![]() | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations .(March 2013) |
Marshall James | |
---|---|
Personal information | |
Nickname | "Big MJ" |
Born | 4 October 1970 Cardiff, Wales |
Home town | Cefn Caeau, Llanelli, Wales |
Darts information | |
Playing darts since | 1982 |
Darts | 21g Unicorn |
Laterality | Right-handed |
Organisation (see split in darts) | |
BDO | 1991–1999 |
PDC | 2003 |
WDF major events – best performances | |
World Ch'ship | Runner-Up: 1997 |
World Masters | Semi-finals: 1998 |
PDC premier events – best performances | |
UK Open | Last 128: 2003 |
Other tournament wins | |
Tournament | Years |
Welsh Open WDF World Cup WDF Europe Cup White lion cup 10 years running | 1997 1997 1998 |
Updated on 7 January 2019. |
Marshall James (born 4 October 1970) is a Welsh former professional darts player. His only high-profile success in the game was being runner-up in the 1997 BDO World Championship in his debut year at the championships. He was known for his slow, deliberate throwing style.
His 1997 Embassy World title run started with victory over Bill Burksfield in the first round 3–1. He then beat Andy Fordham, a future world champion himself, in the second round, again by 3–1. Deciding set wins over American Roger Carter and defending champion Steve Beaton (in the sudden death leg, finishing with a 106 checkout after Beaton had narrowly missed one dart at double 10 for the match) sent him into the final. In the final against Scotland's Les Wallace, James looked impressive in the earlier sets of the match and was unfortunate to trail 2-3 at the interval. Wallace gained increasing momentum after the interval while James' momentum faded away fast. Wallace dominated the later sets, winning the final by a comfortable 6–3 by the end.
James only made two more appearances at Lakeside when he was beaten in the first round in 1998 by Richie Burnett and in the second round in 1999 by Steve Duke.
He was a member of the Welsh World Cup darts winning team in 1997. Wales won the Overall World Cup and Team Event in that year. He also teamed up with Martin Phillips, Sean Palfrey and Ritchie Davies as Wales won the 1998 WDF Europe Cup.
The only significant title that James won in his short career came at the 1997 Welsh Open in his home country having been a finalist in 1991 and quarter-finalist in 1992.
In 2003, he qualified for the UK Open, a PDC tournament but was knocked out in the very early rounds to Mark Thomson.
Andrew Fordham was an English professional darts player, commonly known as The Viking. He won the 2004 BDO World Darts Championship and the 1999 Winmau World Masters.
Steve Beaton is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He won the BDO World Darts Championship in 1996 and is a former World No. 1.
Roland Scholten is a Dutch former professional darts player who played in events of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and British Darts Organisation (BDO). Nicknamed The Tripod and The Flying Dutchman, Scholten turned full-time professional in 2001 having previously worked as a publican. Despite his Dutch nationality, Scholten speaks with a strong English accent having lived in Peterborough for several years. His considerable height and throwing technique meant his darts hit the board at a considerably narrow angle.
Martin Adams is an English professional darts player who plays in World Darts Federation (WDF) events. Nicknamed "Wolfie", he is a three-time BDO World Champion and three-time World Masters champion. He represents Cambridgeshire at county darts level and was the captain of England from 1993 to 2013, the longest any player has held that role. From his debut in 1994, Adams made a record 25 consecutive World Championship appearances, before failing to qualify for the first time in 2019. Adams was diagnosed with prostate cancer in April 2016, but by the end of the year he was given the all-clear. As well as playing, he also acts as a regular pundit and commentator for televised coverage of BDO events.
Russell "Rusty" Stewart is an Australian former professional darts player. He used the nickname Rusty for his matches.
The 1995 Embassy World Professional Darts Championship was held from 1 to 8 January 1995 at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey. Richie Burnett became the second Welshman to be crowned World Champion after the inaugural winner Leighton Rees. Burnett defeated Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld 6 sets to 3 in the final. Defending champion John Part of Canada lost in the second round to qualifier Paul Williams.
The 1996 Embassy World Professional Darts Championship was held from 1–7 January 1996 at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey and was won by the number six seed Steve Beaton. Beaton, who suffered a first round loss in the previous two World Championships as the number one seed, defeated Co Stompé, 1994 champion John Part, and future champions Martin Adams and Andy Fordham before beating defending champion Richie Burnett 6–3 in sets in the final.
The 1997 Embassy World Professional Darts Championship was held from 4–12 January 1997 at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey. It was won by Les Wallace, who became the second Scotsman to become World Darts Champion after Jocky Wilson won it twice in 1982 and 1989. Wallace defeated Wales' Marshall James 6–3 in the final. Wallace also became the first left-handed player to win either version of the World Darts Championship. It was also the second time in four years that two unseeded players had reached the Embassy final, and remains the most recent occasion that this has occurred.
The 1998 Embassy World Professional Darts Championship was held from 3–11 January 1998 at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey.
The 2004 Budweiser UK Open was the second time the Professional Darts Corporation held the tournament which had quickly earned the nickname the "FA Cup of Darts". It was held at Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium between 4–6 June 2004. Budweiser became the tournament's new sponsor.
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.
Les Wallace is a Scottish retired professional darts player. He adopted the nickname "McDanger" and was known for wearing a kilt for his matches. He won the 1997 BDO World Darts Championship.
Michael Seward Gregory was an English professional darts player, best remembered as the runner-up to Phil Taylor in the 1992 Embassy World Darts Championship final, which went to a tiebreak final leg and is regarded as one of the greatest matches in darts history.
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.
Paul Hogan is an English professional darts player who plays in events of the World Darts Federation. He is nicknamed "Crocodile Dundee" after the film starring his namesake, Australian actor Paul Hogan.
Leo Laurens is a Belgian former professional darts player who competed in British Darts Organisation (BDO) events. At the end of 1993, he was number one in the WDF world rankings after all of the BDO's top players broke away to form the World Darts Council. Despite his new accolade, Laurens never won a major title.
Carlos José Rodríguez Sequera is a Spanish former professional darts player.
Ronnie Baxter is an English former professional darts player who competed in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He used the nickname "The Rocket" for his matches. Baxter was known for his fast robotic throwing action. He currently resides in his hometown Blackpool. Baxter is widely regarded as one of the best players never to have won a major TV title. He is still active on the exhibition circuit.
Devon Petersen is a South African professional darts player and a pundit for Sky Sports. He has qualified for the PDC World Championship on seven occasions with his best result coming in 2014, 2019 and 2021 when he reached the last 16. Petersen has become popular for dancing on to the stage to Shakira's "Waka Waka " before his matches.
James Hubbard is an English former professional darts player.