BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2000 | World Darts Championship

By Clive Downton

Time is telling on some of the greatest names in darts - the very players who made the sport so famous in the late 70s and 80s.

The Lakeside Country Club's stage will be missing the dazzle of Bobby George during the nine days of Embassy competition and, to be frank he may never toe the famous oche ever again.

George, two times a News of the World champion, has probably done more for darts than any other player who has never won the Embassy.

The popular showman lost out to adversary Eric Bristow 5-3 in 1980 and was whitewashed by Canadian John Part in 1994 - while playing in considerable pain through an injured back.

George's absence coincides with an all-time low for Bristow.

Cheque

The most famous name in the game failed to get enough ranking points for the Professional Darts Corporation tournament that took place before the Embassy.

It is the first year since 1978 that Bristow has not played in a world championship.

Bristow
Bristow: Crafty Cockney
Leighton Rees picked up the �3,000 winner's cheque that year and the plucky Welshman even gave himself the chance of a return for 2001.

He used his right as a former champion to take part in the play-offs but missed out on one of the five places on offer when he was beaten by Dutchman Frans Harmsen.

"Stone Face" John Lowe won it the following year and he is currently enjoying a return to top form with the PDC.

Bristow starred in the next two finals - beating George and Lowe - but a new face took the trophy north in 1982. Jocky Wilson won the first of his two Embassy crowns and has been out of the game since securing the second in 1989 with poor health.

Crafty Cockney

Keith Deller has never repeated the performance that shocked millions of viewers - and opponent Eric Bristow in 1983.

The Embassy qualifier stole the title from under Bristow's nose but, despite still throwing a mean dart today, rarely makes the final stages of a PDC tournament.

England's Dave Whitcombe was a cool character and looked set to stay among darts top players.

But devastating defeats in finals at the hands of the Crafty Cockney - 7-1 in 1984 and 6-0 two years later - saw the end of Whitcombe in the international scene.

England's Bob Anderson put his name on the trophy in 1988 and joined the PDC in 1994 where he still plays.

He is also a formidable opponent on the continent where he tastes much success in the electronic, soft tipped darts game.

Mike Gregory was the unlucky loser when he was beaten by Phil Taylor in probably the most famous and nailbiting Embassy final ever in 1992.

Gregory played darts with the PDC after 1994 but made a return to the Lakeside a year later. He has never been beyond the first round since and does not have a place for 2001.