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| |  Thursday, 3 January, 2002, 16:22 GMT Silver jubilee for the Embassy Barneveld will be looking to repeat his success of 1999 Passionate cries of "one hundred and eighty" will be bellowed across the oche during nine days of electrifying darts as the Embassy World Championship stages its 25th event. The indoor sport took the British public by storm in 1978 when the BBC beamed it into living rooms across the nation and millions of ardent spectators saw Leighton Rees pick up the first title. Within a few years players like Eric Bristow, John Lowe, Jocky Wilson and Bobby George were household names and the New Year meant darts on the box.
Many of the well-known stars have either gone into retirement or moved to another version of the world title. But standards at the Lakeside Country Club keep climbing as the British Darts Organisation churn out new stars. Yesterday's players have been replaced with new talent in the form of professionals like Dutchman Raymond Barneveld, crowd favourite Andy Fordham, current champion John Walton and England captain Martin Adams. They will be joined by loyal Bobby George and a string of talented overseas players who give the championship a unique global flavour. Organisers have promised "business and standards as usual" despite the exodus of a handful of players to the satellite televised alternative, in exchange for short-term contracts.
"The BDO sticks to its principles," says managing director Olly Croft. "It happened in 1994 and the tournament got bigger and better - it won't be any different this time," he promised. Pick of the first round matches has to be defending champion Walton against "The Viking" Fordham on day one, closely followed by "Barney" Barneveld taking on Mr Glitter, Bobby George. Millennium champion Ted Hankey will be given a tough test on Sunday by Finn Jarkko Komula. On the same day, young Swedish star Markus Korhonen - who defeated Phil Taylor two years ago - makes history by taking part in the Embassy World Darts Championship at just 18 years old. | |
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