John Lowe (darts player)

John Lowe Template:Post-nominals (born 21 July 1945)<ref name="data"/> is an English former professional darts player. Along with Eric Bristow and Jocky Wilson, he was known for dominating darts during the 1980s. Lowe was world champion on three occasions, in 1979, 1987 and 1993. He was also a two-time winner of the Winmau World Masters and a two-time World Cup singles champion. In total, Lowe won 15 BDO and WDF majors. He held the World No. 1 ranking on four occasions. In October 1984, he became the first player to hit a televised nine-dart finish.

Lowe is one of only six players to have won the World Championship three or more times, and was the first person to win it in three separate decades; along with Phil Taylor, he remains one of only two players to achieve this. Amidst growing dissatisfaction with the British Darts Organisation, Lowe was also one of 16 players who in 1993 broke away to form their own governing body, the World Darts Council (now known as the Professional Darts Corporation).

Career

Lowe won the World Championship title in three different decades – 1979, 1987 and 1993.<ref name="data"/> He met Eric Bristow six times in the World Championship in various semi-finals and finals,<ref name="head"/> and it was not until his fourth attempt (in the 1987 final) that he managed to overcome his rival. His record against Bristow in majors was three wins and six defeats.<ref name="head">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Lowe achieved the first-ever televised nine-dart finish on 13 October 1984,<ref name="unicorn"/> during the World Matchplay tournament against Keith Deller,<ref name="unicorn"/> although it was not live and instead shown on a highlights programme on ITV. It was achieved via a rare third-visit combination of treble 17, treble 18 and double 18.<ref name="unicorn"/> For the nine-dart finish, Lowe received £102,000,<ref name="unicorn"/> he went on to win the tournament, for which he received £12,000, and earned an additional £1,000 for the tournament's highest outshot (161).<ref name="unicorn"/> This remained the highest amount of money earned by a darts player at a single tournament for almost two decades.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In addition to his three world titles, Lowe has also won two World Masters titles,<ref name="data"/> two British Open titles,<ref name="data"/> two British Matchplay championships,<ref name="data"/> two World Cup Singles,<ref name="data"/> and three European Cup Singles Titles,<ref name="data"/> as well as other titles around the world in his career.<ref name="data"/> He played for England over 100 times and was WDF England Captain between 1986 and 1993, during which time England remained unbeaten.<ref name="unicorn">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:John Lowe Bob Anderson.jpg

John Lowe v Bob Anderson at the Winmau World Masters 1985 Quarter Final

A composed performer, his demeanor was captured in his nickname Old Stoneface,<ref name="unicorn"/> which was also the title of Lowe's autobiography published in 2005.<ref name="stoneface">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Lowe enjoyed an impressive longevity at the sport. He played in the televised stages of the World Championship for a then-record 28 consecutive years,<ref name="data"/> from the inaugural championship in 1978 to his last appearance in 2005, where he was defeated by the Canadian John Verwey in a final-leg tiebreak.<ref name="verway">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Lowe played at the Alexandra Palace in 1980 in front of 7,000 people in the News of the World Championship.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>

Lowe also dominated the British Pentathlon event, winning it ten times, including six in a row from 1982 to 1987.<ref name="data"/> He stopped entering the event because the prizemoney had not changed in 12 years and cost players £100 to enter, plus expenses.<ref>Template:Cite tweet</ref>

Lowe was secretary of the World Professional Dart Players Association (later to become the Professional Dart Players Association (PDPA)), and, in 2005, he enjoyed a testimonial year in the sport to commemorate his 30th year as a professional. He attempted to qualify for the World Championship each year until 2008, but he fell short in the early qualifying rounds.<ref name="data"/> After this, he joined a short-lived venture, the Setanta Sports–televised BetFred League of Legends in 2008.<ref name="data">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Post-darts career

In May 2009, Lowe released a book, The Art of Darts, in which he offered his personal insights into the game to both amateur and aspiring professional dart players.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> In 2013, The Art of Darts was produced in app-form for the iPhone and iPad.

In 2014, Lowe was one of several celebrities to take part in ITV's new game show Amazing Greys, in which members of the public take on icons of British sport and entertainment.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Lowe was born in New Tupton, Derbyshire. He is married to Karen and lives in Chesterfield. They both support Sunderland football club.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

World Championship results

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File:John Lowe at 1985 Masters (cropped-J1).jpg

John Lowe at 1985 Masters

BDO

• 1978: Runner-up (lost to Leighton Rees 7–11 legs)
• 1979: Winner (beat Leighton Rees 5–0 sets)
• 1980: 2nd round (lost to Cliff Lazarenko 0–2)
• 1981: Runner-up (lost to Eric Bristow 3–5)<ref name="head"/>
• 1982: Runner-up (lost to Jocky Wilson 3–5)
• 1983: Quarter-finals (lost to Keith Deller 3–4)
• 1984: Semi-finals (lost to Eric Bristow 0–6)<ref name="head"/>
• 1985: Runner-up (lost to Eric Bristow 2–6)<ref name="head"/>
• 1986: Quarter-finals (lost to Bob Anderson 3–4)
• 1987: Winner (beat Eric Bristow 6–4)<ref name="head"/>
• 1988: Runner-up (lost to Bob Anderson 4–6)
• 1989: Semi-finals (lost to Eric Bristow 1–5)<ref name="head"/>
• 1990: 2nd round (lost to Ronnie Sharp 2–3)
• 1991: 1st round (lost to Peter Evison 2–3)
• 1992: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 4–5)
• 1993: Winner (beat Alan Warriner 6–3)

PDC

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• 1994: Group Stage (beat Tom Kirby 3–2 and lost to Larry Butler 2–3)
• 1995: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 4–5)
• 1996: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 1–5)
• 1997: Last 24 group (lost to Jamie Harvey 2–3 and beat Paul Lim 3–1)
• 1998: Last 24 group (lost to Peter Manley 0–3 and lost to Gary Mawson 0–3)
• 1999: 2nd round (lost to Phil Taylor 1–3)
• 2000: Quarter-finals (lost to Dennis Smith 3–5)
• 2001: 2nd round (lost to Jamie Harvey 0–3)
• 2002: 2nd round (lost to Peter Manley 5–6)
• 2003: 2nd round (lost to Les Fitton 1–4)
• 2004: 3rd round (lost to Alan Warriner 3–4)
• 2005: 2nd round (lost to John Verwey 2–3)

WSDT

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• 2022: 2nd round (lost to Dave Prins 0–3)

Career finals

BDO major finals: 25 (9 titles, 16 runners-up)

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Legend
World Championship (3–5)
World Masters (2–3)
British Professional (0–4)
World Matchplay (1–1)
Grand Masters (1–2)
British Matchplay (2–1)

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score<ref group=N name="score">(l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets.</ref>
Winner	1.	1976	Winmau World Masters (1)	Template:Flagicon Phil Obbard	3–0 (s)
Winner	2.	1977	Butlins Grand Masters (1)	Template:Flagicon Eric Bristow<ref name="head"/>	5–4 (l)<ref name="head"/>
Runner-up	1.	1978	World Darts Championship	Template:Flagicon Leighton Rees	7–11 (l)
Winner	3.	1978	British Matchplay (1)	Template:Flagicon Tony Brown	2–1 (s)
Runner-up	2.	1978	Butlins Grand Masters	Template:Flagicon Leighton Rees	unknown
Winner	4.	1979	World Darts Championship (1)	Template:Flagicon Leighton Rees	5–0 (s)
Winner	5.	1980	Winmau World Masters (2)	Template:Flagicon Rab Smith	2–0 (s)
Runner-up	3.	1981	World Darts Championship (2)	Template:Flagicon Eric Bristow<ref name="head"/>	3–5 (s)
Runner-up	4.	1981	Butlins Grand Masters (2)	Template:Flagicon Eric Bristow<ref name="head"/>	unknown
Runner-up	5.	1981	British Professional Championship	Template:Flagicon Jocky Wilson	5–6 (s)
Runner-up	6.	1981	Winmau World Masters	Template:Flagicon Eric Bristow<ref name="head"/>	1–2 (s)
Runner-up	7.	1982	World Darts Championship	Template:Flagicon Jocky Wilson	3–5 (s)
Runner-up	8.	1982	British Professional Championship (2)	Template:Flagicon Eric Bristow	3–7 (s)
Winner	6.	1984	MFI World Matchplay (1)	Template:Flagicon Cliff Lazarenko	5–3 (s)
Runner-up	9.	1984	British Professional Championship (3)	Template:Flagicon Mike Gregory	5–7 (s)
Runner-up	10.	1985	World Darts Championship (4)	Template:Flagicon Eric Bristow<ref name="head"/>	2–6 (s)
Winner	7.	1985	British Matchplay (2)	Template:Flagicon Cliff Lazarenko	3–0 (s)
Runner-up	11.	1985	British Professional Championship (4)	Template:Flagicon Eric Bristow<ref name="head"/>	4–7 (s)
Winner	8.	1987	World Darts Championship (2)	Template:Flagicon Eric Bristow<ref name="head"/>	6–4 (s)
Runner-up	12.	1987	MFI World Matchplay	Template:Flagicon Bob Anderson	1–5 (s)
Runner-up	13.	1987	Winmau World Masters (2)	Template:Flagicon Bob Anderson	1–3 (s)
Runner-up	14.	1988	World Darts Championship (5)	Template:Flagicon Bob Anderson	4–6 (s)
Runner-up	15.	1988	British Matchplay	Template:Flagicon Bob Anderson	2–3 (s)
Runner-up	16.	1988	Winmau World Masters (3)	Template:Flagicon Bob Anderson	2–3 (s)
Winner	9.	1993	World Darts Championship (3)	Template:Flagicon Alan Warriner	6–3 (s)

WDF major finals: 6 (5 titles, 1 runner-up)

<ref name="data"/>

Legend
World Cup (2–0)
Europe Cup (3–1)

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score<ref group=N name="score"/>
Winner	1.	1978	Europe Cup Singles (1)	Template:Flagicon Jocky Wilson	4–1 (l)
Winner	2.	1981	World Cup Singles (1)	Template:Flagicon Jocky Wilson	4–3 (l)
Winner	3.	1984	Europe Cup Singles (2)	Template:Flagicon Leighton Rees	4–0 (l)
Winner	4.	1986	Europe Cup Singles (3)	Template:Flagicon Cliff Lazarenko	4–2 (l)
Winner	5.	1991	World Cup Singles (2)	Template:Flagicon Martin Phillips	6–4 (l)
Runner-up	1.	1992	Europe Cup Singles	Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor	2–4 (l)

Independent major finals: 1 (1 title)

<ref name="data"/>

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score<ref group=N name="score"/>
Winner	1.	1981	News of the World Championship (1)	Template:Flagicon Mick Norris	2–0 (l)

Performance timeline

CF= County Finals, DF= Divisional Finals <ref name="data"/>

BDO majors performances

Tournament	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993
Template:Nowrap	colspan=2 Template:TournNA	Template:TournRU	Template:TournW	Template:TournLR	Template:TournRU	Template:TournRU	Template:TournQF	Template:TournSF	Template:TournRU	Template:TournQF	Template:TournW	Template:TournRU	Template:TournSF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournSF	Template:TournW
Winmau World Masters	Template:TournW	Template:TournQF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournQF	Template:TournW	Template:TournRU	Template:TournLR	Template:TournSF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournQF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournRU	Template:TournRU	Template:TournLR	Template:TournSF	Template:TournQF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournNA
British Matchplay	Template:TournQF	Template:TournQF	Template:TournW	Template:TournQF	Template:TournQF	Template:TournQF	Template:TournSF	Template:TournSF	Template:TournQF	Template:TournW	Template:TournQF	Template:TournQF	Template:TournRU	Template:TournQF	Template:TournQF	Template:TournQF	colspan=2 Template:TournNA
British Professional	colspan=5 Template:TournNA	Template:TournRU	Template:TournRU	Template:TournSF	Template:TournRU	Template:TournRU	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	colspan=5 Template:TournNA
Butlins Grand Masters	Template:TournNA	Template:TournW	Template:TournRU	Template:TournSF	Template:TournSF	Template:TournRU	Template:TournSF	Template:TournQF	Template:TournQF	Template:TournSF	Template:TournLR	colspan=7 Template:TournNA
MFI World Matchplay	colspan="8" Template:TournNA	Template:TournW	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournRU	Template:TournQF	colspan=5 Template:TournNA
News of the World	Template:TournNA	Template:TournSF	Template:TournNA	CF	Template:TournSF	Template:TournW	colspan=2 Template:TournNA	DF	CF	Template:TournNA	DF	DF	CF	Template:TournNA	colspan=3 Template:TournNA

<ref name="data"/>

PDC majors performances

Tournament	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
PDC World Championship	Template:TournLR	Template:TournSF	Template:TournSF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournQF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR
World Matchplay	Template:TournLR	Template:TournSF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournQF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournSF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournNA
World Grand Prix	colspan=4 Template:TournNA	Template:TournQF	Template:TournNA	Template:TournLR	Template:TournSF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	colspan=2 Template:TournNA
UK Open	colspan=9 Template:TournNA	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR

<ref name="data"/>

WDF majors performances

Tournament	Event	World Cup 1977	Euro Cup 1978	World Cup 1979	Euro Cup 1980	World Cup 1981	Euro Cup 1982	World Cup 1983	Euro Cup 1984	World Cup 1985	Euro Cup 1986	World Cup 1987	Euro Cup 1988	World Cup 1989	Euro Cup 1990	World Cup 1991	Euro Cup 1992
WDF World Cup & WDF Europe Cup	Singles	Template:TournLR	Template:TournW	Template:TournQF	Template:TournLR	Template:TournW	rowspan=4 Template:TournNA	Template:TournSF	Template:TournW	Template:TournLR	Template:TournW	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournLR	Template:TournW	Template:TournRU
	Pairs	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournLR	Template:TournRU	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournQF	Template:TournW	Template:TournRU	Template:TournQF	Template:TournSF
	Team	Template:TournRU	Template:TournSF	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournSF	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournSF	Template:TournSF	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW
	Overall	Template:TournRU	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW	Template:TournW

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Nine-dart finishes

Template:See also Lowe accomplished the first-ever televised nine-dart finish.

John Lowe televised nine-dart finishes

Date	Opponent	Tournament	Method	Prize
13 October 1984	Template:Flagicon Keith Deller	World Matchplay	3 x T20; 3 x T20; T17, T18, D18	£102,000<ref name="unicorn"/>

External links

• Interview with John Lowe
• Template:YouTube