Russell Stewart
Encyclopedia
Russell Stewart is an Australia
n darts
player. He uses the nickname Rusty for his matches.
in 1988.
He made his World Championship debut in 1984, but lost in the first round to Peter Locke
. He competed eleven times at the BDO World Championship, but failed to progress beyond the last sixteen. Between 1985 and 1991, he suffered defeats to some of the best players of the era including to Bob Anderson
in 1988 and Phil Taylor in 1990 during their world title runs.
After eight successive appearances in the world championships, he missed out in 1992 and 1993 but returned to the event in 1994 following the loss of many top players who left to form the World Darts Council
. He went out to Bobby George
in the first round in 1994 and to Richie Burnett
in the second round in 1995 - Burnett went on to take the title.
Stewart only managed to qualify for the World Championship on one further occasion - when he suffered a first round defeat to Mervyn King in 2002.
Stewart continued to compete in darts tournaments in his native country - adding more titles to his collection. He narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2006 PDC World Darts Championship
, losing in the final of the Oceanic Masters to Warren Parry
. and suffered a semi-final defeat to 15-year-old Mitchell Clegg
the following year. Stewart finally captured the Oceanic Masters in 2008 and earned qualification for the 2009 PDC World Darts Championship
. It was his PDC World Championship debut and only his second appearance in any version of the World Championship in 14 years. He was beaten 3-1 in the first round by Adrian Lewis
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n 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. He uses the nickname Rusty for his matches.
Playing career
Stewart was one of the most successful Australian darts players of the 80s, winning the Australian Masters five times in six years (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988) and the Australian Grand Masters three times (1987, 1988, 1989). His only major title won on UK soil was the Scottish Open in 1983, but he twice reached the semi-finals of the MFI World Matchplay and was also a quarter-finalist at the Winmau World MastersWinmau 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 1988.
He made his World Championship debut in 1984, but lost in the first round to Peter Locke
Peter Locke
Peter Locke is a retired Welsh professional darts player.Locke made his World Championship debut in the 1983 BDO World Darts Championship, losing in the first round to Terry O'Dea...
. He competed eleven times at the BDO World Championship, but failed to progress beyond the last sixteen. Between 1985 and 1991, he suffered defeats to some of the best players of the era including 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...
in 1988 and Phil Taylor in 1990 during their world title runs.
After eight successive appearances in the world championships, he missed out in 1992 and 1993 but returned to the event in 1994 following the loss of many top players who left to form 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...
. He went out to 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...
in the first round in 1994 and 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:...
in the second round in 1995 - Burnett went on to take the title.
Stewart only managed to qualify for the World Championship on one further occasion - when he suffered a first round defeat to Mervyn King in 2002.
Stewart continued to compete in darts tournaments in his native country - adding more titles to his collection. He narrowly missed out on qualification for the 2006 PDC World Darts Championship
2006 PDC World Darts Championship
The 2006 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship was held from 19 December 2005 to 2 January 2006 at the Circus Tavern. It was the 13th staging of the Professional Darts Corporation's version of the World Championship....
, losing in the final of the Oceanic Masters to Warren Parry
Warren Parry
Warren Parry is a New Zealand darts player. He is not a full-time professional and works as a slaughterman.Parry reached the final of the 1999 WDF World Cup Men's Singles event, beating Marko Kantele in the last 16, Andy Fordham in the quarter finals and fellow New Zealander Herbie Nathan in the...
. and suffered a semi-final defeat to 15-year-old Mitchell Clegg
Mitchell Clegg
Mitchell Clegg is an Australian darts player. He lives in Newcastle, New South Wales. Clegg won the Oceanic Masters title at the age of just 15 years, 345 days. This meant he was the youngest player ever to qualify for the PDC World Darts Championship...
the following year. Stewart finally captured the Oceanic Masters in 2008 and earned qualification for the 2009 PDC World Darts Championship
2009 PDC World Darts Championship
The 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship was the 16th World Championship organised by the Professional Darts Corporation since it separated from the British Darts Organisation....
. It was his PDC World Championship debut and only his second appearance in any version of the World Championship in 14 years. He was beaten 3-1 in the first round by Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation who is the reigning PDC World Darts Champion...
.
BDO
- 1984: First Round (lost to Peter LockePeter LockePeter Locke is a retired Welsh professional darts player.Locke made his World Championship debut in the 1983 BDO World Darts Championship, losing in the first round to Terry O'Dea...
0-2) - 1985: Second Round (lost to Jocky WilsonJocky WilsonJohn Thomas Wilson known as "Jocky" Wilson, is a former Scottish darts champion. He retired from the game in 1995.Wilson was twice World professional Darts Champion in 1982 and 1989...
1-3) - 1986: First Round (lost to Malcolm Davis 1-3)
- 1987: First Round (lost to Cliff LazarenkoCliff LazarenkoCliff Lazarenko is an English professional darts player who competed for the British Darts Organisation and the Professional Darts Corporation...
2-3) - 1988: Second Round (lost to Bob AndersonBob 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...
0-3) - 1989: Second Round (lost to Dennis Hickling 0-3)
- 1990: First Round (lost to Phil Taylor 1-3)
- 1991: Second Round (lost to Bob Anderson 2-3)
- 1994: First Round (lost to Bobby GeorgeBobby GeorgeRobert 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...
0-3) - 1995: Second Round (lost to Richie BurnettRichie BurnettRichie 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:...
1-3) - 2002: First Round (lost to Mervyn King 1-3)