Connie Finnan | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||||||||||
Born | 20 May 1962 Garryowen, Republic of Ireland | ||||||||||
Home town | Limerick, Republic of Ireland | ||||||||||
Darts information | |||||||||||
Playing darts since | 1993 | ||||||||||
Darts | 23 Gram Target | ||||||||||
Laterality | Right-handed | ||||||||||
Walk-on music | "You're Such a Good Looking Woman" by Joe Dolan | ||||||||||
Organisation (see split in darts) | |||||||||||
BDO | 2005–2011 | ||||||||||
PDC | 2011–2015 | ||||||||||
WDF major events – best performances | |||||||||||
World Masters | Quarter Final: 2009 | ||||||||||
PDC premier events – best performances | |||||||||||
World Ch'ship | Last 72: 2012 | ||||||||||
World Grand Prix | Last 16: 2013 | ||||||||||
UK Open | Last 96: 2013 | ||||||||||
Other tournament wins | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Other achievements | |||||||||||
9 Dart Finish: PDPA Players Ch'ship Barnsley 2012 |
Connie Finnan (born 20 May 1962) is a former Irish professional darts player.
In September 2009, Finnan qualified for the televised stages of the World Masters. He defeated Darryl Fitton 3–1 in the last 16 before losing 3–0 to Robbie Green in the quarter-finals. [1] Later that month, he reached the semi-finals of the 2009 WDF World Cup men's singles, but was beaten 6–4 by Joey ten Berge. [2]
Finnan qualified for the 2012 PDC World Championship after winning the final of the Tom Kirby Memorial Irish Matchplay against Shane O'Connor. [3] He lost 4–3 in the preliminary round to New Zealand's Warren French, having led 3–1. [4]
In January 2012, Finnan won a PDC Pro Tour card for 2012 and 2013 at the PDC's Qualifying School in Barnsley. [5] In November, he threw a nine-dart finish in the fourth round of the 20th Players Championship during a 6–3 win over world number six Wes Newton which earned him £4,800. Finnan was then defeated 1–6 in the quarter-finals to Michael van Gerwen. [6] This was Finnan's best result of 2012, [7] and he went into 2013 ranked world number 78. [8]
Finnan played in his first World Cup of Darts in February 2013 with William O'Connor. [9] The pair beat Denmark 5–0 in their first match and despite losing to South Africa 4–5 they finished top of Group B on leg difference to reach the last 16. [10] They faced Japan and were defeated 3–5. [11] Finnan was beaten 4–5 by Adrian Gray in the second round of the UK Open. [12] Finnan qualified for the World Grand Prix for the first time and pulled off the result of his career in the first round as he defeated Terry Jenkins by two sets to none. [13] He led two-time winner of the event James Wade 1–0 and 2–1 in the next round, but the game went into a deciding set. At 2–1 down in the set Finnan missed a single 10 which would have left him 32 with his last dart and saw Wade step in to finish 91 to win. If Finnan had won the leg he would have been throwing for the match in the next. [14] In the same week he advanced to the final of the Irish Matchplay final, Ireland's biggest domestic darts tournament, and lost 6–4 to Colin McGarry. A win would have seen him clinch a place for the 2014 World Championship. [15]
Finnan's status on the tour he earned two years ago expired after the 2014 World Championship, but he was ranked world number 60 after the tournament inside the top 64 who retain their places. [16] In May he secured wins over top ten players Dave Chisnall and Simon Whitlock at the ninth Players Championship to reach the quarter-finals of a PDC event for the second time in his career, where he lost 6–3 to Justin Pipe. [17] Finnan and O'Connor lost five successive legs in the first round of the World Cup of Darts to be beaten 5–3 by Singapore. [18] Finnan reached the last 32 of three more events during the rest of the season. [19]
He maintained his tour status by starting 2015 ranked world number 63. [20] Finnan and O'Connor's World Cup second round match with Hong Kong went to a doubles match which they lost 4–3. [21] Finnan did not play the full schedule of events in 2015 and lost the £7,000 from the 2013 World Grand Prix on his Order of Merit ranking which meant he needed to enter Q School in January 2016 to remain on tour, which he did not do. [22]
Finnan Quit the PDC in 2015.
Finnan is married and has two daughters. He is not a full-time darts player and works in a factory making plastic bag closures in Shannon. [13]
Vincent van der Voort is a Dutch professional darts player on the PDC circuit. As of the 2012 PDC World Darts Championship, his nickname is the "Dutch Destroyer", although he used to go by "Grease Lightning". He is best known for his quick throwing style, which is how he got his temporary nickname "The Fastest Player in the World". He reached the final of the 2007 UK Open, which helped him become a well known face in the world of darts.
Adrian Lewis is an English professional darts player who plays in the PDC. He is a two-time PDC World Darts Champion, winning in 2011 and 2012, also winning the 2013 European Championship and the 2014 UK Open.
Richard Mark Burnett, nicknamed Prince of Wales, is a Welsh professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He is a former World No. 1 who won the 1995 Embassy World Darts Championship. Burnett is known for coming on to "Dakota" and dancing on stage. He is also known for his fiery personality, fighting with Adrian Lewis on stage during the 2012 Players Championship Finals.
Mark Webster is a Welsh former professional darts player. Nicknamed Webby and The Spider, he played in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. Webster began his career on the British Darts Organisation (BDO) circuit, winning the BDO World Championship in 2008. He became a full-time professional in 2009, having previously been a fully qualified registered plumber. He now works as an analyst and commentator on Sky Sports and ITV.
Michael McGowan is an Irish professional darts player who last played in events for the British Darts Organisation (BDO).
Robert Thornton is a Scottish professional darts player, who is a two-time World Seniors champion.
Mensur Suljović is a Serbian-Austrian professional darts player. He plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, having previously played in the British Darts Organisation (BDO).
David Chisnall is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked No. 5 in the world.
Brendan Gabriel Dolan is an Irish professional darts player from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He was the first player to hit a nine-dart finish in a "double-to-start" event, which he achieved at the 2011 World Grand Prix, giving him the nickname The History Maker. He also reached the final of this tournament, where he lost to Phil Taylor.
Peter Stuart Wright is a Scottish professional darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), where he is currently ranked No. 11 in the world. Nicknamed "Snakebite", he is a two-time world champion, having won the PDC World Darts Championship in 2020 and 2022. He is also a World Matchplay champion and has been ranked as the World No. 1 in the PDC twice.
William James O'Connor is an Irish professional darts player who competes in events of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).
Justin Pipe is an English former professional darts player who played in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He was a former top 10 player.
MichaelMansell is a Northern Irish darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events.
Ian White, nicknamed Diamond, is an English professional darts player currently playing in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. White is the winner of 13 PDC ranking events, and has reached many quarter-finals in majors. In 2019, he reached his first major semi final.
Michael Smith is an English professional darts player. Nicknamed "Bully Boy", he plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events, where he is currently ranked No. 2 in the world. He is a former world champion, having won the 2023 World Championship.
Kim Huybrechts is a Belgian professional darts player currently playing in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He was runner-up in the 2012 Players Championship Finals, losing to Phil Taylor 13–6, and made the final of the 2013 PDC World Cup of Darts with his brother Ronny. He has appeared in the Premier League on two occasions.
Jamie Lewis is a Welsh professional darts player who currently plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and World Darts Federation (WDF) events. His biggest achievement to date was reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 PDC World Darts Championship where he lost to Phil Taylor.
Jani Haavisto is a Finnish former professional darts player.
Robert Marijanovic is a German darts player of Croatian heritage.
Ronny Huybrechts is a Belgian professional darts player.