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Three Worlds of Darts: The Rise and Fall of BDO, PDC, and the World Masters

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Sunday, November 30th 2025 at 8:27 GMT by Sporting News
      Locale: England, UNITED KINGDOM

“Then there were Three” – a History of Darts’ World‑Level Championships

The world of darts is often seen through the lens of its glittering tournaments, yet many fans are unaware that for most of the sport’s history there were actually three distinct “world‑championship” competitions. A recent Sporting News article titled “Then there were three: a story trio of worldwide darts championships” traces the rise, fall and transformation of these three events – the BDO World Darts Championship, the PDC World Professional Darts Championship (later renamed the PDC World Darts Championship) and the World Masters. By weaving together archival footage, key player milestones and the commercial forces that shaped the game, the piece offers a comprehensive look at how the sport evolved from pub‑league pastime to televised spectacle.

The BDO World Darts Championship – The First World Title

The first professional world title was awarded by the British Darts Organisation (BDO) in 1978, a year after the BDO’s inaugural British Open. Held at the iconic Circus Tavern in Purfleet, the championship was broadcast on the BBC, helping to elevate darts from a bar‑room pastime to a national sport. The early years of the BDO championship were characterised by a traditional format – straight‑leg tournaments that culminated in a 501‑match final.

A defining moment in BDO history was the 1981 championship where Eric Bristow, the then‑young “Golden Boy” of darts, won his first world title. Bristow’s charismatic personality and consistent play helped popularise the sport, and he would go on to become a dominant force with six BDO world titles in total.

The BDO championship grew in stature throughout the 1980s and 1990s, attracting sponsorships from companies like John Player and later PDC. However, the organisation’s rigid structure and reluctance to adapt to changing media landscapes would later become a source of tension, especially as the sport’s most talented players began to feel constrained by limited television exposure and low prize funds.

The Split and the PDC World Professional Darts Championship

By the early 1990s, several top players – including Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley and John Wayne – grew frustrated with the BDO’s control over television rights and prize money. In 1993 they formed the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), a breakaway body that sought greater control over broadcasting and sponsorship. The PDC’s first world title, contested in 1994, was called the World Professional Darts Championship.

The PDC initially staged its championship at the same Circus Tavern as the BDO, but the format and branding were noticeably different. The tournament was presented as a high‑stakes event, with the winner receiving a significant prize fund and the trophy being a silver globe emblazoned with the PDC logo. Notable early champions included Phil Taylor, who took the inaugural title in 1994, and Dennis Priestley, who won back‑to‑back titles in 1995 and 1996.

In 2002, reflecting its growing prominence, the PDC renamed the tournament the PDC World Darts Championship. The event moved to the Alexandra Palace in London, a venue that would become the flagship home for PDC’s televised tournaments. Over the next decade the PDC world title attracted world‑class players such as Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, and the prize money grew dramatically – from a modest £10,000 in 1994 to over £500,000 in the 2010s.

The World Masters – The Long‑Running Knockout Tradition

While the BDO and PDC were carving out their own identities, the BDO also continued to run the World Masters. The Masters was the sport’s oldest major event, having been inaugurated in 1974 as the World Professional Darts Championship before it was absorbed into the BDO’s structure. Unlike the set‑based formats of the other championships, the Masters featured a straight‑leg knockout tournament that allowed 32 players to compete in the final stages. The tournament was played at the Lakeside Country Club – a venue that became synonymous with darts prestige.

The World Masters was famous for its “straight‑up” prize money for all 32 participants, a rule that helped maintain competitive integrity. The tournament also offered a larger pool of participants than the world championships, providing a platform for emerging talents from outside the top tier. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the World Masters was a staple of the BDO’s calendar, drawing players such as Tony O'Shea, John O’Mara, and later, Robert Ashby.

Despite its prestige, the World Masters faced financial pressure as the BDO’s fortunes dwindled. By 2016, the BDO announced that it would no longer host the World Masters, and the tournament was subsequently revived by the World Darts Federation (WDF) – an international governing body that had previously functioned as a separate entity.

Decline of the BDO and the Rise of the WDF

The BDO’s financial difficulties, compounded by a lack of lucrative sponsorships and reduced television deals, culminated in the organisation’s collapse in 2020. The demise of the BDO left a void for players who had been loyal to the body, prompting the World Darts Federation to step in. In 2021 the WDF launched a new World Championship, essentially filling the gap left by the BDO. The WDF Championship follows a similar format to the old BDO event, but with updated prize money and broader international representation.

The PDC has continued to thrive, thanks to robust television deals – particularly with Sky Sports – and a global touring schedule that includes tournaments in the United States, Asia and Australia. The PDC’s emphasis on spectacle, including player introductions, themed nights and high‑profile sponsorships, has helped it secure a larger share of the darts fan base.

Format, Prize Money, and Cultural Impact

One of the most striking contrasts between the championships lies in their formats. The PDC uses a sets‑based format (e.g., best of 11 sets in the final), which tests consistency over multiple legs. The BDO and WDF’s earlier championships, in contrast, used a straight‑leg format, allowing players to recover from a bad start more easily.

Prize money has also become a defining feature of the sport’s evolution. In the 1980s, the BDO’s world champion might take home £5,000 – a modest sum by today’s standards. The PDC’s prize fund grew to more than £1 million in recent years, reflecting the sport’s growing commercial appeal. The WDF’s current World Championship offers a prize pool that sits between the two, providing a viable alternative for players who choose to stay outside the PDC circuit.

Culturally, darts has moved from a pub‑based pastime to a mainstream spectator sport. The BDO’s early championships laid the groundwork, while the PDC’s aggressive marketing, coupled with the WDF’s global expansion, has transformed the game into a sport that attracts millions of viewers worldwide. Players such as Eric Bristow, Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson have become household names, with their achievements celebrated in both the UK and internationally.

Looking Forward

While the “three story trio” of world championships – BDO World Championship, PDC World Professional (now PDC World) Championship, and World Masters – was once a robust triad, the landscape has shifted dramatically. The PDC has emerged as the dominant force, boasting the highest prize funds, broad media coverage and a deep talent pool. The WDF, in partnership with its member associations, provides a viable alternative for players who prefer a more traditional, community‑based approach to the game.

The Sporting News article underscores that darts has survived multiple organisational upheavals, and that its resilience has been underpinned by a deep‑rooted love for the sport that transcends any single governing body. While the BDO’s legacy continues in the annals of darts history, and the World Masters remains a nostalgic symbol of the game’s humble beginnings, the future will likely be shaped by the PDC’s continued innovation and the WDF’s expansion into new markets.

In sum, the story of darts’ world championships is one of competition, collaboration, and adaptation. From the early days at the Circus Tavern to the glitzy Alexandra Palace finals, from the gritty knockouts of the World Masters to the global reach of the PDC, the sport’s history demonstrates that the game is as much about evolution as it is about precision.