Kevin Kenny
Encyclopedia
Kevin Kenny is a former darts
player who played for England
and Merseyside
. Kenny received 12 caps for England
, winning 11 times, and 116 caps for Merseyside
, winning 92. He was also a two time semi-finalist at the BDO
World Darts Championships and a semi-finalist at the News of the World Darts Championship
in 1983. Kenny also won the 1990 Welsh Open.
Kenny is remembered for his quarter-final match against Jocky Wilson in the 1991 BDO World Darts Championship
. Jocky was a former World Champion, winning it in 1982 and 1989, and this was only Kenny's second appearance at the Lakeside. However, the match went to 3 sets all, 5 legs all, with Kenny winning the deciding leg. He also hit a 170 finish in that final set, to achieve the highest checkout of the tournament.
Kenny also could have played for Scotland
as his mother was born there, and with the home internationals only days away, his mind was on Scotland until he got the call from the English
squad.
After the big split in darts when the PDC
was formed, Kenny stayed with the BDO and went to Las Vegas
to represent England in the WDF World Cup in 1993. At the time, he was a full international anyway, but it was doubtful whether he would have taken his place in the four-man team (home internationals had a team of 12, whereas the world cup was squads of 4). Kenny represented England 12 times, winning 11 of those matches. He retired from competitive darts in 1995 aged just 34, the age when most players are just reaching their peak.
Other notable achievements was twice being on the winning team in the Champions Cup, a darts event which yearly finds the best pub darts team in the land. The fact that he and teams from Liverpool
won it twice was quite special due to the size of darts in the city at the time, compared to places with more darting pedigree like Lancashire
, Yorkshire
and London
. Secondly winning the county men's individual averages twice, a feat which at the time had only been equalled by five-time World Champion Eric Bristow
(who became great friends with Kenny and also represented Merseyside with him as well).
} England Record - Played 12 - Won 11
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 England
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...
and Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
. Kenny received 12 caps for England
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...
, winning 11 times, and 116 caps for Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
, winning 92. He was also a two time semi-finalist at the BDO
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....
World Darts Championships and a semi-finalist at the News of the World Darts Championship
News 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...
in 1983. Kenny also won the 1990 Welsh Open.
Kenny is remembered for his quarter-final match against Jocky Wilson in the 1991 BDO World Darts Championship
1991 BDO World Darts Championship
The 1991 Embassy World Darts Championship was held at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey from 4–12 January 1991. Phil Taylor was the reigning World Champion and started off well in the early rounds, before losing in the quarter-finals to Dennis Priestley who took the title.The...
. Jocky was a former World Champion, winning it in 1982 and 1989, and this was only Kenny's second appearance at the Lakeside. However, the match went to 3 sets all, 5 legs all, with Kenny winning the deciding leg. He also hit a 170 finish in that final set, to achieve the highest checkout of the tournament.
Kenny also could have played for Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
as his mother was born there, and with the home internationals only days away, his mind was on Scotland until he got the call from the English
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...
squad.
After the big split in darts when the PDC
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation is a professional darts organization, established in the United Kingdom during 1992, when a group of leading professional players split from the British Darts Organisation to form what was initially called the World Darts Council...
was formed, Kenny stayed with the BDO and went to Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
to represent England in the WDF World Cup in 1993. At the time, he was a full international anyway, but it was doubtful whether he would have taken his place in the four-man team (home internationals had a team of 12, whereas the world cup was squads of 4). Kenny represented England 12 times, winning 11 of those matches. He retired from competitive darts in 1995 aged just 34, the age when most players are just reaching their peak.
Other notable achievements was twice being on the winning team in the Champions Cup, a darts event which yearly finds the best pub darts team in the land. The fact that he and teams from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
won it twice was quite special due to the size of darts in the city at the time, compared to places with more darting pedigree like Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Secondly winning the county men's individual averages twice, a feat which at the time had only been equalled by five-time World Champion 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 :...
(who became great friends with Kenny and also represented Merseyside with him as well).
World Championship results
- 1987 BDO World Darts Championship1987 BDO World Darts Championship-The results:-References:...
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (93.90) 0-3
Dave LeeDave LeeDave Lee may refer to:* Dave Lee , British horn and Wagner tuba player associated with the Michael Nyman Band* Dave Lee , British DJ, producer, and remixer often better known as Joey Negro* Dave Lee...
(95.28)
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (93.90) 0-3
- 1991 BDO World Darts Championship1991 BDO World Darts ChampionshipThe 1991 Embassy World Darts Championship was held at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey from 4–12 January 1991. Phil Taylor was the reigning World Champion and started off well in the early rounds, before losing in the quarter-finals to Dennis Priestley who took the title.The...
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (88.65) 3-2
Albert AnsteyAlbert AnsteyAlbert Anstey is a former Canadian darts player.Anstey won the Canada National Championship in 1989, beating Bob Sinnaeve in the final. He also played in the Winmau World Masters the same year, losing in the first round to Alan Warriner. He played in the 1990 BDO World Darts Championship, losing in...
(83.46) - Second Round - Kevin Kenny (90.75) 3-1 Peter EvisonPeter EvisonPeter 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...
(85.65) - Quarter Final - Kevin Kenny (88.74) 4-3
Jocky WilsonJocky WilsonJohn 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...
(86.52) - Semi Final - Kevin Kenny (87.54) 2-5 Eric BristowEric BristowEric 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 :...
(94.98)
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (88.65) 3-2
- 1992 BDO World Darts Championship
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (85.02) 3-1 Jocky WilsonJocky WilsonJohn 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...
(80.73) - Second Round - Kevin Kenny (89.85) 3-2 Jamie HarveyJamie HarveyJamie Harvey is a Scottish darts player who plays in the British Darts Organization . He currently resides in Barrhead. Harvey uses the nickname Bravedart for his matches - a play on the lead character from the film Braveheart...
(88.95) - Quarter Final - Kevin Kenny (89.82) 4-0 Alan Warriner (88.81)
- Semi Final - Kevin Kenny (86.28) 3-5 Mike GregoryMike GregoryMichael Keith "Mike" Gregory , was a rugby league player and later coach; the former head coach of Wigan and player for Warrington and Great Britain.-Playing career:...
(90.78)
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (85.02) 3-1
- 1993 BDO World Darts Championship1993 BDO World Darts Championship-References:...
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (82.95) 1-3 Kevin SpiolekKevin SpiolekKevin Spiolek is an English darts player who played during the 1980s and 1990s. He made a brief return to form in 2006 when qualifying to play in the PDC World Darts Championship....
(84.33)
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (82.95) 1-3
- 1994 BDO World Darts Championship1994 BDO World Darts Championship-References:...
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (88.23) 3-2 Kevin PainterKevin PainterKevin Painter is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation tournaments, where he is known as "The Artist"...
(85.68) - Second Round - Kevin Kenny (82.17) 3-2 Nick GedneyNick GedneyNick Gedney is a former English darts player who competed for the British Darts Organisation.Gedney was one of eight qualifiers who took part in the 1994 BDO World Darts Championship and caused a major shock in the first round, coming from two sets down to beat number one seed Steve Beaton 3-2,...
(85.14) - Quarter Final - Kevin Kenny (82.29) 2-4 Bobby GeorgeBobby GeorgeRobert Francis George is an English darts player and presenter. He is widely recognised as one of the game's biggest personalities, known for his flamboyant entrances in which the "King of Darts" makes his way to the stage bedecked in jewellery, wearing a crown and cloak and holding a candelabra...
(81.54)
- First Round - Kevin Kenny (88.23) 3-2
World Masters
- 1982 - Last 32 - (lost to
Nicky VirachkulNicky VirachkulNicky Virachkul was a professional darts player who competed in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He competed in the third WDF World Cup darts tournament in 1979 and won the singles title...
2-3) - 1990 - Last 16 - (lost to Mike GregoryMike GregoryMichael Keith "Mike" Gregory , was a rugby league player and later coach; the former head coach of Wigan and player for Warrington and Great Britain.-Playing career:...
2-3) - 1991 - Last 32 - (lost to
Geoff Wylie 2-3) - 1993 - Quarter Final (lost to Steve BeatonSteve BeatonSteve Beaton is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation...
1-3)
British Professional
- 1982 - Last 32 - (lost to Barry Done 2-3)
- 1986 - Quarter Final - (lost to
Ceri MorganCeri MorganCeri Morgan is a retired darts player.He made his World Championship debut in 1979, beating Barry Atkinson in the first round before losing to Tony Brown in the second round...
3-5)
British Matchplay
- 1992 - Quarter Final - (lost to Steve BeatonSteve BeatonSteve Beaton is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation...
2-4) - 1993 - Quarter Final - (lost to Ronnie BaxterRonnie BaxterRonnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
3-4)
Achievements
- 1983 Nine-dart finish
- 1990 Welsh Open Champion
- 1991 BDO World Championship Highest Finish - 170
- BDO Champions Cup
- 1979 - Champions Cup Winner - MaghullMaghullMaghull is a town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. The town is located eight miles north of the City of Liverpool and south of Ormskirk in West Lancashire. The area of Moss Side also contains HM Prison Kennet and Ashworth Hospital. Maghull had a...
- 1990 - Champions Cup Winner - HuytonHuytonHuyton is a suburb of Liverpool within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, with some parts belonging to the borough of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It is part of the Liverpool Urban Area and has close associations with its neighbour, Roby, having both formerly been part of the Huyton with...
- 1979 - Champions Cup Winner - Maghull
- BDO Inter County Championship
- 1990/91 Inter County Average Winner
- 1993/94 Inter County Average Winner
- International
} England Record - Played 12 - Won 11
-
- 1993 World Cup Team Champion with Steve BeatonSteve BeatonSteve Beaton is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation...
, Ronnie BaxterRonnie BaxterRonnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
& Dave AskewDave AskewDave Askew is an English darts player who competes in the Professional Darts Corporation. Askew is a twice semi-finalist in the PDC World Championship, both in 2001 and 2002 and on both occasions losing to eventual winner Phil Taylor.- Overview :Askew began competing in major tournaments in the... - 1994 Europe Cup Team Champion with Steve BeatonSteve BeatonSteve Beaton is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation...
, Ronnie BaxterRonnie BaxterRonnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
& Martin AdamsMartin AdamsMartin Adams is an English international darts player. Nicknamed Wolfie or Mr BDO, he is BDO world ranked number one, three-time and reigning BDO World Champion and three-time World Masters champion...
- 1993 World Cup Team Champion