Tony Payne
Encyclopedia
Tony Payne (b. 10 April 1958, Owensboro, Kentucky
) is an American
darts
player. He is also well known for publishing an article in the Bulls Eye News magazine famously titled "Thermonuclear Cricket". The article discusses Payne's strategies on how to play a better cricket game (quite possibly the best strategy). The article has been reprinted on numerous occasions in Bulls Eye News.
Payne played in seven BDO World Darts Championship
s, but only managed to win one match in 1991, where he defeated Chris Johns
, eventually losing in the second round to then World Champion Phil Taylor. All his other appearances saw him beaten in the first round where he lost to the likes of Eric Bristow
(1987), Cliff Lazarenko
(1988) and Bob Taylor
(1994). Despite his poor record at the world championship, Payne fared better in other BDO majors, reaching the final in the 1985 WDF World Cup Men's singles where he lost to Bristow and also reached the semi-finals of the 1985 Winmau World Masters
where he lost to Northern Ireland
's Ray Farrell
. One of Payne's most notable career landmarks was his defeat of the former English player Steve Brown for the championship title of the 1990 Lucky Lights Challenge of Champions.
In July 1994, Payne crossed the darting divide where he was one of eleven Americans invited to play in the PDC
World Matchplay. He lost in the first round to fellow American Paul Lim
. After that, Payne retired from darts, preferring to spend more time with his family. He became a born-again Christian
. However in 2003, Payne returned to the game and qualified for the Las Vegas Desert Classic
, the first American darts player to qualify on live television, where he lost his opening group game to Steve Beaton
but defeated Ronnie Baxter
8-1 which gave him a good chance of qualifying. However, Beaton went on to beat Baxter and win the group. Payne also played in the 2004 PDC World Darts Championship
but lost in the first round to Steve Maish
.
Owensboro, Kentucky
Owensboro is the fourth largest city by population in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It is the county seat of Daviess County. It is located on U.S. Route 60 about southeast of Evansville, Indiana, and is the principal city of the Owensboro, Kentucky, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city's...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 is also well known for publishing an article in the Bulls Eye News magazine famously titled "Thermonuclear Cricket". The article discusses Payne's strategies on how to play a better cricket game (quite possibly the best strategy). The article has been reprinted on numerous occasions in Bulls Eye News.
Payne played in seven BDO World Darts Championship
BDO 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...
s, but only managed to win one match in 1991, where he defeated Chris Johns
Chris Johns (darts player)
Chris Johns is a former Welsh darts player. He played county darts for Glamorgan and played in the BDO World Darts Championship on five occasions, but will be best remembered as a controversial figure in an acrimonious split in the game between 1992 and 1994....
, eventually losing in the second round to then World Champion Phil Taylor. All his other appearances saw him beaten in the first round where he lost to the likes of 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 :...
(1987), Cliff Lazarenko
Cliff Lazarenko
Cliff Lazarenko is an English professional darts player who competed for the British Darts Organisation and the Professional Darts Corporation...
(1988) and Bob Taylor
Bob Taylor (darts player)
Bob Taylor is a Scottish darts player who played in the British Darts Organisation.Taylor made eleven appearances in the BDO World Darts Championship, losing in the first round in seven of his first eight showings with his one win coming in 1994 against American Tony Payne before losing in the...
(1994). Despite his poor record at the world championship, Payne fared better in other BDO majors, reaching the final in the 1985 WDF World Cup Men's singles where he lost to Bristow and also reached the semi-finals of the 1985 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...
where he lost to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
's Ray Farrell
Ray Farrell
Ray Farrell is a Northern Irish darts who currently plays for the Professional Darts Corporation.Farrell reached the final of the 1985 Winmau World Masters, having beaten Bobby George, Jan Erik Paulsen, Steve Gittins and Tony Payne along the way before he was eventually beaten by Dave Whitcombe...
. One of Payne's most notable career landmarks was his defeat of the former English player Steve Brown for the championship title of the 1990 Lucky Lights Challenge of Champions.
In July 1994, Payne crossed the darting divide where he was one of eleven Americans invited to play in the PDC
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...
World Matchplay. He lost in the first round to fellow American 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...
. After that, Payne retired from darts, preferring to spend more time with his family. He became a born-again Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. However in 2003, Payne returned to the game and qualified for 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...
, the first American darts player to qualify on live television, where he lost his opening group game to Steve Beaton
Steve Beaton
Steve Beaton is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation...
but defeated 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...
8-1 which gave him a good chance of qualifying. However, Beaton went on to beat Baxter and win the group. Payne also played 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...
but lost in the first round to Steve Maish
Steve Maish
Steve Maish is a darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events. He uses the nickname Mr Magic for his matches....
.