 during the match. He then beat Mervyn King 3-0 with another high average of 99.00. His quarter-final victory over Marko Pusa
saw Walton achieve an incredible 14 consecutive legs, which still stands as a record in either version of the World Championship. Not surprisingly, the result was a 5-0 whitewash.
Walton then beat Wayne Mardle
5-3 in the semi-final and Ted Hankey
6-2 in the final to become World Champion and also one of only a few players to have held both the Winmau World Masters
and World Championship simultaneously. He joined Eric Bristow
, Richie Burnett
and Bob Anderson
as the fourth player to win them in the same season. In 2010 Martin Adams
joined this elite group of players.
He has enjoyed only moderate success since his 2001 World Championship victory - the defence of his title ended with a second round loss to Colin Monk
and he went out in the second round to Davies in 2003. He did manage to reach the 2004 quarter-finals, but lost 1-5 to Raymond van Barneveld
. In 2005 he lost to Darryl Fitton
in the second round and he was knocked out by Stephen Roberts in 2006. Another second round defeat, this time to Gary Robson followed in 2007. He lost in the first round of the 2008 event, but this was unsurprising as his opponent was then-reigning Winmau World Masters
champion Robert Thornton
.
He hasn't won any of the major open events since his successful year in 2001 when he took the British Open, British Classic, Belgium Open, Scottish Open and Portland Open. Overall his tournament success has dried up since winning the world title, but he continues to maintain a high world ranking by progressing to the quarter-final and semi-final stages of several Open darts events.
Walton made history at the 2007 Winmau World Masters
in Bridlington
by hitting a televised nine dart finish
. It was the first time a player had hit a nine-darter in the televised stages in the 34 year history of the event (Chris Mason
achieved one in the preliminary round a few years previously), and was the first on BBC television since Paul Lim
's historic World Championship feat in 1990.
Walton's 2008 campaign was hampered by a shoulder injury but despite sliding down the world rankings, he entered the 2009 BDO World Championship
as the number 15 seed. He won through an emotional first round game against his friend Shaun Greatbatch
who was battling bone marrow cancer. He then caused a major shock by beating defending champion Mark Webster
4-0 in the second round. He then played Hankey in the quarter final, a repeat of the 2001 Embassy Final which Walton won. Hankey avenged the earlier loss with a 5-1 win, and went on to win the championship.
On 24 May 2009, Walton hit another 9 darter at the Antwerp Open in the final against Drik Beni. The 9 darter came in the third leg and he went on to win the game 4-0, only to go out the next round to Joey ten Berge
in the last 32.
Walton was unseeded for the 2011 World Championship
, but beat 16th seed Dave Prins
3-1 in the first round before being defeated by Martin Adams 4-3 in a sudden death leg. The match has already been touted as one of the best in the tournament's history.
In 2011 season, he retained the English Masters beating Ross Montgomery
in the final, good form in other events has led him to be 8th seed in the up coming 2011 World Masters in September.
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...
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...
player who is a former World Champion. He has adopted the nickname The Boy and uses the song Cotton Eye Joe by Rednex
Rednex
Rednex is a Swedish techno/folk/bluegrass band. They had an international novelty hit with the song "Cotton Eye Joe" in 1994. Although extremely popular in Germany, where the band holds the record of most total weeks at No.1 on the German singles chart over the past 30 years—scoring such hits as...
as his walk-on theme.
Darts career
Walton picked up some small tournament victories in the early stages of his career, including the Websters 150 Championship in 1993 and the Highlands Open Championship in 1996 but didn't manage to qualify for the World Championship until 1999 when he lost 0-3 to Roland ScholtenRoland Scholten
Roland Scholten is a Dutch professional darts player who plays for the Professional Darts Corporation and formerly for the British Darts Organisation. He is nicknamed Tripod or The Flying Dutchman and uses Hey Ya by Outkast as his walk-on. He is currently ranked 45th in the PDC...
on his first round debut.
He failed to qualify for the World Championship in 2000, but in the autumn of that year he won the prestigious 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...
. Despite that success, he was 50/1 with the bookmakers to win the World title in the New Year, and his Masters form possibly led to him being tipped by darts pundit Bobby George
Bobby George
Robert Francis George is an English darts player and presenter. He is widely recognised as one of the game's biggest personalities, known for his flamboyant entrances in which the "King of Darts" makes his way to the stage bedecked in jewellery, wearing a crown and cloak and holding a candelabra...
at the start of the BBC televised coverage as a possible winner.
He opened his 2001 campaign with a 3-1 first round win over Ritchie Davies
Ritchie Davies
Ritchie Davies is a Welsh former professional darts player from Aberdare. Davies is most well known for his run at the 2003 BDO World Darts Championship, where he reached the final.-Darts career:...
and averaged an excellent 100.62 during the match. He then beat Mervyn King 3-0 with another high average of 99.00. His quarter-final victory over Marko Pusa
Marko Pusa
Marko Pusa is a Finnish darts player.Pusa made his televised debut at the 1999 Winmau World Masters, reaching the semi-finals with wins over Andy Gudgeon, former World Champion Steve Beaton and Andy Jenkins before losing to Wayne Jones. In 2000, Pusa reached the final of the Finnish Open, losing...
saw Walton achieve an incredible 14 consecutive legs, which still stands as a record in either version of the World Championship. Not surprisingly, the result was a 5-0 whitewash.
Walton then beat Wayne Mardle
Wayne Mardle
Wayne Mardle is a darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation, and former player in the BDO. He now lives in Romford...
5-3 in the semi-final and Ted Hankey
Ted Hankey
Edward "Ted" Hankey is an English darts player who is a two-time BDO World Professional Darts Champion. His nickname is The Count and his walk on music is Be On Your Way by DJ Zany. Hankey built up a large following due to his obsession with and resemblance to Dracula...
6-2 in the final to become World Champion and also one of only a few players to have held both 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...
and World Championship simultaneously. He joined 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 :...
, Richie Burnett
Richie Burnett
Richie Burnett is a Welsh darts player who was the 1995 Embassy World Darts Champion and currently plays in Professional Darts Corporation events. His nickname is The Prince of Wales.-BDO career:...
and Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson (darts player)
Robert Charles "Bob" Anderson 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.-Before Darts:Anderson threw his first darts maximum at the age of just five...
as the fourth player to win them in the same season. In 2010 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...
joined this elite group of players.
He has enjoyed only moderate success since his 2001 World Championship victory - the defence of his title ended with a second round loss to Colin Monk
Colin Monk
Colin Monk is an English darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events and formerly played in British Darts Organisation events. He is turning full time professional in January 2010....
and he went out in the second round to Davies in 2003. He did manage to reach the 2004 quarter-finals, but lost 1-5 to 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 2005 he lost to Darryl Fitton
Darryl Fitton
Darryl Fitton is an English professional darts player currently playing in BDO events. He is nicknamed The Dazzler and comes to the stage dancing to the Madness song "One Step Beyond" wearing sunglasses. It is one of the most popular walk-ons with the audience...
in the second round and he was knocked out by Stephen Roberts in 2006. Another second round defeat, this time to Gary Robson followed in 2007. He lost in the first round of the 2008 event, but this was unsurprising as his opponent was then-reigning 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...
champion Robert Thornton
Robert Thornton (darts player)
Robert Thornton is a Scottish darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events after his switch from the BDO in May 2008. He won the prestigious Winmau World Masters in November 2007.-BDO career:...
.
He hasn't won any of the major open events since his successful year in 2001 when he took the British Open, British Classic, Belgium Open, Scottish Open and Portland Open. Overall his tournament success has dried up since winning the world title, but he continues to maintain a high world ranking by progressing to the quarter-final and semi-final stages of several Open darts events.
Walton made history at the 2007 Winmau World Masters
2007 Winmau World Masters
The 2007 Winmau World Masters was a darts tournament being staged by the British Darts Organisation at Leisure World in Bridlington between November 16 and November 18, 2007. It also featured a qualifying event for the 2008 Lakeside World Professional Championship.History was made by John Walton...
in Bridlington
Bridlington
Bridlington is a seaside resort, minor sea fishing port and civil parish on the Holderness Coast of the North Sea, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a static population of over 33,000, which rises considerably during the tourist season...
by hitting a televised nine dart finish
Nine dart finish
A nine-dart finish is the ultimate checkout in the game of darts, constituting a perfect game. It is notoriously difficult to achieve, even by the game's top professionals...
. It was the first time a player had hit a nine-darter in the televised stages in the 34 year history of the event (Chris Mason
Chris Mason (darts player)
Christopher John Mason is an English darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. He uses the nickname Mace the Ace for his matches.- BDO and first PDC spell :...
achieved one in the preliminary round a few years previously), and was the first on BBC television since Paul Lim
Paul Lim
Paul Lim Leong Hwa known simply as Paul Lim is a professional darts player who will be best remembered for being the first player to hit a perfect nine-dart finish during the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship in 1990...
's historic World Championship feat in 1990.
Walton's 2008 campaign was hampered by a shoulder injury but despite sliding down the world rankings, he entered the 2009 BDO World Championship
2009 BDO World Darts Championship
The 2009 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship was the 32nd World Championship organised by the British Darts Organisation. Mark Webster was the defending men's champion having won the title for the first time in last year's final against Simon Whitlock, but he was eliminated convincingly...
as the number 15 seed. He won through an emotional first round game against his friend Shaun Greatbatch
Shaun Greatbatch
Shaun Greatbatch is an English darts player. He lives in Suffolk and works in the construction industry. His nickname is 9 Dart, having been the first player to hit a perfect nine dart finish on live television, in the final of the 2002 Dutch Open against Steve Coote.-Darts career:Shaun's family...
who was battling bone marrow cancer. He then caused a major shock by beating defending champion Mark Webster
Mark Webster (darts player)
Mark Webster is a left-handed Welsh darts player who lives in Denbigh. Known as Webby, he plays in Professional Darts Corporation events, having previously won the 2008 BDO World Championship. Mark became a full time professional in 2009, having previously been a fully qualified Gas registered...
4-0 in the second round. He then played Hankey in the quarter final, a repeat of the 2001 Embassy Final which Walton won. Hankey avenged the earlier loss with a 5-1 win, and went on to win the championship.
On 24 May 2009, Walton hit another 9 darter at the Antwerp Open in the final against Drik Beni. The 9 darter came in the third leg and he went on to win the game 4-0, only to go out the next round to Joey ten Berge
Joey ten Berge
Joey ten Berge is a Dutch darts player who plays in British Darts Organisation events.Joey won the 2001 WDF Europe Youth Cup beating Sweden's Markus Korhonen in the final. Six years later, he captured his first professional title by capturing the 2007 Austrian Open, defeating Hungary's Nándor...
in the last 32.
Walton was unseeded for the 2011 World Championship
2011 BDO World Darts Championship
The 2011 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship was the 34th World Championship organised by the British Darts Organisation, and the 26th staging at the Lakeside Country Club at Frimley Green...
, but beat 16th seed Dave Prins
Dave Prins
Dave Prins is an English darts player currently playing in British Darts Organisation events.Prins reached the last 16 of the 2009 Winmau World Masters, where he lost to Tony O'Shea in three straight sets....
3-1 in the first round before being defeated by Martin Adams 4-3 in a sudden death leg. The match has already been touted as one of the best in the tournament's history.
In 2011 season, he retained the English Masters beating Ross Montgomery
Ross Montgomery
Ross Montgomery is a Scottish darts player who plays for the British Darts Organisation. His nickname is The Boss.-Darts career:...
in the final, good form in other events has led him to be 8th seed in the up coming 2011 World Masters in September.
Trivia
- Walton was the first player to win either version of the World Professional Darts ChampionshipWorld Professional Darts ChampionshipThe 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...
wearing spectacles. Martin AdamsMartin AdamsMartin 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...
became the second in 2007 and Webster became the third in 2008
- Has played 170 times for Yorkshire and 51 times for England
World Championship Results
- 1999: 1st round (lost to Roland ScholtenRoland ScholtenRoland Scholten is a Dutch professional darts player who plays for the Professional Darts Corporation and formerly for the British Darts Organisation. He is nicknamed Tripod or The Flying Dutchman and uses Hey Ya by Outkast as his walk-on. He is currently ranked 45th in the PDC...
0-3) - 2001: Winner (beat Ted HankeyTed HankeyEdward "Ted" Hankey is an English darts player who is a two-time BDO World Professional Darts Champion. His nickname is The Count and his walk on music is Be On Your Way by DJ Zany. Hankey built up a large following due to his obsession with and resemblance to Dracula...
6-2) - 2002: 2nd round (lost to Colin MonkColin MonkColin Monk is an English darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events and formerly played in British Darts Organisation events. He is turning full time professional in January 2010....
2-3) - 2003: 2nd round (lost to Ritchie DaviesRitchie DaviesRitchie Davies is a Welsh former professional darts player from Aberdare. Davies is most well known for his run at the 2003 BDO World Darts Championship, where he reached the final.-Darts career:...
0-3) - 2004: Quarter final (lost to Raymond van BarneveldRaymond van BarneveldRaymond 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...
1-5) - 2005: 2nd round (lost to Darryl FittonDarryl FittonDarryl Fitton is an English professional darts player currently playing in BDO events. He is nicknamed The Dazzler and comes to the stage dancing to the Madness song "One Step Beyond" wearing sunglasses. It is one of the most popular walk-ons with the audience...
0-3) - 2006: 1st round (lost to Stephen RobertsStephen Roberts (darts player)Stephen Roberts is an English darts player.Roberts is a Wisbech Super League player and makes his living as a tarmac layer. He successfully qualified for the 2006 BDO World Darts Championship, winning one of six places available in the International Playoffs...
0-3) - 2007: 2nd round (lost to Gary Robson 3-4)
- 2008: 1st round (lost to Robert ThorntonRobert Thornton (darts player)Robert Thornton is a Scottish darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events after his switch from the BDO in May 2008. He won the prestigious Winmau World Masters in November 2007.-BDO career:...
0-3) - 2009: Quarter final (lost to Ted HankeyTed HankeyEdward "Ted" Hankey is an English darts player who is a two-time BDO World Professional Darts Champion. His nickname is The Count and his walk on music is Be On Your Way by DJ Zany. Hankey built up a large following due to his obsession with and resemblance to Dracula...
1-5) - 2010: 1st round (lost to Willy van de WielWilly van de WielWilly van de Wiel is a Dutch darts player who plays in British Darts Organisation events.Willy won the 2008 Norway Open, beating Dave Chisnall, Stephen Bunting and John Henderson before beating Paul Hanvidge in the final...
2-3) - 2011: 2nd round (lost to Martin AdamsMartin AdamsMartin 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...
3-4)
Winner (1)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 2001 | BDO World Darts Championship 2001 BDO World Darts Championship The 2001 Embassy World Professional Darts Championships were held from 6–14 January 2001 at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey. Ted Hankey the number 7 seed was the defending champion. He was the eventual runner-up, losing 6–2 in a one-sided final to John Walton.In 2001, the first... |
 Ted HankeyTed Hankey Edward "Ted" Hankey is an English darts player who is a two-time BDO World Professional Darts Champion. His nickname is The Count and his walk on music is Be On Your Way by DJ Zany. Hankey built up a large following due to his obsession with and resemblance to Dracula... |
6-2 |
Winner (1)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 2000 | 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... |
Mervyn King |
3-2 |