List of darts players who have switched organisation

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Between 1993 and 2020 professional darts had two rival bodies which staged tournaments and had separate pools of players, the British Darts Organisation (BDO) and the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Both staged its own world championship. In practice, players had to choose which organisation to represent, but many switched between the two, which often caused controversy.

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This situation arose following an acrimonious split in the early 1990s between the leading players and the BDO. Darts had boomed in popularity during the 1980s, with as many as 23 televised events in 1983. However, by the end of the decade this had fallen to just one. This, combined with general disillusionment at the BDO's management of the sport, prompted 16 top players to break away and form their own body. Four years of legal action followed, culminating in the 1997 Tomlin order, which confirmed the existence of both bodies, and established that players were free choose which one to play for.

This list documents the players who made the decision to switch from one organisation to the other. In general more players switched from the BDO to the PDC than vice versa, attracted by the greater prize money and better competition offered by the PDC. The BDO folded in 2020, but many of their events were subsequently revived by the World Darts Federation, so the split in darts remains.

World Darts Council foundation

The sixteen darts defectors who formed the WDC were as follows:

PlayerTime with BDONotes
Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 1988–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2018.
Flag of England.svg Dennis Priestley 1989–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2014.
Flag of England.svg Rod Harrington 1987–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007.
Flag of England.svg Alan Warriner 1985–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2009.
Flag of England.svg Peter Evison 1986–1993Quit the PDC in 2008 to rejoin the BDO. Returned to the PDC in 2011 and retired from darts in 2018.
Flag of England.svg Ritchie Gardner 1984–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2006.
Flag of Scotland.svg Jocky Wilson 1979–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 1996.
Flag of England.svg Eric Bristow 1979–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007.
Flag of England.svg Keith Deller 1983–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007.
Flag of England.svg John Lowe 1975–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007.
Flag of England.svg Bob Anderson 1979–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2008.
Flag of England.svg Cliff Lazarenko 1977–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007.
Flag of England.svg Kevin Spiolek 1987–1993Remained a PDC player until his retirement in 2007.
Flag of Scotland.svg Jamie Harvey 1988–1993Quit the PDC in 2009 due to ill-health but returned to the BDO in 2011. Retired in 2013.
Flag of England.svg Mike Gregory 1983–1992Quit the PDC in 1993 to return to the BDO. Retired from darts in 2005.
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Chris Johns 1986–1993Quit the PDC in 1993 and retired from professional darts the same year.

Since then, many darts players have left the BDO to join the PDC, although some players rejoined the BDO either from finding it difficult on the PDC circuit or lack of sponsorship. The PDC had new talent of their own. However some players left them to join the BDO.

Players who transferred from the BDO to the PDC

Year of transferPlayerTime with BDONotes
1993 Flag of Ireland.svg Tom Kirby 1992Quit the PDC in 2007. Died in 2008
1994 Flag of England.svg Mick Manning 1988–1994Quit the PDC in 2005
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Larry Butler 1992–1993Quit the PDC in 1997 but rejoined them in 2007. Quit in 2011 and is now with the BDO
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Singapore.svg Paul Lim 1980–1994
1994 Flag of England.svg Dennis Smith 1993–1994
1994 Flag of England.svg Graeme Stoddart 1990Quit the PDC in 2009
1994 Flag of England.svg Dennis Hickling 1980–1994Quit the PDC in 1996
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Tony Payne 1985–1994Quit the PDC in 1995 but rejoined them in 2003. Quit in 2007
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Jerry Umberger 1981–1993Quit the PDC in 1997
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Gerald Verrier1987–1993Quit the PDC in 2000
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Sean Downs 1993Quit the PDC in 2010
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Whit Whitley 1993Quit the PDC in 1995
1994 Flag of England.svg Damien Tonge 1993–1994Quit the PDC in 1995
1994 Flag of England.svg Gary Stevens 1993Quit the PDC in 2009
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Watkins 1993Quit the PDC in 1995
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Jim Widmayer 1993Quit the PDC in 2007 to rejoin BDO in 2008
1994 Flag of the United States.svg Dave Kelly1991–1993Quit the PDC in 1996 but rejoined them in 2006. Quit in 2008
1994 Flag of England.svg Kevin Burrows1989–1994Quit the PDC in 2004
1994 Flag of England.svg Shayne Burgess 1989–1994Quit the PDC in 2008 to rejoin BDO in 2012. Quit in 2014
1994 Flag of England.svg Steve Raw 1993Quit the PDC in 2001
1995 Flag of the United States.svg Gary Mawson 1994Quit the PDC in 2001 but rejoined them in 2004.
1995 Flag of England.svg John Russell 1994Quit the PDC in 1996
1995 Flag of England.svg Reg Harding 1988–1993Quit the PDC in 2006
1995 Flag of England.svg Nigel Justice 1991Quit the PDC in 2003
1995 Flag of England.svg Kevin Kenny 1987–1994Quit the PDC in 2001
1995 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jef Scheyltjens 1994Quit the PDC in 1995
1996 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Tony Holyoake 1983Quit the PDC in 1997
1996 Flag of England.svg Phil Gilman 1992Quit the PDC in 2006
1996 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Robbins 1995Quit the PDC in 2008
1996 Flag of England.svg Peter Manley 1995–1996Quit the PDC in 2017
1996 Flag of England.svg Harry Robinson 1990–1996
1996 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Johnny Deley 1987–1990Quit the PDC in 1996
1996 Flag of England.svg Paul Cook 1990Quit the PDC in 2017
1996 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Avtar Gill 1981–1987Quit the PDC in 1997
1996 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Frans Harmsen 1995Quit the PDC in 2000 to rejoin BDO in 2002. Quit the 2017
1996 Flag of England.svg Jack North 1975–1976Quit the PDC in 2004
1996 Flag of England.svg Fran Lynch 1994–1996Quit the PDC in 1997
1996 Flag of the United States.svg Jason Lucas 1995–1996Quit the PDC in 1997
1997 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Part 1991–1997Also a pundit for Sky Sports Darts
1997 Flag of Scotland.svg Drew O'Neill 1986Quit the PDC in 1998
1997 Flag of England.svg Dean Allsop1995–1997Quit the PDC in 2010 to rejoin the BDO in 2011
1997 Flag of England.svg Chris Whiting 1986–1994Quit the PDC in 1997
1997 Flag of England.svg Mark Robinson 1995–1997Quit the PDC in 2015
1997 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Carl Mercer 1993–1997Quit the PDC in 2004 to rejoin the BDO in 2006. Quit the 2009
1997 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Anthony Ridler 1977–1983Quit the PDC in 2006. Died in 2014
1998 Flag of England.svg John Ferrell 1994–1997Quit the PDC in 2017
1998 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Lauby 1996–1998
1998 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Scott Cummings 1997–1998Quit the PDC in 2001
1998 Flag of England.svg Alex Roy 1998Quit the PDC in 2018
1999 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Richie Burnett 1987–1999Quit the PDC in 2014 but rejoined them in 2016
1999 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Roland Scholten 1989–1999Quit the PDC in 2014 and is now a pundit for RTL7 Darts
1999 Flag of England.svg Colin Lloyd 1998Quit the PDC in 2015 but rejoined them in 2018. Quit in 2018
1999 Flag of the United States.svg Darin Young 1998Quit the PDC in 2014 to rejoin BDO in 2014
2000 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Braulio Roncero 1994–1998Quit the PDC in 2010. Died in 2018
2000 Flag of England.svg Dave Askew 1988–2000Quit the PDC in 2011
2000 Flag of the United States.svg Roger Carter 1996–1999Quit the PDC in 2012
2000 Flag of England.svg Denis Ovens 1986–2000Quit the PDC in 2015
2000 Flag of England.svg Les Fitton 1998–2000Quit the PDC in 2004
2001 Flag of England.svg Norman Fletcher 1999–2001Quit the PDC in 2013
2001 Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter 1988–2001
2001 Flag of England.svg Steve Beaton 1990–2001
2001 Flag of England.svg Andy Jenkins 1994–2001
2001 Flag of England.svg Kevin Painter 1994–2001
2001 Flag of England.svg Chris Mason 1990–2001Quit the PDC in 2014 and is now a commentator for ITV Sports Darts rejoined the BDO in 2015. Quit in 2016
2001 Flag of England.svg Paul Williams 1993–2001Quit the PDC in 2007
2001 Flag of England.svg Robbie Widdows 1987–2001Quit the PDC in 2006
2001 Flag of England.svg Lionel Sams 1994–2001Quit the PDC in 2011 but rejoined them in 2013. Quit in 2015
2002 Flag of England.svg Matt Chapman 1999–2001Quit the PDC in 2006
2002 Flag of England.svg Mark Holden1990–2001Quit the PDC in 2007
2002 Flag of England.svg Paul Whitworth 1990–2001
2002 Flag of England.svg Ian Brand 1994–1997Quit the PDC in 2007
2002 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Barrie Bates 2001
2002 Flag of England.svg Mark Dudbridge 2002
2002 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Arjan Moen 2000–2002Quit the PDC in 2003 the rejoin BDO in 2005. Quit in 2010
2002 Flag of England.svg Aaron Turner 2000-2002Quit the PDC in 2015 to rejoin BDO in 2016.
2002 Flag of Jamaica.svg Al Hedman 1995–2001Quit the PDC in 2005
2002 Flag of England.svg Mick Savvery 1985–2002Quit the PDC in 2016
2002 Flag of England.svg Lee Palfreyman 1995–2001
2002 Flag of England.svg Wayne Jones 1988–2002
2002 Flag of Ireland.svg Jack McKenna 1974–2002Quit the PDC in 2005 the rejoin BDO in 2006. Quit in 2007
2002 Ulster Banner.svg John MaGowan 1994–2001Quit the PDC in 2012 to rejoin BDO in 2012. Quit in 2016
2002 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brian Roach 1998Quit the PDC in 2017
2002 Flag of England.svg Wayne Mardle 1993–2002Quit the PDC in 2012 and is now a commentator for Sky Sports Darts
2002 Flag of England.svg Les Hodkinson 1997–2002Quit the PDC in 2004
2002 Flag of England.svg Crissy Manley 1997–2002Quit the PDC in 2004 to rejoin BDO in 2005. Quit the 2011.
2002 Flag of England.svg Dave Smith 2001Quit the PDC in 2012 to rejoin BDO in 2013. Quit the 2015
2003 Flag of England.svg Dave Jowett 1996–1997Quit the PDC in 2008
2003 Flag of Australia (converted).svg David Platt 2002Quit the PDC in 2010 to rejoin BDO in 2011
2003 Flag of the United States.svg Ray Carver2002Quit the PDC in 2010 to rejoin BDO in 2011. Quit in 2015. but rejoined them in 2018
2003 Ulster Banner.svg Ray Farrell 1985–1993Quit the PDC in 2009 to rejoin BDO in 2012. Quit in 2014
2003 Flag of England.svg Vic Hubbard 1985–1986Quit the PDC in 2006
2003 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Marshall James 1991–1999Quit the PDC in 2003
2003 Flag of England.svg Andy Smith 1997–2002
2003 Flag of England.svg Simon Whatley2002Quit the PDC in 2008 to rejoin BDO in 2010. Quit in 2011
2003 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Gerry Convery 2001–2003Quit the PDC in 2011
2003 Ulster Banner.svg Colin McGarry 1995Quit the PDC in 2014 to rejoin BDO in 2014. Quit in 2017
2003 Flag of England.svg Vijay Kumar 1989–2002Quit the PDC in 2004
2003 Ulster Banner.svg Geoff Wylie 1991–2003Quit the PDC in 2009 to rejoin BDO in 2013. Quit the 2015
2004 Flag of England.svg Matt Clark 1996–2004
2004 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Erik Clarys 1989–2004Quit the PDC in 2006
2004 Flag of the United States.svg Bruce Cottrell 2003Quit the PDC in 2017
2004 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Norm Tremblay 2002–2003Quit the PDC in 2007 to rejoin BDO in 2010. Quit in 2017
2004 Flag of the United States.svg Ricky Villanueva 2004Quit the PDC in 2011
2004 Flag of England.svg Colin Monk 1993–2004Quit the PDC in 2011
2004 Flag of England.svg James Wade 2001–2004
2004 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ron Miller 2004Quit the PDC in 2013
2004 Flag of England.svg Dave Whitcombe 1979–1992Quit the PDC in 2007.
2004 Flag of Scotland.svg Peter Wright 1995–2004
2004 Flag of the United States.svg George Walls 2003Quit the PDC in 2007
2004 Flag of the United States.svg Ed de Behnke 2004Quit the PDC in 2017
2005 Flag of England.svg Mark Frost 2004
2005 Flag of England.svg Steve Gittins1985–1990Quit the PDC in 2005
2005 Flag of Germany.svg Tomas Seyler 1998–2004
2005 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Russell Stewart 1983–2005Quit the PDC in 2016
2005 Flag of England.svg Alan Tabern 2004
2006 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld 1987–2006
2006 Flag of the United States.svg David DePriest2006Quit the PDC in 2017
2006 Flag of the United States.svg John Kuczynski 2000–2005Quit the PDC in 2012
2006 Flag of the United States.svg Bill Davis 2001–2004Quit the PDC in 2012
2006 Flag of the United States.svg Brad Wethington 1998Quit the PDC in 2015
2006 Flag of Denmark.svg Jann Hoffmann 1989–2004Quit the PDC in 2016
2006 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Peter Locke 1983–1992Quit the PDC in 2006
2006 Flag of South Africa.svg Charles Losper 2003–2006Quit the PDC in 2015
2006 Flag of Ireland.svg Shane O'Connor 2006
2006 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brian Cyr1998–2006Quit the PDC in 2008 to rejoin BDO in 2011
2006 Flag of Germany.svg Michael Rosenauer 1991–2006Quit the PDC in 2016 to rejoin BDO in 2017
2006 Flag of England.svg Kirk Shepherd 2003–2006
2007 Flag of England.svg Jamie Caven 1992–2007
2007 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 2003–2007
2007 Flag of England.svg Stuart Holden 1983Quit the PDC in 2015
2007 Flag of England.svg Mervyn King 1994–2007
2007 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Klaasen 2003–2007
2007 Flag of England.svg Dave Ladley1992–2005
2007 Flag of Denmark.svg Per Laursen 1987–2007
2007 Flag of Spain.svg Carlos Rodriguez 2006–2007
2007 Flag of Austria.svg Mensur Suljović 1999–2005
2007 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Vincent van der Voort 2001–2007
2007 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rory Orvis 1998–2007Quit the PDC in 2013
2007 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dan Olson 1990–2007Quit the PDC in 2011
2008 Flag of the Philippines.svg Rizal Barellano 2006Quit the PDC in 2009
2008 Flag of the United States.svg Sammy Cruz 1990–1992Quit the PDC in 2017
2008 Flag of Hungary.svg Nándor Bezzeg 2000–2008
2008 Flag of Austria.svg Dietmar Burger 2002–2007
2008 Flag of Finland.svg Marko Kantele 1996–2008
2008 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Ken MacNeil 2005–2008
2008 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Miloslav Navrátil 2005–2007Quit the PDC in 2008
2008 Flag of Ireland.svg Aodhagan O'Neill 2003–2008Quit the PDC in 2012
2008 Flag of India.svg Ashfaque Sayed 2005–2006Quit the PDC in 2015
2008 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bob Sinnaeve 1980–1992Quit the PDC in 2010 to rejoin BDO in 2010
2008 Flag of Scotland.svg Robert Thornton 2002–2008
2009 Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson 2000–2009
2009 Flag of Sweden.svg Magnus Caris 1987–2009
2009 Flag of England.svg Andy Fordham 1994–2009Quit the PDC in 2011 to rejoin the BDO in 2013
2009 Flag of Finland.svg Jarkko Komula 1998–2009Quit the PDC in 2015
2009 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Mark Webster 2006–2009
2010 Flag of Spain.svg Antonio Alcinas 2005–2009
2010 Flag of the United States.svg Stacy Bromberg 1995–2010Quit the PDC in 2012. Died in 2017
2010 Flag of England.svg Steve Farmer 2004–2010Quit the PDC in 2013
2010 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Mareno Michels 2004–2010
2010 Flag of Poland.svg Krzysztof Ratajski 2007–2010
2010 Flag of England.svg Tricia Wright 2000–2010Joined the PDC in 2005 Still plays in the BDO since 2013
2010 Flag of England.svg Ian White 2005–2010
2011 Flag of England.svg Dave Chisnall 2004–2011
2011 Flag of England.svg Brian Woods 2003–2011
2011 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Kurt van de Rijck2002–2011Quit the PDC in 2014 to rejoin BDO in 2014
2012 Flag of England.svg Tony West 2002–2012Quit the PDC in 2016
2012 Flag of England.svg Steve West 2004–2012
2012 Flag of England.svg Stuart Kellett 2006–2012
2012 Flag of England.svg Ted Hankey 1994–2012Quit the PDC in 2013 to rejoin the BDO in 2014
2012 Flag of England.svg Dean Winstanley 2008–2012Quit the PDC in 2016 but rejoined them in 2018
2012 Flag of Scotland.svg Les Wallace 1995–2003Quit the PDC in 2013
2013 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wayne Weening 1988–2012Quit the PDC in 2015
2014 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Christian Kist 2009–2014
2014 Flag of England.svg Stephen Bunting 2002–2014
2015 Flag of England.svg Alan Norris 2006–2015
2015 Flag of England.svg James Wilson 2007–2015
2015 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan Dekker 2008–2015
2016 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jeffrey de Graaf 2010–2016
2017 Flag of Latvia.svg Madars Razma 2009–2017
2017 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jimmy Hendriks 2010–2017
2017 Flag of Poland.svg Krzysztof Ratajski 2007–2017
2018 Flag of Scotland.svg Cameron Menzies 2006–2018
2018 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Danny Noppert 2012–2018
2018 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Davy Van Baelen2016–2018
2018 Flag of England.svg Darryl Fitton 2002–2018Quit the PDC in 2018
2018 Flag of Sweden.svg Dennis Nilsson 2006–2018
2018 Flag of England.svg Tony O'Shea 1995–2018Quit the PDC in 2018
2018 Flag of England.svg Martin Atkins 2002–2018Quit the PDC in 2018
2018 Flag of England.svg Jamie Hughes 2013–2018
2018 Flag of England.svg Ryan Joyce 2007–2018
2018 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Eddy Sims 2005–2018
2019 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Geert De Vos 2004–2019
2019 Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Andy Baetens 2010–2019
2019 Flag of Lithuania.svg Darius Labanauskas 2006–2019
2019 Flag of England.svg Glen Durrant 2004–2019
2019 Flag of England.svg Mark McGeeney 2010–2019
2019 Flag of England.svg Scott Waites 2004–2019
2019 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Jim Williams 2012–2019
2019 Flag of England.svg Daniel Day 2016–2019
2019 Ulster Banner.svg Kyle McKinstry 2014–2019
2019 Flag of England.svg Conan Whitehead 2016–2019
2019 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Dean Reynolds 2015–2019
2019 Flag of England.svg Scott Baker 2016–2019
2019 Flag of the Philippines.svg Ronald L. Briones 2006–2019Quit the PDC in 2020

BDO darts players who joined the PDC before returning

Year of transferPlayerTime with BDOTime with PDCNotes
2004 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Brown 1976–19911993–2004
2007 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Steve Alker 1998–20052005–2007
2007 Flag of England.svg Steve Coote 1994–20042004–2007
2007 Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Mark Salmon 1994–20052005–2006Quit the BDO in 2017
2008 Flag of England.svg Peter Evison 1986–19931993–2008Was one of the 16 WDC defectors. Quit in 2018.
2009 Flag of England.svg Deta Hedman 1990–19972002–2005
2009 Flag of Austria.svg Anton Pein 2003–20072007–2009
2010 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Remco van Eijden 2004–20082008–2010
2010 Flag of Scotland.svg Chris Loudon1998–20092009–2010Quit the BDO in 2018 rejoined the PDC in 2018.
2010 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jan van der Rassel 2002–20032004–2009Quit the PDC in 2010.
2011 Flag of Russia.svg Anastasia Dobromyslova 2004–20082008–2011
2012 Flag of England.svg Tony Eccles 2002–20072007–2011Quit the PDC in 2011 rejoined the BDO in 2012. Quit in 2014.
2013 Flag of England.svg Andy Fordham 1990–20082009–2011Rejoined the BDO in 2013.
2014 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Co Stompé 1994–20082008–2013Rejoined the PDC in 2018.
2014 Flag of England.svg Ted Hankey 1995–20122012–2014Rejoined the BDO in 2014.
2014 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jeff Smith 2008–20112011–2013Rejoined the PDC in 2018.

PDC darts players who joined the BDO before returning

Year of transferPlayerTime with PDCTime with BDORef
2009 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Simon Whitlock 2002–20032004–2009 [1]
2011 Flag of Scotland.svg John Henderson 2002–20032004–2011 [2]
2012 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Toon Greebe 2008–20102006–2008, 2010–2012
2015 Flag of England.svg Robbie Green 2003–20072008–2015 [3]
2018 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Jeff Smith 2011–20132002–2011, 2014–2017
2020 Flag of England.svg Andy Hamilton 2004–20182018–2020
2020 Flag of England.svg Wes Newton 2002–20182018–2020

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References

  1. "Simon Whitlocks World Championship Results". Darts database. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  2. "John Henderson BDO results". Darts Database. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. "Robbie Green BDO results". Darts Database. Retrieved 24 January 2017.