Nicky Virachkul
Encyclopedia
Nicky 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. He was born in Thailand
but went to school in the United States
, whom he represented internationally.
Virachkul appeared at the first Embassy World Darts Championship
in 1978, losing narrowly 7-8 to eventual champion, Leighton Rees
in the semi-final. In those days, there was a third place play-off in the competition and Virachkul beat Stefan Lord
to finish 3rd.
He reached the quarter-finals on three further occasions - in 1981 (losing to Eric Bristow
), 1982 (losing to Bobby George
) and 1984 (losing to Dave Whitcombe
). Despite a decent record it was still considered a surprise result when he defeated defending World Champion, Keith Deller
in the first round of the 1984 World Championship
, although Deller gained revenge in the first round of the following year. The 1985 event turned out to be Virachkul's last time in the final stages. After appearing in the first 8 World Championships, he never managed to qualify when the tournament moved to the Lakeside Country Club
in 1986.
He enjoyed some moderate success on the darts circuit winning the 1982 North American Open and reaching the semi-finals of the Winmau World Masters
in 1980 and won the 1978 Windy City Open and 1983 Dallas Open. He was inducted into the National Darts Hall of Fame in 1996 http://www.phillydarts.com/NationalDartsHallofFame.htm.
Virachkul died on April 17, 1999, after returning to his native Thailand from his adopted home in the United States.
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, 1980s and 1990s. He competed in the third WDF World Cup darts
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...
tournament in 1979 and won the singles title. He was born in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
but went to school in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, whom he represented internationally.
Virachkul appeared at the first Embassy World Darts Championship
BDO World Darts Championship
The BDO World Darts Championship is a world championship competition in darts, organised by the British Darts Organisation . It began in 1978, and was the only world championship tournament until 1994...
in 1978, losing narrowly 7-8 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 semi-final. In those days, there was a third place play-off in the competition and Virachkul beat Stefan Lord
Stefan Lord
Stefan Lord is a retired Swedish professional darts player, who competed in British Darts Organisation events, and is one of the country's most successful players....
to finish 3rd.
He reached the quarter-finals on three further occasions - in 1981 (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 :...
), 1982 (losing to Bobby George
Bobby George
Robert 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...
) and 1984 (losing to Dave Whitcombe
Dave Whitcombe
Dave Whitcombe is an English professional darts player who won several major tournaments and reached two World Championship Finals. He had a long professional career between 1980 and 1992.-Biography:...
). Despite a decent record it was still considered a surprise result when he defeated defending 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...
in the first round of the 1984 World Championship
1984 BDO World Darts Championship
The 1984 Embassy World Darts Championship were held from December 31, 1983 to January 7, 1984 at Jollees Cabaret Club in Stoke-on-Trent. Eric Bristow made up for his 6-5 defeat against Keith Deller in the 1983 final by defeating the number three seed Dave Whitcombe in the final by a crushing 7-1...
, although Deller gained revenge in the first round of the following year. The 1985 event turned out to be Virachkul's last time in the final stages. After appearing in the first 8 World Championships, he never managed to qualify when the tournament moved to the Lakeside Country Club
Lakeside Leisure Complex
The Lakeside Leisure Complex is a hotel, entertainment and leisure complex in Frimley Green near Camberley in Surrey. It is most famous as being the venue of the BDO World Darts Championship.-History:...
in 1986.
He enjoyed some moderate success on the darts circuit winning the 1982 North American Open and reaching the semi-finals of 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 1980 and won the 1978 Windy City Open and 1983 Dallas Open. He was inducted into the National Darts Hall of Fame in 1996 http://www.phillydarts.com/NationalDartsHallofFame.htm.
Virachkul died on April 17, 1999, after returning to his native Thailand from his adopted home in the United States.