Jack McKenna
Encyclopedia
John "Jack" McKenna is a professional Irish
darts
player.
McKenna reached the quarter finals of the inaugural Winmau World Masters in 1974. In 1989, he reached the final of the WDF World Cup
, losing to Eric Bristow
.
It was at the 1990 BDO World Darts Championship
where McKenna become notorious within the game, as the man on the receiving end of the first nine dart finish
at the World Championship, achieved by Paul Lim
of the United States
. McKenna had earlier beaten Peter Evison
in the first round before losing to Lim in the second round. It was McKenna's only World Championship appearance to date.
McKenna returned to television in the 2002 PDC World Grand Prix
, beating Cliff Lazarenko
in the first round before losing to Phil Taylor. He returned to the event in 2004
, but lost in the first round to Dennis Priestley
.
McKenna is still active on the darts circuit. He tried to qualify for the 2008 BDO World Darts Championship
but lost in the very first round.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
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.
McKenna reached the quarter finals of the inaugural Winmau World Masters in 1974. In 1989, he reached the final of the WDF 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...
, losing 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 :...
.
It was at the 1990 BDO World Darts Championship
1990 BDO World Darts Championship
The 1990 Embassy World Darts Championship was held at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey from 5–13 January 1990. It saw Phil Taylor win the first of fifteen world titles, beating his mentor Eric Bristow 6-1 in sets. Taylor beat Russell Stewart, Dennis Hickling, Ronnie Sharp...
where McKenna become notorious within the game, as the man on the receiving end of the first nine dart finish
Nine dart finish
A nine-dart finish is the ultimate checkout in the game of darts, constituting a perfect game. It is notoriously difficult to achieve, even by the game's top professionals...
at the World Championship, achieved by 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...
of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. McKenna had earlier beaten Peter Evison
Peter Evison
Peter Evison is a darts player who has enjoyed a long career in the game. His greatest achievements were to win the 1989 Winmau World Masters and the 1996 World Matchplay. He has also come close to winning the World Championship on a number of occasions.Before appearing in a major tournament...
in the first round before losing to Lim in the second round. It was McKenna's only World Championship appearance to date.
McKenna returned to television in the 2002 PDC World Grand Prix
2002 World Grand Prix Darts
-Results:...
, beating Cliff Lazarenko
Cliff Lazarenko
Cliff Lazarenko is an English professional darts player who competed for the British Darts Organisation and the Professional Darts Corporation...
in the first round before losing to Phil Taylor. He returned to the event in 2004
2004 World Grand Prix Darts
-Results:...
, but lost in the first round to Dennis Priestley
Dennis Priestley
Dennis Priestley is an English professional darts player. He has won two world championships, and was the first player to win both the BDO and WDC world championships, in 1991 and 1994 respectively...
.
McKenna is still active on the darts circuit. He tried to qualify for the 2008 BDO World Darts Championship
2008 BDO World Darts Championship
*Michael Rosenauer was originally drawn to face Mark Webster, but chose to withdraw from the event to compete in the 2008 PDC World Championship. Jones had won the standby play-off at Bridlington prior to the World Masters-Statistics:- Women's Championship :...
but lost in the very first round.