Dave Lee (darts player)
Encyclopedia
Dave Lee is an English
former darts
player who played for the British Darts Organisation
.
Lee made his World Professional Darts Championship
debut in 1983
, defeating Canada
's Tony Holyoake
in the first round before losing in the second round to Eric Bristow
. After a first round exit in 1985
, Lee made it to the second round in 1986
and 1987
. Lee made a total of four appearances in the World Championship but never made it to the quarter finals. Lee also played in the Winmau World Masters
five times with his best run coming in 1983, reaching the semi finals with notable wins over then-current World Champion Keith Deller
and Bob Anderson
, eventually losing to Mike Gregory. He also reached the quarter finals in the 1984 World Masters, losing to Deller who managed to avenge his defeat to Lee 12 months previous.
Lee won two unranked tournaments in his career, winning the 1984 Double Diamond Masters, beating Bob Anderson in the final and the prestigious News of the World Championship
in 1985. He also a quarter finalist in numerous events such as the MFI World Matchplay in 1984 and 1985, the Butlins Grand Masters in 1985, the British Matchplay in 1986 and the Dry Blackthorn Cider Masters in 1987. He also reached the semi finals of the 1988 British Open.
Following a first round exit in the 1989 Winmau World Masters to Steve Gittins
, Lee failed to qualify for any of the major tournaments and faded from the darts scene completely following the split in darts
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former 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 played for 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....
.
Lee made his World Professional Darts 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...
debut in 1983
1983 BDO World Darts Championship
The final featured one of darts' most memorable moments, when Bristow was left on 121. Having hit single 17 and then treble 18, Bristow decided against hitting the bullseye. Instead he hit a single 18 to leave double 16, whilst Deller was on 138...
, defeating Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
's Tony Holyoake
Tony Holyoake
Tony Holyoake is a Canadian former darts player.Holyoake played in the 1983 BDO World Darts Championship, losing in the first round 2-1 to England's Dave Lee. Holyoake is also a former Canadian National Champion, winning the title in 1992.-External links:...
in the first round before losing in the second round to 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 :...
. After a first round exit in 1985
1985 BDO World Darts Championship
-External links:*...
, Lee made it to the second round in 1986
1986 BDO World Darts Championship
The 1986 Embassy World Darts Championship was held between 4–11 January 1986. For the first time, the tournament was held at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey, having been held at Jollees Cabaret Club in Stoke-on-Trent for the previous seven years...
and 1987
1987 BDO World Darts Championship
-The results:-References:...
. Lee made a total of four appearances in the World Championship but never made it to the quarter finals. Lee also played in 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...
five times with his best run coming in 1983, reaching the semi finals with notable wins over then-current World Champion Keith Deller
Keith Deller
Keith Deller is an English darts player, who won the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship in 1983. He was the first qualifier ever to win the championship and remains one of the youngest champions in history...
and Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson (darts player)
Robert Charles "Bob" Anderson is a former world darts champion. He was ranked as world number one for over three years in the late 1980s. Nicknamed The Limestone Cowboy, he lives in Clevedon in Somerset.-Before Darts:Anderson threw his first darts maximum at the age of just five...
, eventually losing to Mike Gregory. He also reached the quarter finals in the 1984 World Masters, losing to Deller who managed to avenge his defeat to Lee 12 months previous.
Lee won two unranked tournaments in his career, winning the 1984 Double Diamond Masters, beating Bob Anderson in the final and the prestigious News of the World Championship
News of the World Championship
The News of the World Championship was the premium snooker tournament of the 1950s and widely considered as being more important than the world championship due to the involvement of Joe Davis.-History:...
in 1985. He also a quarter finalist in numerous events such as the MFI World Matchplay in 1984 and 1985, the Butlins Grand Masters in 1985, the British Matchplay in 1986 and the Dry Blackthorn Cider Masters in 1987. He also reached the semi finals of the 1988 British Open.
Following a first round exit in the 1989 Winmau World Masters to Steve Gittins
Steve Gittins
Steve Gittins is a former darts player from England.Gittins played twice at the BDO World Darts Championship. In 1989, he beat Finland's Kexi Heinäharju in the first round but lost in the second round to five-time World Champion Eric Bristow...
, Lee failed to qualify for any of the major tournaments and faded from the darts scene completely following the split in darts
Split in darts
The split in darts refers to an acrimonious dispute between top professional darts players and the game's governing body which began in 1992 and resulted in the formation of a new organisation to arrange tournaments - including a second version of the World Professional Darts Championship...
.