The BDO World Darts Championship is one version of the World Darts Championship having began as a unified World Championship for the game of darts in 1978. Since 1994, following a dispute with the BDO, a rival breakaway group was formed (now known as the Professional Darts Corporation) and it stages its own annual PDC World Championship, generally before the BDO version in late December and early January of each year.
The BDO version was inaugurated in 1978 when it was held at the Heart of the Midlands Nightclub in the English city of Nottingham. The following year it moved to the Jollees Cabaret Club, Stoke, where it stayed until 1985. Since then it has been held at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey. The event has been organised by the British Darts Organisation, darts' governing body.
Many of darts' greatest moments have occurred at the BDO World Championship. In 1983, a 22 year-old qualifier from Ipswich, Keith Deller, beat the world's top 3 players including Eric Bristow in a memorable final to produce one of the greatest upsets in the sport's history.
In 1990 American player Paul Lim hit the tournament's only ever perfect 9-dart finish in the second round against Irishman Jack McKenna to win a bonus of £50,000 which was more than the eventual champion.
The finals of 1992 and 1998 both went right down to a final leg decider, having reached 5 sets all and 5 legs all. Phil Taylor defeated Mike Gregory in 1992 and Raymond van Barneveld beat Richie Burnett in 1998. These two matches are often mentioned in a discussion of greatest matches of all time.
Similarly, the final of 2007 was exceptionally nailbiting. Martin Adams was 6 sets up, and after the comfort break, Phill Nixon responded by winning the next 6 consecutive sets. Adams held on to take victory in the 13th and deciding set, to win the title that had eluded him for 14 years.
Mark Webster of Wales is the current champion having beaten Australian Simon Whitlock in the 2008 final.