This weekend sees the start of the BDO’s Lakeside World Championship, at Frimley Green, in Surrey.  Since its inception way back in 1978 (in Nottingham), the event has really become established as one of the annual British sporting highlights.

While the names on the trophy are invariably European (except for Canadian John Part), Americans have played an important role in the event’s history.  There have been a total of twenty Americans who have contested the BDO World Championship, and although there have been some stirring performances, none have reached the final.  The best results were semi-final appearances for the late Nicky Virachkul in 1978, and Rick Ney a decade later.  Nicky also reached the quarter-finals (on three occasions), as have Conrad Daniels (1978), David Miller (1982), and Paul Lim (1990).

However, that 1990 effort from Paul Lim included the history-making nine-dart 501!  Paul (who holds the record number of appearances by an American, with twelve), recorded the feat – still the only one hit in the history of the event – in his second round defeat of Ireland’s Jack McKenna.  Few people can tell you who won it that year (some guy named Phil Taylor!), but everybody remembers Paul…

New Yorker Jim Widmayer made an impressive debut on the Lakeside stage last year, and is back again in 2015, hoping to make an even bigger impact.  Jim plays his first game on Monday afternoon, against Rhys Hayden.  The reward for victory there is a clash against his old adversary, Dutchman Rick Hofstra.

So, here’s wishing Jim good luck and good darts, and it would be wonderful to see an American name on the trophy!

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