Tony O'Shea
Encyclopedia
Tony O'Shea is an English darts player
who competes in British Darts Organisation
events. He was born in Stockport
. His squat figure has resulted in the nickname Silverback. His walk-on music is "Hey Baby" by DJ Ötzi
. O'Shea has reached the finals of all four of the BDO's former Grand Slam of major darts tournaments, but to date has yet to win one.
, narrowly losing to former Masters champion Colin Monk
in the deciding leg of the deciding set. Two years thereafter he reached the semi-finals after a winning streak defeating Gary Anderson
, Gary Robson and Ted Hankey
before he eventually went out against Mervyn King 5–1. Later that year he had his best chance to date of winning a major title, as he led King 5–3 in the final of the Winmau World Masters before King recovered to win 6–5.
O'Shea managed to achieve a televised nine dart finish
against Adrian Lewis
during the 2007 International Darts League
on 9 May 2007 which made the tournament the first in darts history to witness two perfect games. The occasion was made even sweeter as he was celebrating his 46th birthday.
In the 2008 World Championship, O'Shea defeated Steve Farmer
in the first round, but was defeated by Winmau World Masters
champion Robert Thornton
in the second round.
O'Shea won the 2008 Welsh Masters, only his second tournament victory. In the 2009 BDO World Championship
, O'Shea defeated Anderson in the quarter finals, his best friend Darryl Fitton
in the semi final, but was once again second-best in a major final as he lost to Hankey 7–6 in what Tony Green
described as the best final since 1992.
O'Shea entered the 2009 Winmau World Masters
as the number one seed but despite 3–0 wins overs Dave Prins
and 8th seed Joey ten Berge
, he lost in the semi-finals to defending champion Martin Adams
who successfully retained his title. O'Shea then won the WDF World Cup men's singles title with victory over ten Berge in the final, in what was arguably his most significant win to date.
O'Shea entered the 2010 BDO World Championship
as the number one seed. He had a tough first round against World Masters
runner up Robbie Green
but came through it 3–2. He then saw off Stephen Bunting 4–0 to reach his 4th Quarter Final. He managed a 5–1 victory over Robert Wagner
in the Quarter finals and went on to meet Dave Chisnall
in the semi-final who had beaten Fitton in the first round, former Masters champion Tony West
in the second round, and defending champion Hankey in the quarter-final. O'Shea, despite taking the first two sets, was beaten 6–3 by Chisnall and saw his World Championship dream end for another year. Martin Adams
went on to defeat Chisnall in the final.
O'Shea won all three group games in the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts
, defeating Vincent van der Voort
5–1, James Wade
5–1 and Justin Pipe
5–4. He then lost 10–7 to Terry Jenkins
in the second round.
In contrast in 2010 where he was world number one, O'Shea came into the 2011 BDO World Darts Championship
as the number eight seed and suffered a shock first round loss to Ross Smith
.
In a recent interview, O'Shea expressed his interest in switching to the PDC.
His total prize money to date is £656,000. Second to Martin Adams on the BDO Circuit.
, he wears the club colours of blue and white onstage, drapes a club scarf round his neck before TV interviews and often ends such interviews with the fans' call "Blue Army".
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...
who competes in 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....
events. He was born in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
. His squat figure has resulted in the nickname Silverback. His walk-on music is "Hey Baby" by DJ Ötzi
DJ Ötzi
DJ Ötzi is the stage name of Gerhard Friedle , an Austrian entertainer and singer. Successful mainly in German-speaking countries, he is best known in the English-speaking world for his 2001 cover version of the Bruce Channel song "Hey Baby".-Biography:DJ Ötzi was born Gerhard Friedle in St...
. O'Shea has reached the finals of all four of the BDO's former Grand Slam of major darts tournaments, but to date has yet to win one.
Darts career
In 2002 he made his debut at the BDO World Darts ChampionshipBDO World Darts Championship
The BDO World Darts Championship is a world championship competition in darts, organised by the British Darts Organisation . It began in 1978, and was the only world championship tournament until 1994...
, narrowly losing to former Masters champion 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....
in the deciding leg of the deciding set. Two years thereafter he reached the semi-finals after a winning streak defeating Gary Anderson
Gary Anderson (darts player)
Gary Anderson is a Scottish professional darts player from Eyemouth, Scottish Borders, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation, and a former BDO and WDF world number one. His nickname is The Flying Scotsman...
, Gary Robson 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...
before he eventually went out against Mervyn King 5–1. Later that year he had his best chance to date of winning a major title, as he led King 5–3 in the final of the Winmau World Masters before King recovered to win 6–5.
O'Shea managed to achieve 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...
against 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...
during the 2007 International Darts League
2007 International Darts League
The 2007 Tropicana International Darts League is a darts tournament held at the Triavium in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The tournament is sponsored by Tropicana - a Dutch-based soft drink manufacturer. Raymond van Barneveld entered the tournament as three-times and defending champion.Darts history was...
on 9 May 2007 which made the tournament the first in darts history to witness two perfect games. The occasion was made even sweeter as he was celebrating his 46th birthday.
In the 2008 World Championship, O'Shea defeated Steve Farmer
Steve Farmer (darts player)
Steve Farmer is an English darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation.Farmer's first big run came in the 2006 Winmau World Masters, reaching the semi-finals with wins over Tony Eccles, Michael Rosenauer and John Walton before losing 6-0 in sets to Martin Adams. He then reached...
in the first round, but was defeated by 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:...
in the second round.
O'Shea won the 2008 Welsh Masters, only his second tournament victory. In 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...
, O'Shea defeated Anderson in the quarter finals, his best friend 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 semi final, but was once again second-best in a major final as he lost to Hankey 7–6 in what Tony Green
Tony Green
Tony Green is a darts commentator for the British Darts Organisation on the BBC. He is also a former referee and master of ceremonies and was also co-host of the hit darts quiz show Bullseye on ITV alongside Jim Bowen and the show revived in 2006 on Challenge with Dave Spikey.- Darts career :A...
described as the best final since 1992.
O'Shea entered the 2009 Winmau World Masters
2009 Winmau World Masters
The 2009 Winmau World Masters was the fourth major tournament on the BDO/WDF calendar for 2009. It took place from September 4-6 in the Bridlington Spa Royal Hall. It was shown on the BBC...
as the number one seed but despite 3–0 wins overs 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....
and 8th seed 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...
, he lost in the semi-finals to defending champion 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...
who successfully retained his title. O'Shea then won the WDF World Cup men's singles title with victory over ten Berge in the final, in what was arguably his most significant win to date.
O'Shea entered the 2010 BDO World Championship
2010 BDO World Darts Championship
The 2010 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championship was the 33rd World Championship organised by the British Darts Organisation, and the 25th staging at the Lakeside Country Club at Frimley Green. Ted Hankey was the defending men's champion having won the title for the second time in the...
as the number one seed. He had a tough first round against 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...
runner up Robbie Green
Robbie Green
Robbie Green is an English darts player who previously played in Professional Darts Corporation events and now plays in British Darts Organisation events. He is a former BDO world #1 and is currently ranked #3 on the BDO circuit, and 4th on the WDF circuit...
but came through it 3–2. He then saw off Stephen Bunting 4–0 to reach his 4th Quarter Final. He managed a 5–1 victory over Robert Wagner
Robert Wagner
Robert John Wagner is an American actor of stage, screen, and television.A veteran of many films in the 1950s and 1960s, Wagner gained prominence in three American television series that spanned three decades: It Takes a Thief , Switch , and Hart to Hart...
in the Quarter finals and went on to meet Dave Chisnall
Dave Chisnall
Dave Chisnall is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation events.- Personal Life :In September 2011 his girlfriend Michaela gave birth to his first daughter...
in the semi-final who had beaten Fitton in the first round, former Masters champion Tony West
Tony West
Anthony Shaun West is an English professional darts player who competes in British Darts Organisation tournaments.-Wins:...
in the second round, and defending champion Hankey in the quarter-final. O'Shea, despite taking the first two sets, was beaten 6–3 by Chisnall and saw his World Championship dream end for another year. 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...
went on to defeat Chisnall in the final.
O'Shea won all three group games in the 2010 Grand Slam of Darts
2010 Grand Slam of Darts
The 2010 Grand Slam of Darts was the fourth staging of the darts tournament, the Grand Slam of Darts organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The event took place from 13–21 November 2010 at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall. Television coverage of the tournament was covered by ITV Sport, with...
, defeating Vincent van der Voort
Vincent van der Voort
Vincent van der Voort is a professional darts player.-Playing style:Vincent is well known for his spasmodic style and machine-gun speed of play which has gained him a reputation in both the BDO and the PDC for being one of the more erratic throwers in the darting world...
5–1, 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...
5–1 and Justin Pipe
Justin Pipe
Justin Pipe is an English darts player currently playing in Professional Darts Corporation events.Pipe first emerged at the 2008 UK Open as a pub qualifier. He defeated Geoff Wylie and Lionel Sams before losing 3-9 to James Wade in the third round...
5–4. He then lost 10–7 to Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins is an English professional darts player who is nicknamed The Bull, having previously used the nickname "Tucker" for his matches...
in the second round.
In contrast in 2010 where he was world number one, O'Shea came into the 2011 BDO World Darts 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...
as the number eight seed and suffered a shock first round loss to Ross Smith
Ross Smith (darts player)
Ross Smith is an English darts player who plays in British Darts Organisation events.Smith began playing in Professional Darts Corporation events in 2005 and made his debut in the Vauxhall Spring Open, reaching the last 16. Smith then reached the final of the WDF Europe Youth Cup, losing to...
.
In a recent interview, O'Shea expressed his interest in switching to the PDC.
World Championship results
- 2002: First 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: Second round (lost to Colin Monk 2–3)
- 2004: Semi Final (lost to Mervyn King 1–5)
- 2005: First round (lost to Marko KanteleMarko KanteleMarko Kantele is a Finnish darts player.Kantele made his major debut in the 1997 Winmau World Masters, beating defending champion Colin Monk in the first round but lost in the second round to Mark Day. He returned to the Masters five years later, losing in the second round to Ted Hankey...
1–3) - 2006: 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...
3–5) - 2007: First 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...
0–3) - 2008: Second 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:...
2–4) - 2009: Runner Up (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...
7–6) - 2010: Semi Final (lost to Dave ChisnallDave ChisnallDave Chisnall is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation events.- Personal Life :In September 2011 his girlfriend Michaela gave birth to his first daughter...
6–3) - 2011: First round (lost to Ross SmithRoss Smith (darts player)Ross Smith is an English darts player who plays in British Darts Organisation events.Smith began playing in Professional Darts Corporation events in 2005 and made his debut in the Vauxhall Spring Open, reaching the last 16. Smith then reached the final of the WDF Europe Youth Cup, losing to...
1–3)
His total prize money to date is £656,000. Second to Martin Adams on the BDO Circuit.
Personal life
Tony is married to Gill and has two children. He also has five grandchildren. A lifelong fan of Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
, he wears the club colours of blue and white onstage, drapes a club scarf round his neck before TV interviews and often ends such interviews with the fans' call "Blue Army".