Simon Whatley
Encyclopedia
Simon Whatley is an English darts
player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation
. He began with a very good 2002 campaign, reaching the quarter-finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic
, beating Dennis Smith
in the last 16, losing to Lee Palfreyman. The same year he played in the Winmau World Masters
, a BDO
major, beating 1997 Masters champion Graham Hunt
in the first round, before losing to Ronnie Baxter
. He then joined the PDC full-time and played in the 2003 UK Open, reaching the last 32 stage by beating Barrie Bates
and losing to Shayne Burgess
who was runner-up to Phil Taylor. He also played in the 2003 World Matchplay, losing in the first round to Jamie Harvey
. He rounded off a good year by playing in the 2004 PDC World Darts Championship
, defeating Henry O'Neill, former World Champion Richie Burnett
and Lionel Sams
to reach the quarter-finals, losing to Wayne Mardle
. His follow-up year was disappointing, suffering an early exit at the 2004 UK Open, losing to Andy Keen in the second round, followed by a second first-round exit at the World Matchplay, losing to Alan Warriner
. He played at the 2005 PDC World Darts Championship
, but lost in the second round to Mark Holden. He then had a poor run of form which him fail to progress in the major tournaments and drop outside the top 100 as a result. However he hit back to form in the 2008 UK Open, reaching the last 16 of the tournament and climb up to 79 in the world rankings.
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 plays in 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...
. He began with a very good 2002 campaign, reaching the quarter-finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic
Las Vegas Desert Classic
The Las Vegas Desert Classic was a darts tournament, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation and was held each year in July from 2002 until 2010...
, beating Dennis Smith
Dennis Smith (darts player)
Dennis Smith is an English darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation events. He is a stalwart on the PDC circuit, having been playing on the circuit since 1994 but has yet to capture a major title to add to his collection of Open wins...
in the last 16, losing to Lee Palfreyman. The same year he played in 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...
, a BDO
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....
major, beating 1997 Masters champion Graham Hunt
Graham Hunt
Graham Hunt is an Australian darts player who won the 1997 Winmau World Masters.Hunt played in the 1997 BDO World Darts Championship, losing in the first round to Mervyn King. He then produced an amazing run just months later in the Winmau World Masters...
in the first round, before 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...
. He then joined the PDC full-time and played in the 2003 UK Open, reaching the last 32 stage by beating Barrie Bates
Barrie Bates
Barrie Bates is a darts player currently residing in Bedlinog, Mid-Glamorgan. He plays in the Professional Darts Corporation and is a regular on the circuit. His nickname is "Batesy"....
and losing to Shayne Burgess
Shayne Burgess
Shayne Burgess is an English darts player who is one of the few examples of players that has switched from the British Darts Organisation to the Professional Darts Corporation and back - he announced his intention to return to the BDO in early 2007, but remains a competitor in the PDC...
who was runner-up to Phil Taylor. He also played in the 2003 World Matchplay, losing in the first round to Jamie Harvey
Jamie Harvey
Jamie Harvey is a Scottish darts player who plays in the British Darts Organization . He currently resides in Barrhead. Harvey uses the nickname Bravedart for his matches - a play on the lead character from the film Braveheart...
. He rounded off a good year by playing in the 2004 PDC World Darts Championship
2004 PDC World Darts Championship
The 2004 Ladbrokes.com World Championship was the 10th anniversary of the PDC version of the World Darts Championship. An extra preliminary round was introduced bringing the total players at the televised stages to 48. Ladbrokes, who sponsored the event initially for one year in 2003, decided to...
, defeating Henry O'Neill, former World Champion 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 Lionel Sams
Lionel Sams
Lionel Jeffrey Sams is an English darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation tournaments. He uses the nickname The Lion for his matches....
to reach the quarter-finals, losing to 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...
. His follow-up year was disappointing, suffering an early exit at the 2004 UK Open, losing to Andy Keen in the second round, followed by a second first-round exit at the World Matchplay, losing to Alan Warriner
Alan Warriner-Little
Alan Warriner-Little is an English professional darts player. He currently lives in Crosby, Cumbria and plays with the nickname The Iceman...
. He played at the 2005 PDC World Darts Championship
2005 PDC World Darts Championship
The 2005 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, sponsored by Ladbrokes, was held at the Circus Tavern, Purfleet and started on Boxing Day, 2004...
, but lost in the second round to Mark Holden. He then had a poor run of form which him fail to progress in the major tournaments and drop outside the top 100 as a result. However he hit back to form in the 2008 UK Open, reaching the last 16 of the tournament and climb up to 79 in the world rankings.