Winmau World Masters

Tournament History

The Winmau World Masters has been running since 1974, predating the World Championship even, and is still going strong. Darts manufaturer Winmau have sponsored the event since 1976 and have a contract until 2010. The first sponsor was Phonogram in 1974 and 1975.

The venue has changed regularly over the years but has found a home in Bridlington in recent times. The BBC have screened the tournament for over 30 years and it still regularly pulls in over 4 million viewers.

World Masters weekend also features the play offs for the Lakeside World Championship and is a critical time of the season for all those players hoping to make it to Frimley Green.

Eric Bristow won the World Masters 5 times and is the only person other than Bob Anderson to successfully defend the title. Anderson actually won it 3 times on the trot between 1986 and 1988. They are two of eleven players to have won both the World Masters and World Championship but only four have won both in the same season - Bristow (who did it 3 times) and Anderson are joined by Richie Burnett and John Walton in his exclusive club. Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld held both at the same time but they were won in different seasons...which tough as it seems doesn't count!

van Barneveld lifted the title twice before switching to the PDC and has Dave Whitcombe and John Lowe for company as double winners of this prestigious title. Michael van Gerwen became the youngest ever winner in 2006 when he shocked Martin Adams who has so far failed to get his hands on the trophy.