The winner picked up a cheque for �3,000, a sum which would be considered small in modern times.

The two would clash again at the same stage a year later and this time Lowe got revenge with a crushing 5-0 victory.

EMBASSY CHAMPIONS

1978 - Leighton Rees 1979 - John Lowe 1980 - Eric Bristow 1981 - Eric Bristow 1982 - Jocky Wilson 1983 - Keith Deller 1984 - Eric Bristow 1985 - Eric Bristow 1986 - Eric Bristow 1987 - John Lowe 1988 - Bob Anderson 1989 - Jocky Wilson 1990 - Phil Taylor 1991 - Dennis Priestley 1992 - Phil Taylor 1993 - John Lowe 1994 - John Part 1995 - Richie Burnett 1996 - Steve Beaton 1997 - Les Wallace 1998 - Ray Barneveld 1999 - Ray Barneveld 2000 - Ted Hankey 2001 - John Walton 2002 - Tony David

Although there have been more colourful figures in darts' history, Lowe remains one of the most enduring characters in the game, capturing a world title in three different decades, going on to win again in 1987 and 1993.

Lowe competed in eight finals, a record eclipsed by the 'Crafty Cockney' Eric Bristow, who ruled darts during the 80s.

He claimed the first of his five world titles in 1980 by beating veteran Bobby George and he successfully defended it the following year.

But Bristow's domination was occasionally challenged by the likes of Jocky Wilson, Lowe and Bob Anderson.

Yet one of the most famous finals of the 80s took place between Bristow and the relatively unknown Keith Deller, who had already knocked out Wilson and Lowe.

John Lowe: A man for the ages

Deller, given little hope, triumphed in perhaps the most exciting final in Embassy Darts history when he beat Bristow 6-5 in 1983. It would turn out to be his finest hour.

By the turn of the decade, Bristow was finding it increasingly difficult to win the tournament he had made his own. He lost three consecutive finals, one to his great friend Phil Taylor in 1990.

Taylor won two world titles during the 90s before going on to dominate the PDC version of the world title.

Dutchman Raymond Barneveld was to match Taylor's record of two Embassy championship wins.

By the end of the 20th century, darts - which had been divided by the introduction of a rival body - had become a much more competitive arena, with plenty of potential winners among the starters.

Ted Hankey became the new millennium's first champion with a 6-0 thrashing of two-time loser Ronnie Baxter in a hugely one-sided affair.

Hankey looked odds-on favourite to lift the title again in 2001, but was suffered a surprising 6-2 defeat to rank outsider John 'Boy' Walton.

And unseeded Tony David of Australia won in 2002, proving that the title is pretty much in anyone's hands if they can perform at the Lakeside.

Live coverage of the Embassy World Championship starts at 1430 on 4 January on BBC One