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Alan Evans (darts player)
Encyclopedia
David "Alan" Evans was a Welsh
professional
darts
player who competed in the 1970s and 1980s.
Evans was one of the early faces of television darts and had some tournament success in the 1970s. By the time the sport gained popularity in the 1980s, Evans form had faded and he wasn't in the limelight as much as Eric Bristow
, John Lowe
and Jocky Wilson
- who all found more fame and success from the game.
- the first event to be shown in the UK. He also won the 1975 British Open, which was the first televised event on the BBC. In 1973 and 1974, he reached the final of the darts event on Yorkshire Television
's Indoor League
.
He won the Winmau World Masters
in 1975 - which along with the News of the World, were the most prestigious titles in darts before the World Championship began in 1978. When the Darts World Cup
began in 1977, the Welsh team of Evans, Leighton Rees and David "Rocky" Jones won the Team Championship and Overall Championship.
Evans was a participant at the inaugural Embassy World Championship
. He defeated Alan Glazier
before losing to eventual champion, Leighton Rees
in the quarter-finals. At the 1979 World Championship
, Rees again defeated Evans - this time in the semi-finals.
Evans made five more appearances in the World Championship, each time losing to a legend of the game - twice to Bristow in 1986 and 1987, twice to Wilson in 1982 and 1988 and also to Lowe in 1983. With the exception of the 1987 semi-final, these appearances were early round exits.
On a tour of Scotland, it was reported that he finished on 3 bullseye's (150) 8 times.
in an exhibition match at the Gipsy Hill Stadium
(Crystal Palace
), in England. Under the handicap rules of the match, Evans would only score points for hitting trebles - Ali was able to hit the bullseye to win the match and proclaim himself the Darts Champion of the World.
Evans received a 12-month ban from the British Darts Organisation
in May 1979 following an incident after an international match whilst playing for the Welsh team.
Evans died in April 1999 at the age of 49. He is constantly mentioned in televised events by commentator Sid Waddell and usually refers to the "Alan Evans Shot" (three bulleyes) when a player requires a checkout of 150.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
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 who competed in the 1970s and 1980s.
Evans was one of the early faces of television darts and had some tournament success in the 1970s. By the time the sport gained popularity in the 1980s, Evans form had faded and he wasn't in the limelight as much as 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 :...
, John Lowe
John Lowe
John Lowe is an English darts player who was one of the best-known men in darts during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the United Kingdom. Lowe is one of only five players to have won the World Championship 3 times.-Biography:Lowe won the World Championship title in three different decades -...
and Jocky Wilson
Jocky Wilson
John Thomas Wilson known as "Jocky" Wilson, is a former Scottish darts champion. He retired from the game in 1995.Wilson was twice World professional Darts Champion in 1982 and 1989...
- who all found more fame and success from the game.
Darts career
Evans was one of the first players to appear on televised darts reaching the final of the 1972 News of the World ChampionshipNews of the World Darts Championship
The News of the World Individual Darts Championship was one of the first major organised darts competitions, which began in 1927. It became England's first national darts competition from 1947 until its demise in 1990...
- the first event to be shown in the UK. He also won the 1975 British Open, which was the first televised event on the BBC. In 1973 and 1974, he reached the final of the darts event on Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
's Indoor League
Indoor League
Indoor League was a television series broadcast in the United Kingdom by Yorkshire Television during the 1970s.It was hosted by England cricketer, Fred Trueman who often wore a cardigan whilst smoking a pipe throughout his links...
.
He won 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...
in 1975 - which along with the News of the World, were the most prestigious titles in darts before the World Championship began in 1978. When the Darts World Cup
WDF World Cup darts
The WDF World Cup is a darts tournament held biennially since 1977. The tournament consists of a team championship, a pairs championship and a singles championship. All events have a men's competition, a women's competition and a youth competition . The next World Cup will be held in 2013, in St...
began in 1977, the Welsh team of Evans, Leighton Rees and David "Rocky" Jones won the Team Championship and Overall Championship.
Evans was a participant at the inaugural Embassy World Championship
World Professional Darts Championship
The World Professional Darts Championship is one of the most important tournaments in the darts calendar. Originally held as an annual event between 1978 and 1993, players then broke off into two separate organisations after a controversial split in the game...
. He defeated Alan Glazier
Alan Glazier
Alan Glazier is a retired English darts player. He used the nickname "The Ton Machine" and was noted for his all-black outfits....
before losing to eventual champion, Leighton Rees
Leighton Rees
Leighton Thomas Rees was the first ever World Professional Darts Champion.-Early life:Rees was born in the village of Ynysybwl, where he was to spend most of his life...
in the quarter-finals. At the 1979 World Championship
1979 BDO World Darts Championship
The 1979 Embassy World Darts Championship was the second World Professional Championships. Having been held the previous year at the Heart of the Midlands Club in Nottingham, the event moved to Jollees Cabaret Club in Stoke-on-Trent where it was to remain until 1985.The tournament was held between...
, Rees again defeated Evans - this time in the semi-finals.
Evans made five more appearances in the World Championship, each time losing to a legend of the game - twice to Bristow in 1986 and 1987, twice to Wilson in 1982 and 1988 and also to Lowe in 1983. With the exception of the 1987 semi-final, these appearances were early round exits.
On a tour of Scotland, it was reported that he finished on 3 bullseye's (150) 8 times.
Outside Darts
In July 1977, Evans faced boxer Muhammad AliMuhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
in an exhibition match at the Gipsy Hill Stadium
Gipsy Hill
Gipsy Hill is an area of South London near Upper Norwood, it is considered to be part of Crystal Palace. This area of Gipsy Hill also includes the Central Hill estate...
(Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace, London
Crystal Palace is a residential area in south London, England named from the former local landmark, The Crystal Palace, which occupied the area from 1854 to 1936. The area is located approximately 8 miles south east of Charing Cross, and offers impressive views over the capital...
), in England. Under the handicap rules of the match, Evans would only score points for hitting trebles - Ali was able to hit the bullseye to win the match and proclaim himself the Darts Champion of the World.
Evans received a 12-month ban from the 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....
in May 1979 following an incident after an international match whilst playing for the Welsh team.
Evans died in April 1999 at the age of 49. He is constantly mentioned in televised events by commentator Sid Waddell and usually refers to the "Alan Evans Shot" (three bulleyes) when a player requires a checkout of 150.