World Masters (darts)


The 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. The tournament was sponsored by darts board manufacturer, Winmau, from 1975 until 2018. The World Masters is unusual in darts in that its sets are the best of 3 legs rather than the standard best of 5 legs.
It was previously the final leg of the BDO's Grand Slam title of televised majors, along with the Topic International Darts League, the Bavaria World Darts Trophy and the Lakeside World Professional Championship. However, it is now one of only three major BDO events and is considered to be the second biggest tournament after the World Championship. The champion is referred to as the World Master.

List of tournament finals

Men's World Masters

Women's World Masters

World Youth Masters

Boys' World Masters

Girls' World Masters

Records

Most tournament wins 5 - Eric Bristow. Bob Anderson and Martin Adams have both notched 3 wins. Dave Whitcombe, John Lowe, Raymond van Barneveld, Stephen Bunting and Glen Durrant have won the Masters twice each.
Youngest champion Michael van Gerwen aged 17 years, 174 days eclipsed the record of Eric Bristow
Double Champion Leeanne Maddock Aged 17 years won both the youth title and women's title.
Joint World Championship & Masters Champions Only seven players have ever won the World Masters and the World Professional Championship in the same season. Eric Bristow achieved the feat three times. Bob Anderson, Richie Burnett, John Walton, Martin Adams, Stephen Bunting and Glen Durrant were the others. There have been two other instances of players holding both championships at the same time - but these were not during the same season which is considered to end with the World Championship.
Not Dropping A Set Stephen Bunting's 2013 win was achieved without dropping a set.
There are 15 players who have won the Masters and World Professional during their careers: John Lowe, Eric Bristow, Bob Anderson, Phil Taylor, Dennis Priestley, Richie Burnett, Steve Beaton, Raymond van Barneveld, Les Wallace, John Walton, Andy Fordham, Martin Adams, Scott Waites, Stephen Bunting, and Glen Durrant. Additionally, Michael van Gerwen won the Masters in 2006 and has since won the PDC World Championship in 2014, but not the Lakeside World Professional.

Media coverage

The current UK broadcast rights are now held by Eurosport. The World Masters has previously been broadcast by ITV, The Sports Channel Wire TV, L!VE TV, ESPN, BBC, Sky Sports and Premier Sports.
The 2011 tournament was also shown in the United States for the first time with ESPN3 broadcasting it.