Les Wallace

Darts player infobox
playername = Les Wallace


fullname =
nickname = McDanger
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1962|02|22
cityofbirth = Forres
countryofbirth = Scotland
dateofdeath =
cityofdeath =
countryofdeath =
hometown = Midanbury
homecountry = England
since = 1995
darts =
BDO = 1995 to 2003
PDC =
currentrank = inactive
BDO World = Winner 1997
World Masters = Winner 1998
World Darts Trophy =
Int. Darts League =
PDC World =
Matchplay =
Grand Prix =
UK Open =
Vegas =
Premier League =
tournament =
resultyears =
achievement =
updated = May 30, 2007

Les Wallace (born February 22, 1962 in Forres [ [http://www.darts-import.nl/dic/emb99/ Wallace Profile] ] ) is a Scottish, former World Champion darts player. He currently lives in Midanbury Broadway, Southampton, England. He adopted the nickname McDanger - coming out for his matches dressed in a traditional kilt. He won the 1997 Embassy World Championship, which is one of the two versions of the World Professional Championship.

World Championship performances

Wallace made his first appearance at the World Championship in 1995, losing a first round match to Raymond van Barneveld. His assault on the 1996 Championship ended at the hands of the defending world champion, Richie Burnett in the semi-finals.

Wallace avenged his defeat by Barneveld in 1997, beating him 3-2 in the second round. He went on to win the World Championship with a 6-3 victory over Welshman Marshall James. Wallace became the first left-handed player to win a World Championship (either PDC or BDO). [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/specials/world_darts_championship_2002/1706853.stm "Did you know...?"] , BBC Sport, 20 July, 2002. URL last accessed December 9, 2006.]

He never consolidated his position after winning the World Championship in 1997. He managed only two more match victories at Lakeside, the venue of the BDO Worlds. The defence of his title ended with a second round loss to Steve Beaton (another former World Champion). Barneveld beat him again in 1999 (2nd Round), and Wallace went out to Richie Davies in the first round in 2000 - he hasn't qualified to play at the World Championship since.

Wallace reached the final of the 1993 Winmau World Masters, losing to Steve Beaton. He won the title five years later, beating Alan Warriner in the final.

End of career

Wallace's private life was a major contributor to his withdrawal from the full-time darts circuit. At one of his court cases, his solicitor Charles Thomas told the court that Wallace's life dramatically changed in 1999 when his partner lost premature twins who were four days old. That led to the collapse of the relationship and his alcohol consumption became greater. [ [http://archive.thisishampshire.net/2001/2/14/78509.html Report regarding prison sentence and personal problems] ]

He effectively withdrew from the full-time circuit in 1999, although he still participated in some BDO tournaments - including the World Masters in 2000 and 2003 - losing his first match on both occasions. His only televised appearance since came in an exhibition match before the World Darts Trophy final in 2006 - when he played in a Legends match against Bobby George.

Outside darts

Les Wallace has flirted with the law on several occasions. After a 1996 court appearance, he was fined £210 and banned for 12 months for driving with excess alcohol, having no insurance and failing to stop. [ [http://archive.dailyecho.co.uk/2001/12/5/69152.html Details of 1996 drink-drive conviction] ]

Wallace, a father of four, was given a two-week suspended prison sentence for failing to pay £778.73 of council tax in February 2001. He owed the money to Southampton City Council for failing to pay for the period April 1, 1997 (the year in which he won £38,000 for winning the World Championship) to May 31, 2000.

He admitted non-payment of council tax and was warned that he will be jailed unless he keeps up his repayments. The magistrates were told that he had financial problems and could not afford to pay the debts.

Later in 2001, he received a four month jail sentence after admitting dangerous driving. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1694184.stm Jailed for dangerous driving (BBC)] ] He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of drink-driving and dangerous driving.

Police reported Wallace was driving his red Ford Sierra through the city's streets too fast and ignored the police car's blue flashing lights. Wallace drove the wrong way up a one-way street, and several other roads, to try and get away. Wallace then abandoned the car and ran off chased by a police officer who caught him when he fell over. A breath test found he was nearly twice the legal alcohol limit of 35mg.

He received a three-year ban from driving in addition to the custodial sentence.

References