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John Lowe (darts player)

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John Lowe
MBE
Lowe in 2009
Personal information
Nickname"Old Stoneface"
Born (1945-07-21) 21 July 1945 (age 79)
New Tupton, Derbyshire, England
Home townChesterfield, Derbyshire, England
Darts information
Playing darts since1966
Darts21g Unicorn John Lowe Phase 3 Gold 90%
LateralityRight-handed
Walk-on music"Here I Go Again" by Whitesnake
Organisation (see split in darts)
BDO1976–1993
PDC1993–2007 (founding member)
WDF major events – best performances
World Ch'shipWinner (3) 1979, 1987, 1993
World MastersWinner (2) 1976, 1980
PDC premier events – best performances
World Ch'shipSemi-Final: 1995, 1996
World MatchplaySemi-Final: 1995, 2002
World Grand PrixSemi-Final: 2001
UK OpenLast 16: 2005
WSDT major events – best performances
World Ch'shipLast 16: 2022
World MatchplayLast 16: 2022
World MastersLast 16: 2022
Other tournament wins
News of the World 1981
Butlins Grand Masters 1977
MFI World Matchplay 1984
British Matchplay 1978, 1985
Australian Grand Masters 1985
Autumn Gold Cider Masters 1987
BDO British Classic 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987
BDO Gold Cup 1978, 1979, 1982
British Open 1977, 1988
British Pentathlon 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987
Canadian Open 1979, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989
Denmark Open 1978, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1987
Dry Blackthorn Cider Masters 1983, 1986
Finnish Open 1992
French Open 1986
MFI World Pairs 1986
North American Open 1985, 1987
Welsh Open 1982
Other achievements
1984 – First televised nine-dart finish
1986 to 1993 – WDF England Captain (unbeaten)
Medal record
Men's Darts
Representing  England
WDF World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1977 London Men's pairs
Gold medal – first place 1979 Las Vegas Men's pairs
Gold medal – first place 1979 Las Vegas Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1979 Las Vegas Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1981 Nelson Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1981 Nelson Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1981 Nelson Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1983 Edinburgh Men's pairs
Gold medal – first place 1983 Edinburgh Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1983 Edinburgh Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1985 Brisbane Men's pairs
Gold medal – first place 1985 Brisbane Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1987 Copenhagen Men's pairs
Gold medal – first place 1987 Copenhagen Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1987 Copenhagen Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1989 Toronto Men's pairs
Gold medal – first place 1989 Toronto Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1991 Zandvoort Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1991 Zandvoort Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1991 Zandvoort Men's overall
Silver medal – second place 1977 London Men's team
Silver medal – second place 1977 London Men's overall
Bronze medal – third place 1983 Edinburgh Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1985 Brisbane Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1989 Toronto Men's team
WDF Europe Cup
Gold medal – first place 1978 Copenhagen Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1978 Copenhagen Men's pairs
Gold medal – first place 1978 Copenhagen Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1980 Ebbw Vale Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1980 Ebbw Vale Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1984 The Hague Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1984 The Hague Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1984 The Hague Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1986 Turku Men's singles
Gold medal – first place 1986 Turku Men's pairs
Gold medal – first place 1986 Turku Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1986 Turku Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1988 Yarmouth Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1990 Paola Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1990 Paola Men's overall
Gold medal – first place 1992 Helsinki Men's team
Gold medal – first place 1992 Helsinki Men's overall
Silver medal – second place 1990 Paola Men's pairs
Silver medal – second place 1992 Helsinki Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1978 Copenhagen Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1980 Ebbw Vale Men's pairs
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Yarmouth Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1992 Helsinki Men's pairs
Updated on 19 October 2022.

John Lowe MBE (born 21 July 1945) is an English former professional darts player. Along with Eric Bristow and Jocky Wilson, he was known for dominating darts during the 1980s. Lowe was world champion on three occasions, in 1979, 1987 and 1993. He was also a two-time winner of the Winmau World Masters and a two-time World Cup singles champion. In total, Lowe won 15 BDO and WDF majors. He held the World No. 1 ranking on four occasions. In October 1984, he became the first player to hit a televised nine-dart finish.

Lowe is one of only six players to have won the World Championship three or more times, and was the first person to win it in three separate decades; along with Phil Taylor, he remains one of only two players to achieve this. Amidst growing dissatisfaction with the British Darts Organisation, Lowe was also one of 16 players who in 1993 broke away to form their own governing body, the World Darts Council (now known as the Professional Darts Corporation).

Career

[edit]

Lowe won the World Championship title in three different decades – 1979, 1987 and 1993.[1] He met Eric Bristow six times in the World Championship in various semi-finals and finals,[2] and it was not until his fourth attempt (in the 1987 final) that he managed to overcome his rival. His record against Bristow in majors was three wins and six defeats.[2]

Lowe achieved the first-ever televised nine-dart finish on 13 October 1984,[3] during the World Matchplay tournament against Keith Deller,[3] although it was not live and instead shown on a highlights programme on ITV. It was achieved via a rare third-visit combination of treble 17, treble 18 and double 18.[3] For the nine-dart finish, Lowe received £102,000,[3] he went on to win the tournament, for which he received £12,000, and earned an additional £1,000 for tournament's highest outshot (161).[3] This remained the highest amount of money earned by a darts player at a single tournament for almost two decades.[4]

In addition to his three world titles, Lowe has also won two World Masters titles,[1] two British Open titles,[1] two British Matchplay championships,[1] two World Cup Singles,[1] and three European Cup Singles Titles,[1] as well as other titles around the world in his career.[1] He played for England over 100 times and was WDF England Captain between 1986 and 1993, during which time England remained unbeaten.[3]

John Lowe v Bob Anderson at the Winmau World Masters 1985 Quarter Final

A composed performer, his demeanor was captured in his nickname Old Stoneface,[3] which was also the title of Lowe's autobiography published in 2005.[5]

Lowe enjoyed a impressive longevity at the sport. He played in the televised stages of the World Championship for a then-record 28 consecutive years,[1] from the inaugural championship in 1978 to his last appearance in 2005, where he was defeated by the Canadian John Verwey in a final-leg tiebreak.[6]

Lowe played at the Alexandra Palace in 1980 in front of 7,000 people in the News of the World Championship.[7]

Lowe also dominated the British Pentathlon event, winning it ten times, including six in a row from 1982 to 1987.[1] He stopped entering the event because the prizemoney had not changed in 12 years and cost players £100 to enter, plus expenses.[8]

Lowe was secretary of the World Professional Dart Players Association (later to become the Professional Dart Players Association (PDPA)), and, in 2005, he enjoyed a testimonial year in the sport to commemorate his 30th year as a professional. He attempted to qualify for the World Championship each year until 2008, but he fell short in the early qualifying rounds.[1] After this, he joined a short-lived venture, the Setanta Sports–televised BetFred League of Legends in 2008.[1]

Post-darts career

[edit]

In May 2009, Lowe released a book, The Art of Darts, in which he offered his personal insights into the game to both amateur and aspiring professional dart players.[9] In 2013, The Art of Darts was produced in app-form for the iPhone and iPad.

In 2014, Lowe was one of several celebrities to take part in ITV's new game show Amazing Greys, in which members of the public take on icons of British sport and entertainment.[10]

Personal life

[edit]

Lowe was born in New Tupton, Derbyshire. He is married to Karen and lives in Chesterfield. They both support Sunderland football club.[11]

World Championship results

[edit]

[1]

John Lowe at 1985 Masters

BDO

[edit]
  • 1978: Runner-up (lost to Leighton Rees 7–11 legs)
  • 1979: Winner (beat Leighton Rees 5–0 sets)
  • 1980: 2nd round (lost to Cliff Lazarenko 0–2)
  • 1981: Runner-up (lost to Eric Bristow 3–5)[2]
  • 1982: Runner-up (lost to Jocky Wilson 3–5)
  • 1983: Quarter-finals (lost to Keith Deller 3–4)
  • 1984: Semi-finals (lost to Eric Bristow 0–6)[2]
  • 1985: Runner-up (lost to Eric Bristow 2–6)[2]
  • 1986: Quarter-finals (lost to Bob Anderson 3–4)
  • 1987: Winner (beat Eric Bristow 6–4)[2]
  • 1988: Runner-up (lost to Bob Anderson 4–6)
  • 1989: Semi-finals (lost to Eric Bristow 1–5)[2]
  • 1990: 2nd round (lost to Ronnie Sharp 2–3)
  • 1991: 1st round (lost to Peter Evison 2–3)
  • 1992: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 4–5)
  • 1993: Winner (beat Alan Warriner 6–3)

PDC

[edit]

[1]

  • 1994: Group Stage (beat Tom Kirby 3–2 and lost to Larry Butler 2–3)
  • 1995: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 4–5)
  • 1996: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 1–5)
  • 1997: Last 24 group (lost to Jamie Harvey 2–3 and beat Paul Lim 3–1)
  • 1998: Last 24 group (lost to Peter Manley 0–3 and lost to Gary Mawson 0–3)
  • 1999: 2nd round (lost to Phil Taylor 1–3)
  • 2000: Quarter-finals (lost to Dennis Smith 3–5)
  • 2001: 2nd round (lost to Jamie Harvey 0–3)
  • 2002: 2nd round (lost to Peter Manley 5–6)
  • 2003: 2nd round (lost to Les Fitton 1–4)
  • 2004: 3rd round (lost to Alan Warriner 3–4)
  • 2005: 2nd round (lost to John Verwey 2–3)

WSDT

[edit]

[1]

  • 2022: 2nd round (lost to Dave Prins 0–3)

Career finals

[edit]

BDO major finals: 25 (9 titles, 16 runners-up)

[edit]

[1]

Legend
World Championship (3–5)
World Masters (2–3)
British Professional (0–4)
World Matchplay (1–1)
Grand Masters (1–2)
British Matchplay (2–1)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score[N 1]
Winner 1. 1976 Winmau World Masters (1) Wales Phil Obbard 3–0 (s)
Winner 2. 1977 Butlins Grand Masters (1) England Eric Bristow[2] 5–4 (s)[2]
Runner-up 1. 1978 World Darts Championship Wales Leighton Rees 7–11 (l)
Winner 3. 1978 British Matchplay (1) England Tony Brown 2–1 (s)
Runner-up 2. 1978 Butlins Grand Masters Wales Leighton Rees unknown
Winner 4. 1979 World Darts Championship (1) Wales Leighton Rees 5–0 (s)
Winner 5. 1980 Winmau World Masters (2) Scotland Rab Smith 2–0 (s)
Runner-up 3. 1981 World Darts Championship (2) England Eric Bristow[2] 3–5 (s)
Runner-up 4. 1981 Butlins Grand Masters (2) England Eric Bristow[2] unknown
Runner-up 5. 1981 British Professional Championship Scotland Jocky Wilson 5–6 (s)
Runner-up 6. 1981 Winmau World Masters England Eric Bristow[2] 1–2 (s)
Runner-up 7. 1982 World Darts Championship Scotland Jocky Wilson 3–5 (s)
Runner-up 8. 1982 British Professional Championship (2) England Eric Bristow 3–7 (s)
Winner 6. 1984 MFI World Matchplay (1) England Cliff Lazarenko 5–3 (s)
Runner-up 9. 1984 British Professional Championship (3) England Mike Gregory 5–7 (s)
Runner-up 10. 1985 World Darts Championship (4) England Eric Bristow[2] 2–6 (s)
Winner 7. 1985 British Matchplay (2) England Cliff Lazarenko 3–0 (s)
Runner-up 11. 1985 British Professional Championship (4) England Eric Bristow[2] 4–7 (s)
Winner 8. 1987 World Darts Championship (2) England Eric Bristow[2] 6–4 (s)
Runner-up 12. 1987 MFI World Matchplay England Bob Anderson 1–5 (s)
Runner-up 13. 1987 Winmau World Masters (2) England Bob Anderson 1–3 (s)
Runner-up 14. 1988 World Darts Championship (5) England Bob Anderson 4–6 (s)
Runner-up 15. 1988 British Matchplay England Bob Anderson 2–3 (s)
Runner-up 16. 1988 Winmau World Masters (3) England Bob Anderson 2–3 (s)
Winner 9. 1993 World Darts Championship (3) England Alan Warriner 6–3 (s)

WDF major finals: 6 (5 titles, 1 runner-up)

[edit]

[1]

Legend
World Cup (2–0)
Europe Cup (3–1)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score[N 1]
Winner 1. 1978 Europe Cup Singles (1) Scotland Jocky Wilson 4–1 (l)
Winner 2. 1981 World Cup Singles (1) Scotland Jocky Wilson 4–3 (l)
Winner 3. 1984 Europe Cup Singles (2) Wales Leighton Rees 4–0 (l)
Winner 4. 1986 Europe Cup Singles (3) England Cliff Lazarenko 4–2 (l)
Winner 5. 1991 World Cup Singles (2) Wales Martin Phillips 6–4 (l)
Runner-up 1. 1992 Europe Cup Singles England Phil Taylor 2–4 (l)

Independent major finals: 1 (1 title)

[edit]

[1]

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score[N 1]
Winner 1. 1981 News of the World Championship (1) England Mick Norris 2–0 (l)
  1. ^ a b c (l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets.

Performance timeline

[edit]

[1]

BDO majors performances
Tournament 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993
BDO World Championship NYF RU W 2R RU RU QF SF RU QF W RU SF 2R 1R SF W
Butlins Grand Masters NH W RU ??? RU ??? QF QF SF ??? Not held
British Professional Not held RU RU SF RU RU 1R 2R 1R Not held
British Matchplay QF QF W QF ??? QF SF SF QF W QF QF RU QF QF QF DNP
MFI World Matchplay Not held W 1R 1R RU QF Not held
Winmau World Masters W QF 3R QF W RU 3R SF 4R QF 3R RU RU 1R SF QF 3R DNP
News of the World ??? SF ??? SF W ??? Not held

[1]

PDC majors performances
Tournament 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
PDC World Championship RR SF SF RR RR 2R QF 2R 2R 2R 2R 2R
World Matchplay 1R SF 2R 1R 1R 1R QF 2R SF 1R 1R DNP
World Grand Prix Not yet founded QF DNP 1R SF 1R 1R DNP
UK Open Not held 3R 1R 6R

[1]

WDF majors performances
Tournament Event World Cup 1977 Euro Cup 1978 World Cup 1979 Euro Cup 1980 World Cup 1981 Euro Cup 1982 World Cup 1983 Euro Cup 1984 World Cup 1985 Euro Cup 1986 World Cup 1987 Euro Cup 1988 World Cup 1989 Euro Cup 1990 World Cup 1991 Euro Cup 1992
WDF World Cup & WDF Europe Cup Singles L16 W QF L32 W DNP SF W L16 W L32 L32 L32 L32 W RU
Pairs W W W L16 RU W W W W W QF W RU QF SF
Team RU SF W W W W W SF W W SF SF W W W
Overall RU W W W W W W W W W W W W W W

[1]

Performance Table Legend
W Won the tournament RU Runner-up SF Semifinalist QF Quarterfinalist #R
RR
L# 		Lost in # round
Round-robin
Last # stage 		DQ Disqualified
DNQ Did not qualify DNP Did not participate WD Withdrew NH Tournament not held NYF Not yet founded

Nine-dart finishes

[edit]
See also: Nine-dart finish

Lowe accomplished the first-ever televised nine-dart finish.

John Lowe televised nine-dart finishes
Date Opponent Tournament Method Prize
13 October 1984 England Keith Deller World Matchplay 3 x T20; 3 x T20; T17, T18, D18 £102,000[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "John Lowe Results and statistics database". dartsdatabase.co.uk. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "John Lowe V Eric Bristow Head To Head". Dartsdatabase.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Unicorn world champion ambassador John Lowe phase-3-25-gram-darts". deadeyedarts.com. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  4. ^ Chaplin, Patrick (2012). 180! : fascinating darts facts. Stroud. pp. 24–25. ISBN 9780752486116.
  5. ^ John Lowe (1989). "Old stoneface : my autobiography". archive.org. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Unicorn world champion ambassador John Lowe phase-3-25-gram-darts". dartsdatabase.co.uk. 16 July 2023. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  7. ^ Lowe, John [@jloweprodart] (27 December 2018). "Back to Ally Pally for the dart tonight, and for the guy who said I never played there, wrong, I played in the finals of the News of the World with 7,000 spectators present" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Lowe, John [@jloweprodart] (11 June 2020). "I stopped playing in the Pentathlon after 10 wins, I liked the event, but the prize money was the same after 12 years" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ The Art of Darts. ASIN 0340976462.
  10. ^ "– ITV". Archived from the original on 18 June 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  11. ^ "Legends of Darts". Legendsofdarts.com. 20 June 2014. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
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