1978 BDO World Darts Championship

The 1978 Embassy World Darts Championship was the very first World Darts Championships. The tournament was organised by the British Darts Organisation who had already set up the WDF World Cup and Winmau World Masters in its five years since formation. This was the only year that the tournament was played in a matchplay format of legs, rather than sets which came into operation from 1979 onwards. BBC Television covered the event and began a long broadcasting partnership with the BDO. Sid Waddell was the lead commentator on the tournament which he would cover for the BBC until 1994.

The championships became possible when Mike Watterson, a snooker promoter came up with the idea whilst sat in a barber's chair in 1977. Imperial Tobacco, who already sponsored the World Snooker Championship with their Embassy brand were also interested and with Watterson promoting the event Imperial also signed up to the darts version, which they were to sponsor for 25 years. The relationship only ended when the UK government decided to end tobacco companies right to sponsor sporting events.

The tournament was held between February 6 and February 10. The tournament was held, for the only time, at the Heart of the Midlands Club in Nottingham. The BDO decided to move the event to Jollees Cabaret Club in Stoke-on-Trent for the following year.

The third night of the tournament was when tournament began to be lit up when Leighton Rees checked out in ten darts in front of the tv cameras. Eric Bristow was the number one seed for the championship, but suffered a surprise first round defeat to Conrad Daniels of the United States.

The number three seed, Leighton Rees of Wales beat number two seed, England's John Lowe 11-7 in the final. He began to pull ahead when a 180 and a 13-dart leg extended his lead from 8-7 to 9-7 and then he took the next two as well for the £3,000 top prize and the title as first ever World Darts Champion.

Prize Money

Total Prize fund was £10,500
*Champion £3,000
*Runner-up £1,700
*Third Place £1,000
*Fourth Place £800
*Quarter finalists £500
*1st round losers £250

TOURNAMENT REVIEW"Day One - Monday 6th February"

The first days play at the inaugural Embassy World Darts Championships saw 4 first round matches, played over the best of 11 legs. In the opening match, number 1 seed Eric Bristow, a man who would later go on to dominate this event by reaching 10 finals over the 1980's and early 1990's bowed out 6-3 to American Conrad Daniels. Then in an all North American battle, Nicky Virachkul knocked out Hillyard Rossiter 6-0, the first ever World Championship whitewash.

The third game saw number 5 seed Alan Evans come through a trick match against England's Alan Glazier by 6 legs to 4. There would be a Welsh Semi-Finalist guaranteed after 3rd seed and fellow Welshman Leighton Rees set up a quarter-final on Wednesday after beating Australian Barry Atkinson 6-0.

"Day Two - Tuesday 7th February"

The first round would be completed today, in the opening match, 4th seeded Scot Rab Smith would smoothly book a second round spot with a 6-0 win over Irishman Patrick Clifford. He would be up against a Swede before the match would be finished. Stefan Lord, seeded 6 won 6-3 against Kenth Ohlsson. Then the second surprise of the tournament came in defeat for 8th seed Tony Brown of England, 6-3 to Australian namesake Tim Brown. The final match would see John Lowe, the highest seed remaining in the Embassy draw begin with a 6-1 win over Bobby Semple of Scotland.

"Day Three - Wednesday 8th February"

All 4 Quarter-Finals were played today, the matches still over the best of 11 legs.

A change in the broadcasting style - and this change was here to stay. After many complaints the BBC decided to split the screen enabling viewer to see the player's reactions and styles of throw. The first quarter-final saw Conrad Daniels leave the tournament after a great first round win over Eric Bristow, Nick Virachkul going into the semi-finals a 6-4 win.

Then came arguably one of the best games of the tournament, Evans vs. Rees. Evans took the first leg in 13 darts, having opened up with a 180. Then with Rees 3-2, he took the 6th leg with scores of 137, 180, 180 & double 2 first dart, the first 10 darter on national television. Rees would go on to take the match and a place against Virachkul by 6 legs to 3.

The bottom half of the draw saw Stefan Lord knock out Rab Smith in a surprising 6-3 win, whilst John Lowe continued his progress in the tournament, a 6-1 win over Tim Brown, a second 6-1 win for Lowe in the tournament so far.

"Day Four - Thursday 9th February"

The Semi-Finals and the third place play-off would be held today. Matches in the Semi-Finals being extended to the best of 15 legs, whilst the play-off would be the best of nine legs. Wales would have a finalist in the first ever World Championships, after Rees snuck home in the only match to go all the way, Rees winning 8-7 to end American hopes.

In the Second semi-final, John Lowe put out Stefan Lord 8-4 in a comfortable victory, consolation for Virachkul came in victory in the play-off, the American taking home £1000 for his week with Lord taking £800 after the play-off, which Virachkul won 5-4.

"'THE FINAL - Day Five - Friday 10th February

Rees vs. Lowe in a match for £3000, the loser would take £1700. Rees would become champion, winning the final by 11 legs to seven.

The Results

16TeamBracket-Compact | RD1=1st Round
Best of 11 legs
RD2=Quarter Finals
Best of 11 legs
RD3=Semi Finals
Best of 15 legs
RD4=Final
Best of 21 legs

score-width=30

RD1-seed01=1
RD1-team01=flagicon|EnglandEric Bristow72.69
RD1-score01=3
RD1-seed02=
RD1-team02=flagicon|United StatesConrad Daniels78.17
RD1-score02=6

RD1-seed03=7
RD1-team03=flagicon|United StatesNicky Virachkul77.83
RD1-score03=6
RD1-seed04=
RD1-team04=flagicon|CanadaHillyard Rossiter 62.79
RD1-score04=0

RD1-seed05=5
RD1-team05=flagicon|WalesAlan Evans74.29
RD1-score05=6
RD1-seed06=
RD1-team06=flagicon|EnglandAlan Glazier 71.76
RD1-score06=4

RD1-seed07=3
RD1-team07=flagicon|WalesLeighton Rees80.56
RD1-score07=6
RD1-seed08=
RD1-team08=flagicon|AustraliaBarry Atkinson68.91
RD1-score08=0

RD1-seed09=4
RD1-team09=flagicon|ScotlandRab Smith64.02
RD1-score09=6
RD1-seed10=
RD1-team10=flagicon|IrelandPatrick Clifford61.28
RD1-score10=0

RD1-seed11=6
RD1-team11=flagicon|SwedenStefan Lord76.58
RD1-score11=6
RD1-seed12=
RD1-team12=flagicon|SwedenKenth Ohlsson64.97
RD1-score12=3

RD1-seed13=
RD1-team13=flagicon|AustraliaTim Brown72.81
RD1-score13=6
RD1-seed14=8
RD1-team14=flagicon|EnglandTony Brown76.27
RD1-score14=3

RD1-seed15=
RD1-team15=flagicon|ScotlandBobby Semple61.40
RD1-score15=1
RD1-seed16=2
RD1-team16=flagicon|EnglandJohn Lowe78.29
RD1-score16=6

RD2-seed01=
RD2-team01=flagicon|United StatesConrad Daniels
RD2-score01=4
RD2-seed02=7
RD2-team02=flagicon|United StatesNicky Virachkul
RD2-score02=6

RD2-seed03=5
RD2-team03=flagicon|WalesAlan Evans
RD2-score03=3
RD2-seed04=3
RD2-team04=flagicon|WalesLeighton Rees
RD2-score04=6

RD2-seed05=4
RD2-team05=flagicon|ScotlandRab Smith
RD2-score05=3
RD2-seed06=6
RD2-team06=flagicon|Sweden Stefan Lord
RD2-score06=6

RD2-seed07=
RD2-team07=flagicon|AustraliaTim Brown
RD2-score07=1
RD2-seed08=2
RD2-team08=flagicon|EnglandJohn Lowe
RD2-score08=6

RD3-seed01=7
RD3-team01=flagicon|United StatesNicky Virachkul
RD3-score01=7
RD3-seed02=3
RD3-team02=flagicon|WalesLeighton Rees
RD3-score02=8

RD3-seed03=6
RD3-team03=flagicon|Sweden Stefan Lord
RD3-score03=4
RD3-seed04=2
RD3-team04=flagicon|EnglandJohn Lowe
RD3-score04=8

RD4-seed01=3
RD4-team01=flagicon|WalesLeighton Rees
RD4-score01=11
RD4-seed02=2
RD4-team02=flagicon|EnglandJohn Lowe
RD4-score02=7

3rd place match Best of 9 legs