EMBASSY WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP:
SATURDAY, JANUARY 4TH to SUNDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2003


THE SEEDED PLAYERS

No.1 SEED:
TONY DAVID (Australia)
Born: 11/9/67
Lives in: Townsville, Queensland
World Ranked: No.1
Embassy Best: CHAMPION 2002

Having made history as the first ever Australian to win the Embassy World Professional, Tony has made 2002 his year with further wins in the Australian Grand Masters, the inaugural World Darts Trophy and just a few weeks ago the Doeland Masters.
He was also runner-up in the British Open and 2001 Philippines Open Champion. His success is made all the more remarkable by the fact that he is a haemophiliac who needs to rely on regular medication.



No.2 SEED
RAYMOND BARNEVELD (The Netherlands)
Born 20/4/67.
Lives in The Hague.
Professional Darts Player.
Nickname: 'BARNEY'
World Ranking: No.2
Embassy Best: Champion 1998 and 1999.

2002 Swedish Open Men's Singles, 2002 IDPA Masters Champion, Embassy World Professional Darts Champion 1998 And 1999, and WDF World Cup Men's Singles Champion 1997 and 1999, he is the only overseas player to have successfully defended both sets of world titles.

The first ever darts professional in The Netherlands, he was crowned winner of the inaugural
1999 Brandstaff Masters, and is the 1999 Belgian Open Champion.

His numerous titles include: 1998 Canadian Open Singles and 1998 Sweden Open Singles;
Denmark Open, Norway Open, Finland Open and Belgian Open to name but a few.

Voted BDO Sports Personality of The Year 1998, he enjoys football (he supports Ajax) and lives in The Hague with wife Sylvia and family.


No.3 SEED:
MERVYN KING (England)
Born 15/3/66.
Lives in Ipswich.
Professional Darts Player.
Nickname: 'MERV THE SWERVE'
World Ranking: No.3
Embassy Best: Runner-up 2002.

His titles include: DO British Classic Men's Singles Champion 2002, BDO British Open Men's Singles 2000, Finland Open Men's Singles 2000, BDO British Classic Men's Singles 1998 & 1999, BDO May Day 2000 Darts Festival Men's Singles, Norway Open Men's Pairs 2001 (with Martin Adams) and runner-up 2000 Winmau World Masters.
He was also runner-up in the 2002 Embassy World Professional Darts Championship and runner-up in the 2002 Doeland Masters - on both occasions to Australian Tony David by the same score of 6-4!
He was a member of the victorious England Men's team which won the Team Title in the 2001
WDF World Cup X111 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and his many titles include: 1999 Antwerp Open Men's Singles, Finland Open Singles, Dutch Open Singles, Embassy Gold Cup Singles & Pairs, Belgium Pairs, French Open Singles & Pairs, runner-up Norway Singles.

He enjoys fishing and golf.



No.4 SEED:
MARTIN ADAMS (England)
Born 4/6/56.
Lives in Peterborough.
Professional Darts Player.
Nickname: 'Wolfie'.
World Ranking: No.4
Embassy best: Semi-Final 1995.

Captain of the victorious England Men's Team in the 2001 WDF World Cup X111 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, he was also crowned 2001 WDF World Cup Men's Singles Champion.

His seemingly endless list of titles includes: 2002 French Open Men's Singles, 2002 Finland Open Men's Singles, 2002 Belgium Open Men's Pairs (with his son Warren), 2001 German Open Men's Singles, 2001 Antwerp Open Men's Singles, 2000 and 2001 British Pentathlon (his fifth title having set a new world record of 460 points in 1999); 2001 Norway Open Men's Pairs (with Mervyn King);
2000 German Gold Cup Men's Singles and Men's Pairs (with Ernst Hebecker);
2000 Norway Open Men's Singles; 2000 Dutch Open Men's Pairs (with Bob Taylor);
1999 and 2000 Primus Masters (Belgium) Men's Singles, 2000 Primus Masters Men's Pairs (with Mervyn King), 1999 Freetime Invitational Champion (Netherlands); 1998 and 1999 Swiss Open Men's Singles, Belgium Open Men's Singles (twice), WDF Europe Cup Singles and WDF World Cup Singles and Pairs (with Andy Fordham).

He reached the Semi-Final of the Embassy World Professional Darts Championship in 1995 and has twice been Quarter-Finalist. Other successes include: 1999 Jersey Open Men's Pairs and 1999 Isle Of Man Men's Pairs (with Kevin Painter), 1998 Belgian Open Men's Singles, Finland Open, Swiss Open, British Matchplay, Isle-Of-Man Open Mixed Pairs (with Sandra Greatbatch).

He Hit a 9-Dart 501 in The 1996 Norway Open. Martin lives in Market Deeping, near Peterborough with wife Sharon and their two sons Warren and Darren.



No.5 SEED:
ANDY FORDHAM (England)
Born: 2/2/62
Lives in Woolwich, London
Nickname: 'The Viking'
World Ranked: No.5
Embassy Best: Semi-Finalist 1995. 1996,1999 and 2001.

One of the most popular players in world darts, he scored a record 80 points in the Shanghai section of the 2002 British Pentathlon (which he won in 1998). He won the 2002 Welsh Open, 2002 German Open Pairs, 2001 Isle of Man Open, 200 Norway Open, 1999 Winmau World Masters.

As a proud England International, he's won many other titles, including the WDF World Cup and
WDF Europe Pairs.

He runs the Queen's Arms in Woolwich with wife Jenny, and they have two children Raymond and Emily.

He enjoys football (he's a keen Glasgow Rangers fan), rugby, fishing and golf.



No.6 SEED:
TONY O'SHEA (England)
Born: 9/5/61
Lives: Stockport
World Ranked: No.6
Embassy Best: Debut 2002 First Round

Runner-Up in the first World Darts Trophy last September, Tony is a golf green keeper, who no longer plays because of painful elbows.

However, he can claim the magic hole-in-one! A winner of the Cheshire Open four times, he won the Isle-of-Man Men's Pairs (with Ted Hankey) and the Pontin's Welsh Singles.

He also enjoys football and cricket.




No.7 SEED:
TONY ECCLES (England)
Born: 8/1/70
Lives in Middlesborough
World Ranked: No.7
Embassy Best: Debut 2002 First Round

Embassy Gold Cup Men's Singles Champion 2002, Elkader British Open Men's Singles Champion 2002. Having failed in the Play-Off stages five times, Tony made his Embassy debut in 2002.

A late starter, he's only been playing darts for 8 years, he has shown his pedigree this year by winning both the Embassy Gold Cup and British Open.

He plays several times a week in local leagues and enjoys fishing, football, pool and snooker.




No.8 SEED:
JOHN WALTON (England)
Born 10/11/61.
Lives in Sheffield.
Professional Darts Player.
Nickname: 'John Boy'.
World Ranking: No.8
Embassy Best: Champion 2001.

2002 British Pentathlon Champion, 2001 Embassy World Professional Darts Champion, Scottish Open Champion 2001; Belgium Open Champion 2001, BDO British Classic Champion 2001, Elkadart BDO British Open Champion 2001, Portland Open Champion 2001.

A member of the triumphant England Men's Team in the 2001 WDF World Cup X111 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in which he won the Men's Pairs title (with Andy Fordham), he was also Winmau World Masters Champion 2000 and Welsh Open Champion 2000.

His other titles include CIU Champion 1998, British Open Pairs, German Open Pairs and England National Singles Champion 1996. Voted the BDO Personality of the Year 2001, his hobbies include computers and following Rugby League side Bradford Bulls. He also enjoys the occasional game of golf.




EMBASSY PLAYERS

CO STOMPE (The Netherlands)
Born 10/9/62.
Lives in Amsterdam.
Professional Darts Player.
Nickname: 'MATCHSTICK'
Embassy best: Semi-Final 2000.
World ranked =14.

Embassy 2000 Semi-Finalist, Belgium Open Men's Singles 2000 Champion, he's a Dutch International who was 1998 Europe Cup Singles Champion and has had European success in the Zurich Open and Antwerp Pairs.

He has also reached the Semi-Finals of the British Open.



COLIN MONK (England)
Born 29/9/67.
Lives in Basingstoke.
Builder.
Nickname: 'H'
Embassy best: Semi-Final 1998 and 2002.
World ranked = 16.

Won his first ever major when he was crowned 1996 Winmau World Masters Men's Champion.

He's since won the 1997 British Open, the Danish Open, Norway Open, German Open,
Denmark Open and Weston-Super-Mare Open.

He has played in six Embassy World Darts Championships and in addition to reaching the semi-finals in 1998, he's been a quarter-finalist four times: in 1995, 1996, 1999 and 2000.

Nicknamed 'H,' Colin is happily married with three children and a great sports fan.




RITCHIE DAVIES (Wales)
Born 27/11/71.
Lives in Aberdare, S.Wales.
Computer Engineer.
Nickname: 'Lamb Chop'.
Embassy best: Last 16, 2000.
World ranked = 22.

2002 Scottish Open Champion, 1999 WDF World Cup Pairs Champion (with Richard Herbert) and the 1998 Welsh Individual Champion.

He has also won the Sweden Open Men's Singles, the Glamorgan Open and is a proud
Wales International.

He was runner-up in the 1998 BDO British Matchplay with an average of 33.12 and placed 3rd in the 1998 European Grand Prix.

He's a computer engineer, and his home-made darts are probably the lightest in the game at
14.6 grams!




MATT CLARK (England)
Born 4/4/68.
Lives in Seven Oaks, Kent.
Professional Darts Player.
Nickname: 'Superman'.
Embassy best: Quarter-Finalist 1996.
World ranked = 16.

1999 Canadian Open Men's Singles Champion, he reached the Quarter Finals of the 1996 Embassy World Championship on his debut.

His successes include: 1995 British Open Pairs Champion; runner-up 1996 Finland Open; semi-final Belgium Open 1996.

Married with two young sons, his hobbies include karate, weight-training and the occasional game
of golf.




ERIK CLARYS (Belgium)
Born 18/10/68.
Lives in Antwerp.
Roofer.
Nickname: 'The Sheriff'.
Embassy best: Second Round 2002.
World ranked =16.

Winmau World Masters Champion 1995, he won the 1998 Dortmund Open Men's Singles and has collected most of the titles in his native Belgium - including the Belgian Open Pairs title on two occasions.

He's played for his country in both the WDF World Cup and WDF Europe Cup.

A roofer by trade he is married with two children, and enjoys watching International sporting
events - particularly football.




PETER JOHNSTONE (Scotland).
Born 25/10/61.
Lives in Brightons, Falkirk.
Embassy best: Quarter-Finals 1998.
World Ranked = 14.

Made his Embassy debut in 1998 and returned as No.8 Seed in 2000.

Became first Scot to win the Embassy Gold Cup in 1998, and repeated the same feat in the
Scottish Open in the same year.

His first European crown came with the 1999 Denmark Open.

He's the curent WDF Europe Cup Men's Singles Champion and a proud member of the
Scotland National side that won the WDF Europe Cup for the very first time in 2002.

Was a football protégé as a teenager, playing on the books of Heart of Midlothian FC and enjoying 10 years as a player.




STEVE COOTE (England)
Born 10/9/70.
Lives in Farnworth, Lancs.
Firefighter.
Nickname: 'Magic'.
Embassy best: Last 16, 2000.
World Ranked No.10

Semi-Finalist in 2002 Winmau World Masters, reached the last 16 on his Embassy World Championship debut in 2000.

Winner of many titles including the 1999 German Open Men's Singles, his nickname is 'Magic'.

He's a fire-fighter who enjoys football, swimming, cycling and golf.




STEFAN NAGY (Sweden)
Uppsala, Sweden.
Embassy Best: Second Round 2002.
World Ranked =16.

Swedish Master 3 times, Nordic Cup Master and Viking Master twice.
A truck driver who is also a Swedish International.




JARKKO KOMULA (Finland)
Born 13/3/76
Nickname 'Smiley'.
Embassy Best: First Round 2002.
World ranked =12.

Has enjoyed success in the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Winmau World Masters.




GARY ANDERSON (Scotland)
Born 22/12/70
Lives in Eyemouth, Berwickshire.
Embassy Best: First Round 2002.
World Ranked 21.

Welsh Open 2001, Northumberland Open 2000 and three times Berwick Open




VINCENT VAN DER VOORT (The Netherlands)
Born 18/12/75
Lives in Zaandam, Holland.
Embassy Best: First Round 2002.
World Ranked =22.

The red-headed Dutchman has been playing for 15 years and was crowned Danish Open Men's Singles Champion 2002.

He also enjoyed success in the Den Bosch Open 2001, German Open Pairs 2001 and Antwerp Open Pairs 2000.

He's a project manager who enjoys tennis, football and computers.




JAMES WADE (England)
Lives in Ash, Hampshire.
Making his Embassy debut at the age of 19, he is the youngest player in the Championship.
World Ranked =16.

He was crowned 2002 Swiss Open Men's Singles Champion, making him the youngest ever winner of a BDO ranked major.

He was also a Semi-Finalist in the 2002 Norway Open and 2002 Denmark Open.

In 2001, at the age of 18, he became the youngest ever BDO finalist in a major event when he was runner-up in the BDO British Classic.

A top county player, he won 8 of his 9 matches for Hampshire 'A' in the 2001/2002 season and was placed third in the Top 150 BDO Men's averages with 30.51 over the season.

He has been voted top overall BDO Boy's Player of 2002.




BOB TAYLOR (Scotland)
Born 15/1/60
Lives in Sweden and is a timber contractor
Nicknamed 'The Big Bear'.
World Ranking: Joint 12

Embassy Best: Q/Final 2002.
Finnish Open Champion 2001, Dutch Open Pairs 2002 (with Martin Adams).

Loves to travel the world and enjoys golf, fishing and boxing.

As a soccer fan he supports both Aberdeen and Chelsea.




TED HANKEY (England)
Born 20/2/68
Lives in Stoke
Nicknamed 'The Count'
Professional Darts Player.
World ranked No.9.

The 2000 Embassy World Champion, he won the title in considerable style with a 170 checkout, a record-breaking 48 maximums and a 6-0 scoreline in 46 minutes!

He was runner-up to John Walton in 2001.

German Open Men's Singles Champion 2002, Belgian Open Men's Singles Champion 2002.




ALBERTINO ESSERS (The Netherlands)
Born 30/5/69.
Lives in Coevorden, Holland.
Scaffolder.
World Ranking: =22.

This will be his Embassy debut.

He has been playing darts for 10 years, but only tried his hand on the International circuit last year.

He's done well in 5 Opens, his best result being a Semi-Final in the Swiss Open, when he lost to
Colin Monk (England).

He has been to Lakeside before - for the 2001 Embassy International Play-Offs, but he lost his first match on that occasion!

Naturally he's hoping to do better this time.

Was a member of Holland's 4-man team at the WDF Europe Cup.




DARRYL FITTON (England)
Born 5/5/62.
Lives in Stockport.
Funeral Director.
World Ranking =26th.

This is his first appearance at the Embassy.

First played for Cheshire at 17 and then had two spells, totalling 10 years, out of the game.

He got his appetite back in 1994 when he beat England Captain Martin Adams in the final of the Yorkshire Classic.

Another memorable win came a couple of years ago when he beat Phil Taylor 4-1 in the Irish Masters - and he did so by hitting a 180 and 140 in every single leg!

He went on the circuit for the first time last February and won points in seven events.

He secured his Embassy place by beating Wayne Jones in the BDO British Open.




SHAUN GREATBATCH (England)
Born 13/7/69.
Lives in Griston, Norfolk.
Partition Engineer.
World Ranking: 11th.

There have been two very memorable moments in Shaun's career.

The first came in his opening match with Ted Hankey in the 2001 Embassy - when he was interrupted by a shapely, blonde streaker (the first ever in televised darts).

The second was a bit more special, and came in the final of the 2002 Dutch Open, where he hit a perfect 9-dart 501!

It was the first time anywhere in the world that a 9-darter was seen on live television.

He collected points in 7 events to get to the Embassy by right this year.

Shaun is an England International, but his mother Sandra plays for Wales, because her mother was Welsh.




GARY ROBSON (England)
Born 19/6/67.
Lives in Cramlington, Northumberland.
HGV driver.
World Ranking: =22nd.

Has had a very good year in 2002, winning the Portland Open in Inverness as a 66-1 outsider!

His prize-money made it possible for him to travel to the Norway Open and Denmark Open where,
in the space of one week, he reached both finals and amassed enough points to make it the
Lakeside and the 2003 Embassy.

He lost to in the First Round to Raymond Barneveld in his only previous Embassy appearance.




PETER HUNT (New Zealand)
Born 22/1/65.
Lives in Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Lorry driver.
World Ranking: =26th.

A North Islander, who first played in the Embassy in 1993, when he lost to Ronnie Sharp, and in 1995 when he lost to Colin Monk in the last 16.

Got into darts when he injured his left arm playing rugby.
His nickname is 'Stumpy' and he's back at Lakeside courtesy of his runner-up spot in the Asia-Pacific Cup, and reaching the Semi-Finals of the Australian Grand Masters and the last 8 of the Pacific Masters.

He also won the Puma Masters, which is the premier singles event in New Zealand.




2003 QUALIFIERS

ROBERT WAGNER born 14/6/65. Lives in Norway nickname 'Meateater'.
A darts player for 12 years, he reached 4th place in the 2002 British Pentathlon and 5th place in
the BDO British Open.

JOHN BURTON born 22/1/65 Live is Chepstow, Gwent Wales.
Having initially played darts for 6 years he gave up for 6 years and has now been back on the oche for 5 years!

Plays in Gwent Super League and Bristol Super League. His burning ambitions are to represent Wales and win the Embassy.


MARTIN PHILLIPS born 30/4/60 Live in Dolgellau, North Wales.
A player of over 20 years experience he plays in Gwynedd Super League and has had success as an International for Wales in both the WDF World Cup Pairs and WDF Europe Cup Pairs.

He started playing at his local youth club and his ambition has always been to win the Embassy.


DENNIS HARBOUR born 28/6/61 Lives in Peterborough England and is nicknamed 'The Peterborough Poacher'.

He has been playing for over 30 years and competes in the LVA Deeping Super League.

Has won the Embassy Gold Cup Pairs titlle twice and also enjoyed success in the Unipart British Professional.

Enjoys football and golf and would love to represent England at darts.


BRIAN SORENSEN born 30/12/77 Lives in Sweden but is Danish by birth. Nicknamed 'Brice'.
Plays in the 2nd Division in Denmark and 1st Division in Sweden.

Has been playing for 13 years and was joint 9thj in World Darts Trophy, Semi-Finalist in the 2002 Finland Open and joint 9th in WDF Europe Cup 2002.

Plays for Denmark at International level he wants to be the No.1 player in the world.




WOMEN

TRINA GULLIVER (England)
Born 30/11/69
Lives Southam, Leamington Spa.

BDO Sports Personality Of The Year for 5 consecutive years (1998 to 2002), Trina became the first ever Embassy Women's World Darts Champion in 2001, and then successfully defended her title in 2002.

She also made darts history in 2000 by becoming the first ever woman to win the
Bdo Elkadart British Open for three consecutive years: 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Her sensational record includes: 2002 Swedish Open Women's Singles, 2002 Winmau Women's World Masters, 2002 England Open, 2002 Finland Open Women's Singles, 2002 England National Women's Singles, 2002 Ladies IDPA Masters, 2002 German Open Women's Pairs (with Francis Hoenselaar) 2001 BDO England Open Women's Singles, 2001 Belgium Open Women's Singles; 2000 and 2001
BDO British Classic Women's Singles; 2001 Elkadart BDO British Open Women's Singles,
2001 Norway Open Women's Pairs (with Francis Hoenselaar), 2000 Winmau World Masters Women's Singles, BDO British Open Women's Pairs (with Francis Hoenselaar),
Dutch Open Women's Pairs (with Francis Hoenselaar), German Open Women's Pairs
(with Francis Hoenselaar), Isle Of Man Open Women's Pairs (with Francis Hoenselaar),
Swiss Open Women's Pairs (with Francis Hoenselaar), runner-up Dutch Open Women's Singles, Norway Open Women's Singles Champion, Embassy Gold Cup Women's Singles,
Sweden Open Women's Singles and 2001 Finnish Open Women's Singles Champion.

She Was Crowned Women's Individual Champion for the 1997/1998 British Inter-County Championship season and voted BDO Women's Personality Of The Year 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Her incredible list of success also includes the 1999 WDF World Cup Women's Singles and
Women's Pairs (with Apylee Jones), 1999 Norway Open Women's Singles,
1999 Belgium Open Women's Singles, 1999 British Open Women's Singles,
1999 Dortmund Open Women's Singles, 1999 Finland Open Women's Singles,
1999 Isle Of Man Open Mixed Pairs (with Paul Williams),
1999 Jersey Festival of Darts Women's Singles.

She lives in Southam, Leamington with her husband 'Gully', who is so superstitious that he won't watch her play in major finals.

He is famous for sitting in his car when Trina is playing!

She is a proud Warwickshire County and England International player.




FRANCIS HOENSELAAR (The Netherlands)
Born 15/1/65
Lives in Rotterdam

2002 Belgium Open Champion, 2000 England National Singles Women's Champion,
2000 Dutch Open Women's Singles Champion, 2000 Norway Open Women's Singles Champion,
2000 British Open Pairs (with Trina Gulliver), 2000 Dutch Open Women's Pairs (with Trina Gulliver), 2000 German Open Women's Pairs (with Trina Gulliver) and Isle Of Man Open Women's Pairs
(with Trina Gulliver) and Swiss Open Women's Pairs (with Trina Gulliver).
1999 Winmau World Masters Women's Singles Champion, she is the top woman player in
The Netherlands, her phenomenal success includes eight Women's Singles titles: Belgium Open, Denmark Open, Dortmund Open, Dutch Open, Finland Open, French Open, Welsh Open and Norway Open.

Her 2000 titles are: Dutch Open Women's Singles and Isle of Man Women's Singles.

One of the best-known players in women's darts, her hobbies includes cycling, fishing, football,
tennis and keeping fit.




MIEKE de BOER (The Netherlands)
Is a 22 year-old Dutch International who has had an incredible year of darts.
In the space of one week in September 2002 she became the first ever Women's Singles Champion in the inaugural World Darts Trophy, and she followed this up by being crowned BDO Elkadart British Open Women's Singles Champion 7 days later.

She is a tall, attractive blonde who delights in the nickname 'Bambi'.

ANNE KIRK (Scotland)
Scotish International who had a great 2001.

Current World ranking of 8. Winmau Champion and semi finalist in World Cup Singles in 2001.

In 2002 she was a semi finalist in British Classic, British Open, and Denmark Open.




QUALIFIERS

GAYNOR WILLIAMS born 6/11/59 Lives in Llanllechid, Bangor, North Wales.
Plays in Gwynedd Super League, she was Welsh Individual Champion 2001.

She became a grandmother at the age of 34 and has been playing darts for 20 years after being asked to make up the numbers in a local team.

Her ambition is to win a Gold Medal for Wales.


LINDA ROGERS-PICKETT born 4/6/52 Lives in Newport, Gwent Wales.
Having been playing for over 20 years she competes for Gwent Super League and Gwent County.

Winner of the Malta Open, Welsh Classic, WDF World Cup Pairs and a Bronze Medal in singles.

Her ambition is to continue as the captain of Wales.


DAWN STANDLEY born 29/9/67 Lives in Wymondham, Norfolk England.
A player of 25 years experience (minus 10 years bringing up children) she plays for Wymondham Super League and lots of other teams locally.

Won Yorkshire Open 2002, Vauxhall Singles 2002, Coombe Haven Pairs 2002, Yorkshire Classic Pairs 2002, Yorkshire Classic Triples 2002, Welsh Open Mixed Pairs 2002.

A food and beverage manager she wants to make it into the England Ladies squad and be in the World's top 5.




KAREN KRAPPEN born 10/12/73.
Lives in Vlissingen in the Netherlands.

Left hander who started playing darts 9 years ago.

Won the UK Women's Pairs with Francis Hoenselaar in 2001 and 2002, No1 ranked in the Netherlands in 2002.

Finalist in the Denmark Open and England Open and Semi finalist at the 2002 WinmaU, Europe Cup Singles, German Open, and Swiss Open.

Loves playing Bridge.




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