Peter Evison
Encyclopedia
Peter Evison is a darts player who has enjoyed a long career in the game. His greatest achievements were to win the 1989 Winmau World Masters
and the 1996 World Matchplay
. He has also come close to winning the World Championship on a number of occasions.
Before appearing in a major tournament Evison was a contestant on Bullseye. He along with his teammate failed however to get to Bully's prize board. He later appeared on the show in 1992 a professional dart player scoring over 300 points in 9 darts in the "Points for Charity" round. Two years prior to this he appeared on the show for the first time after winning the 1989 masters, in which he scored 255 points.
Evison burst on the darts scene in 1986 with a surprise victory over John Lowe
in the British Professional Championship, a major televised tournament in that era.
He made his World Championship debut in 1988, and went on to reach the quarter-finals, before losing to Bob Anderson
. He returned to the same stage the following year, only to be defeated by Eric Bristow
. He avenged that defeat in the final of the prestigious Winmau World Masters later in 1989 to take the title. There was a dip in form between 1990 and 1992, when he won just one match in the World Championship - a first round win over Lowe in 1991.
Having failed to qualify for the 1993 World Championship, he followed the top players who left the British Darts Organisation
to form the WDC (now the Professional Darts Corporation
, PDC). He reached the semi-final of the inaugural 1994 PDC World Darts Championship
losing to eventual champion, Dennis Priestley
.
Rod Harrington
halted him in the semi-final of the 1995 PDC World Darts Championship. A quarter-final defeat followed in 1996, before he reached (and lost) his third semi-final in the 1997 PDC World Darts Championship
. There was a third-placed play-off in that year and he beat Eric Bristow to finish third. He also got to the quarter-finals of the 1998 PDC World Darts Championship
, losing to Harrington.
He failed to pass the first round of the 1999 World Championships, but reached the quarter-finals again in 2000 - losing this time to Peter Manley
. For the next four years Evison lost in the first round as his career began to fade. He managed one preliminary round win in 2005 at Purfleet, before being badly beaten in a grudge match against Andy Jenkins
. It was Evison's last appearance in the tournament.
His best performance in the PDC came in the 1996 World Matchplay
. He beat Phil Taylor 8-1 in the second round and beat Priestley 16-14 in the final to clinch the title. The defence of his title ended with a quarter-final loss to Richie Burnett
. He had further quarter-final appearances in 1999 and 2003, but he also suffered a humiliating 10-0 whitewash in the 2004 World Matchplay
to Ronnie Baxter
which was his last appearance in Blackpool.
He also reached the semi-final of the World Grand Prix in 2002 but lost 0-6 to Phil Taylor.
With his PDC world ranking
falling rapidly, he was forced to qualify for all the PDC darts tournaments, which he failed to do for the World Championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
In 2008, it was announced that Evison was one of eight players to take part in the BetFred League of Legends alongside the likes of Bristow, Bobby George
and Lowe. He would go on to reach the semi finals of the tournament. It was also announced that Evison had re-joined the BDO system, becoming one of only a handful of players to return to the BDO after switching to the rival PDC. Evison took part in the BDO International Open on 15 June 2008, receiving a bye into the second round before losing to Paul Hanvidge
3-2 in legs. He reached the last 16 of the Czech Open in November 2008.
In 2009 he reached the last 16 of both the Isle of Man Open and the Open Holland. He then reached the quarter finals of the Swiss Open, his best performance since returning to the BDO.
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 the 1996 World Matchplay
1996 World Matchplay Darts
The 1996 World Matchplay was a darts tournament held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. This was brewery Samuel Webster's second and final year as tournament sponsor...
. He has also come close to winning the World Championship on a number of occasions.
Before appearing in a major tournament Evison was a contestant on Bullseye. He along with his teammate failed however to get to Bully's prize board. He later appeared on the show in 1992 a professional dart player scoring over 300 points in 9 darts in the "Points for Charity" round. Two years prior to this he appeared on the show for the first time after winning the 1989 masters, in which he scored 255 points.
Evison burst on the darts scene in 1986 with a surprise victory over 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 -...
in the British Professional Championship, a major televised tournament in that era.
He made his World Championship debut in 1988, and went on to reach the quarter-finals, before losing to 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...
. He returned to the same stage the following year, only to be defeated by 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 :...
. He avenged that defeat in the final of the prestigious Winmau World Masters later in 1989 to take the title. There was a dip in form between 1990 and 1992, when he won just one match in the World Championship - a first round win over Lowe in 1991.
Having failed to qualify for the 1993 World Championship, he followed the top players who left 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 form the WDC (now 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...
, PDC). He reached the semi-final of the inaugural 1994 PDC World Darts Championship
1994 PDC World Darts Championship
The 1994 Skol World Darts Championships was held following 18 months of controversy within the sport of darts. After the 1993 Embassy World Championships, several players decided it was time to part company with the British Darts Organisation and form their own organisation. The new organisation...
losing to eventual champion, Dennis Priestley
Dennis Priestley
Dennis Priestley is an English professional darts player. He has won two world championships, and was the first player to win both the BDO and WDC world championships, in 1991 and 1994 respectively...
.
Rod Harrington
Rod Harrington
Rod Harrington is a former English darts player. He used the nickname The Prince of Style for his matches, often wearing a suit and waistcoast for his games...
halted him in the semi-final of the 1995 PDC World Darts Championship. A quarter-final defeat followed in 1996, before he reached (and lost) his third semi-final in the 1997 PDC World Darts Championship
1997 PDC World Darts Championship
-Third Place Match:Peter Evison beat Eric Bristow 4 - 2...
. There was a third-placed play-off in that year and he beat Eric Bristow to finish third. He also got to the quarter-finals of the 1998 PDC World Darts Championship
1998 PDC World Darts Championship
-Third Place Match: Rod Harrington beat Keith Deller 4-1...
, losing to Harrington.
He failed to pass the first round of the 1999 World Championships, but reached the quarter-finals again in 2000 - losing this time to Peter Manley
Peter Manley
Peter David Manley is an English professional darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. He is nicknamed One Dart as he is known for hitting doubles with his first dart...
. For the next four years Evison lost in the first round as his career began to fade. He managed one preliminary round win in 2005 at Purfleet, before being badly beaten in a grudge match against Andy Jenkins
Andy Jenkins
Andy Jenkins is an English darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events. Jenkins had trials for Southampton Football Club while at school.-BDO career:...
. It was Evison's last appearance in the tournament.
His best performance in the PDC came in the 1996 World Matchplay
1996 World Matchplay Darts
The 1996 World Matchplay was a darts tournament held in the Empress Ballroom at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. This was brewery Samuel Webster's second and final year as tournament sponsor...
. He beat Phil Taylor 8-1 in the second round and beat Priestley 16-14 in the final to clinch the title. The defence of his title ended with a quarter-final loss to 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:...
. He had further quarter-final appearances in 1999 and 2003, but he also suffered a humiliating 10-0 whitewash in the 2004 World Matchplay
2004 World Matchplay Darts
The 2004 Stan James World Matchplay Darts Championship was held between 25–31 July 2004 at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool.-Tournament Review - Day 1:Three games this evening as the World Matchplay got underway...
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...
which was his last appearance in Blackpool.
He also reached the semi-final of the World Grand Prix in 2002 but lost 0-6 to Phil Taylor.
With his PDC 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...
falling rapidly, he was forced to qualify for all the PDC darts tournaments, which he failed to do for the World Championship in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
In 2008, it was announced that Evison was one of eight players to take part in the BetFred League of Legends alongside the likes of Bristow, 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...
and Lowe. He would go on to reach the semi finals of the tournament. It was also announced that Evison had re-joined the BDO system, becoming one of only a handful of players to return to the BDO after switching to the rival PDC. Evison took part in the BDO International Open on 15 June 2008, receiving a bye into the second round before losing to Paul Hanvidge
Paul Hanvidge
Paul Albert Hanvidge is a Scottish darts player who lives in Barrhead, Glasgow. His best achievement is twice reaching the quarter finals of the Lakeside World Championship.-Darts career:...
3-2 in legs. He reached the last 16 of the Czech Open in November 2008.
In 2009 he reached the last 16 of both the Isle of Man Open and the Open Holland. He then reached the quarter finals of the Swiss Open, his best performance since returning to the BDO.