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"TEAM UNICORN" DART PLAYERS

Phil "The Power" Taylor

The sport of darts has never had it so good and one thing's for sure - a certain Philip Taylor has played a huge part in the amazing tungsten success story... darts wouldn't be where it is today without the greatest player ever. And in 2008, the world has witnessed the second coming of 'The Power'.

After crashing out of the World Championship and struggling at the start of the Premier League, the critics were writing Phil Taylor and his achievements into the darting history books. But that's all the motivation he needed to storm back with some of the best individual performances ever seen - culminating in glory in back-to-back 'Majors' when he won the Las Vegas Desert Classic and World Matchplay in the space of three weeks.

New darts... a new start... a new hunger and a new desire saw Taylor prove the doubters wrong yet again after he claimed a 4th consecutive Premier League crown earlier in the year. And he warned: "There is more to come!" Time and time again he has raised the bar and he now believes he can consistently push his match average up to between 115 and 120! In Vegas, he beat fellow Unicorn star James Wade by 13 legs to 7 and in Blackpool, there was simply no stopping him. 'The Power' was at full voltage!

Again, he beat Wade in the final - this time by 18 legs to 9 but that only tells half the story. From 4-7 down, Taylor won 12 out of the next 13 legs... his average was 109.47, which is the highest ever to win a the final of a PDC 'Major' and he won it by producing one of the most remarkable shots ever seen. Taylor triumphed on a 132 finish but his winning dart at the bull was quite incredible. The target was blocked, so he stepped four feet to the right of the oche and nailed the bull right in the middle!

And now 'The Power' has set his sights even higher in the sport, which has given him fame and fortune, by pledging to play on until at least 2013, after signing a brand new five-year contract with Unicorn. "I will finish my career with Unicorn," he said. "They are the best in the business and I am determined to be the best in the business for a few years yet," he vowed. 'The Power' stormed to success in the Premier League for a 4th consecutive year - beating James Wade in the final at Cardiff... and in his semi-final victory over Adrian Lewis, Taylor set a new PL average of 112.68

He also won an incredible six tournaments during the month of March and then made history again at the UK Open, when he banged in his 4th 'live' 9-darter at the tournament and also set a new world record average for any TV tournament in the history of the sport. Taylor has also reclaimed the coveted World No.1 position - knocking Raymond Van Barneveld off top spot, despite a heartbreaking last leg defeat against the Dutchman in the quarter-finals at the UK Open for a third consecutive year.

That amazing fourth 9-darter at The Reebok came against Jamie Harvey and earned Taylor a £25,000 bonus... the world record average came against Unicorn stablemate Wes Newton... 114.53 and according to Taylor with 'power' to add. "I honestly believe that I can consistently average 115 and 116 during matches and it's all about improving all the time," he said. Taylor has also won the prized US Open for a second consecutive year in May 2008. He lost only one set at the tournament in Connecticut and brushed aside Colin Lloyd in the final to add another big title to the long, long list!

Taylor though, had endured the roughest patch of his illustrious career - he hadn't  won a PDC ranking 'Major' TV tournament since beating Terry Jenkins to take the World Grand Prix crown in Dublin in October 2006... that of course, all changed with his victories in Vegas and Blackpool in July 2008. With Unicorn's support, Taylor experimented with new darts and now it seems, he struck tungsten gold! The 13 times World Champion has settled on a set of darts which are based on the John Lowe Golden Hero arrows and he is now better than ever!

"It was hard for me not winning the big tournaments, especially the World Championship but now I believe I can win at least two more titles at the Alexandra Palace," he said. Throughout this so-called 'barren spell' Taylor still produced some magical moments and tournament wins that any other player would be more than happy with... but not 'The Power - The Perfectionist!"

He won the 2007 Premier League with victory over Terry Jenkins in the final... he beat Raymond Van Barneveld to win the US Open in Connecticut and defeated Denis Ovens to lift the German Darts Championship... there were six other victories on the PDC Pro Tour and of course, Taylor became the first ever Grand Slam Champion, as big-time darts returned to ITV in November 2007. And Taylor is still as popular as ever with the darts-mad supporters... he was named PDC Fans Player of the Year for 2007.

"Obviously, it was hugely disappointing for me to go so long without winning one of those big 'Majors' on Sky Sports but I know there are more big wins out there for me and the biggest one of all is that World Championship. I can feel it in my bones that I will be World Champion again," he said.

His triumph at the Grand Slam was a personal triumph for 'The Power' after that much-publicised barren spell... unbeaten in his group, he then saw off Gary Mawson, John Part and BDO star Gary Anderson in a thrilling semi-final... it was some revenge for the heavy defeat Taylor suffered against Anderson at the final of the World Darts Trophy in Utrecht in September 2007... and don't forget Taylor won the World Darts Trophy in 2006 - thrashing Martin Adams in the final.

'The Power' was certainly switched on in the Grand Slam Final - beating Unicorn's Andy Hamilton by 18 legs to 11 in Wolverhampton to claim the title and a cheque for £80,000. In fact the greatest darts player in history is a man on a mission after losing his treasured World Championship title to Raymond Van Barneveld... it seems 13 World crowns isn't enough for 'The Power'!

But that defeat was the start of the un-Taylor like run! He lost to Barney at the UK Open Final, was beaten by Mark Dudbridge at the Las Vegas Desert Classic, lost in the semi-finals of the World Matchplay to Terry Jenkins and then Taylor was stunned by Adrian Gray in the 1st Round of the 2007 World Grand Prix. That was the turning point. Taylor revealed: "I sat back stage thinking it was all over and there was nothing more I could do. Then it occurred to me that I was sulking and decided to do what it took to get back on track."

A new fitness regime certainly helped. The Unicorn star is now addicted to the gym and is shedding the pounds on a monthly basis. Taylor hit some form to win the Grand Slam but was well below his best at the 2008 World Championship... he had three great escapes against Michael Van Gerwen, Mark Walsh and Alan Tabern and defeat followed in the quarter-finals against Wayne Mardle, after The Power lost a three set lead to lose by 5 sets to 4 in the tie-break.

But 2008 is another year and he is desperate to make it 'The Year of The Power'! It seems he is well on the way to doing just that! He is a master craftsman and his rivalry with Barneveld has certainly gripped the sport.

Since Barney made the switch to the PDC Ranks in February 2006, it has developed into something special. Taylor is unbeaten against the Dutchman in the Premier League…he has beaten him in the final of the US Open and at the World Grand Prix. Barney has won twice in the quarter-finals of the UK Open, the semi-finals of the Desert Classic in Las Vegas and the one that hurt Taylor the most - the 2007 Ladbrokes.com World Championship Final, which will be forever known as 'The Greatest Game'.

Taylor was 3 sets to nil in front and looked to be cruising to a 14th World Crown, before the fightback started on a quite amazing night at the world famous Circus Tavern. At 6 sets all and 5 legs apiece, it went to a sudden death final leg shoot-out, which of course Barney won.

"We are great friends but great rivals once the serious business starts and there is always something special in the air every time we play. It is a great darting occasion!"

Taylor crushed Barney twice in the 2008 Premier League but the Dutchman won at the UK Open - taking out 109 to win another nail-biting last leg decider. So, Darts first millionaire faces a huge challenge and when Taylor sets targets, he always achieves them. Taylor suffered one of his heaviest defeats in years at the 2007 UK Open, when he lost 11 legs to 4 to Barneveld, who went on to win the title for a second consecutive year but it was at that tournament that he wowed the crowd with his 5th perfect 9-darter on 'live' TV.

He achieved darts holy grail for the third time at the Reebok against Wes Newton, which earned him a £20,000 bonus. His other 9-darters at Bolton came against Matt Chapman and Roland Scholten. He also hit a 9-darter in May 2007 at the International Darts League in Holland to win a car, which he promptly gave away! But Taylor will always be remembered for the first ever 9-darter on 'live' television.

Taylor's remarkable record in the Premier League was finally ended in Glasgow in 2008. Of course his victory over Terry Jenkins in the 2007 final in Brighton clinched a hat-trick of Premier League crowns…and stretched his unbeaten run in the tournament to an amazing 44 matches…and there was the little matter of a record winners cheque of £75,000... ..Taylor's overall average throughout 16 matches in the 2007 event was over the 100 mark!

But he was eventually beaten on the opening night of 2008 by James Wade... in the end though, it didn't matter as Taylor got revenge by beating the Unicorn youngster 16-8 in the Cardiff final, with an average of 108.36 and another cheque for £100,000! His 13th World Championship crown came with a 7 sets to nil victory over Peter Manley in the 2006 Final at the Circus Tavern and Taylor is convinced that more will follow, as darts continues to grow at a rapid pace... by the 2010 tournament, the prize fund will be an amazing £1 million, with £250,000 to the winner.

That win over Manley actually took Taylor's earnings from darts tournaments over that magical £1 million barrier! One of Taylor's greatest achievements didn't even produce a trophy but he rates it as "one of the proudest moments of my life". He was nominated for BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006. And in 2007, Taylor was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Staffordshire, as well as being featured on many TV programmes, including Inside Sport on BBC1

Unicorn and Taylor form the perfect partnership - both are winners and leaders in their field. It's a darting double act which will run and run. "I want at least two more World Titles. To do Darts Grand Slam is still a huge target for me and I still haven't managed to hit a 9-dart finish at the World Championships, so that is definitely on my hit list!" His record of those amazing 13 World Championship Titles will never be beaten. It is incredible to believe 'The Power' only started lighting up the world of darts at the age of 28 but after nearly two decades, he has no equal. He has major titles at Blackpool, Bolton, Dublin and Vegas... on numerous occasions!

Year after year, Taylor raises the barrier and rewrites the history books... that magical first ever 9-dart finish live on television will forever live in the memory and of course, he has achieved darts holy grail four more times since, to leave his indelible mark on the sport. It was back in August 2002 that Taylor scooped £100,000 for the first amazing feat. It happened during the World Matchplay Championships against Chris Mason in Blackpool.

"It means so much to nail those 9-darters," he said. "It has been the icing on the cake and now I want another one! Nobody has ever achieved a 9-darter at the World Championships. Some have come close but to do it at the Alexandra Palace would be very special." Now darts first millionaire, it is all a far cry from the days when he was earning £50 a week working in a factory making ceramic toilet handles. Taylor has deserved all he has made from the sport, because he has been instrumental in catapulting darts into the limelight.

"The money is important because it has given my family stability. I know what it is like to have nothing, or very little, so it has taught me to appreciate what I have now." He admitted. Taylor added: "Who would have thought that a lad from The Potteries could achieve the things I have managed to do." Married to Yvonne, Phil still lives in his beloved Stoke-on-Trent and the couple has four children.

That list of achievements is phenomenal for the Team Unicorn star. Those 13 World Championships, nine World Matchplay crowns and a seven-times winner of the World Grand Prix. He has won four Las Vegas Desert Classic titles, two UK Open crowns and Taylor blitzed Colin Lloyd to win the inaugural darts Premier League, live on Sky Sports in 2005 and followed that up by beating Roland Scholten in 2006 and Terry Jenkins in 2007. Add to that the World Darts Trophy, the World Masters, the News of the World title and those memorable victories over Raymond Van Barneveld and Andy Fordham in darts head-to-head clashes, plus hundreds of other tournament wins.

These days, Taylor admits he has got his life back. "All those months and years travelling on the exhibition circuit took its toll," he explained. "My family is very important to me, so now I pick and choose exhibitions and tournaments. I am a Grandad now and it puts everything into perspective. Seeing my Grandson Matthew grow up is what life is all about."

The relationship with Unicorn has also proved an inspiration to Taylor. "There is no doubt the company is number one and they are not just sponsors, they are friends. They have never let me down and I want to carry on repaying them," he said. Taylor has become a celebrity in his own right, appearing regularly on TV shows like 'A Question of Sport', The Weakest Link, Eggheads, Hard Spell and the Bulleseye Gameshow Marathon with Vernon Kay.

His autobiography 'The Power' was co-written by Unicorn's Sid Waddell and was a bestseller. He has also appeared in a pop video, featuring the former lead singer of The Darkness Justin Hawkins, where the pop star beats 'The Power' in a World Final! He has also opened a new sporting trophy and memorabilia shop in his hometown Stoke, which helps him take his mind off darts and the pressures that come with it. Taylor admitted the time he put into the business has affected his darts. "Family always come first," he said. "But now the shop is all sorted and it is time to start hammering the practice board. I want those big titles again."

It has been an unbelievable journey from 1990, when as a 125 to 1 unknown, Taylor thrashed his mentor Eric Bristow 6-1 to win his first World title at The Lakeside. He has been described as one of the best sportsmen that Britain has ever seen... nobody will argue with that. Time after time, Philip Taylor raises the bar and sets new standards. There are those who say that without Taylor, the sport of darts wouldn't be where it is today. He has helped to take the sport into the spotlight and the media coverage has never been greater

There really is only one Philip Taylor!

What he will achieve in the period of his new contract with Unicorn remains to be seen but one thing's for sure - there will be plenty more big titles between now and 2013.

Bob "The Limestone Cowboy" Anderson

It has been a fabulous journey for one of the true greats of the sport but for Bob Anderson, that journey is finally over. But Unicorn’s former World Champion is determined it will be the start of a new beginning, rather than the beginning of the end. And that means playing darts for many years to come – but on his own terms.

‘The Limestone Cowboy’ has drawn the curtain on a legendary career, calling it a day on his glittering competitive time in the PDC. “I am proud of what I have achieved and proud to say that back in 1981, I started in the top 32 in the world and here we are, 27 years later, and I am finishing in the world’s top 32.” It is a terrific achievement for a 60-year-old to stay at the very top of his chosen sport for nearly three decades.

Anderson will take part in the brand new League of Legends in 2008 alongside some other greats of the sport….competing in the new Legends Tour meant that Anderson had to resign from the PDC, although he could have rejoined later in the year. “It saddened me that I had to resign after all these years but I am very happy at the contribution I have made in helping put the sport where it is today. I was a founder member but I won’t be going back. It’s time for something new,” he said.

He added: “I wish the PDC well….but with the new criteria for qualification through the Players Championship Order of Merit, it would have meant a great deal of traveling and a great deal of expense. In the end, it wasn’t a difficult decision. I know I still have the ability but have I got the will and the energy? Probably not is the answer!”

But what a player and what a character!

Anderson admitted that he will miss some aspects of the tour. “I have made so many friends over the years and they will be missed but I am looking forward to something new and it will certainly be a big challenge. He will play against John Lowe, Eric Bristow, Keith Deller, Bobby George, Cliff Lazarenko, Dave Whitcombe and Peter Evison in the Legends event – looking forward to renewing old rivalries. “I want to win this tournament….make no mistake,” said Anderson. “It has certainly been an enjoyable journey and I have no complaints. I just wish I was 25 years younger!”

Anderson has enjoyed an amazing link-up with Unicorn, going back 20 years. Only John Lowe has been sponsored by darts brand leader longer than ‘The Limestone Cowboy’... Of course, Anderson is a fully paid-up member of the most exclusive club in darts. He is one of the chosen few to be crowned World Champion. In 1988 he tasted the glory, beating fellow Team Unicorn star John Lowe at The Lakeside.

During that golden era, he was World No.1 for three-and-a-half years, winning every tournament around the globe but more recently, Anderson displayed the class and determination to mix it with the very best on the biggest stages of all. He has continued to take on and beat the best and appeared in every big TV tournament year-in, year-out. That is a measure of the man – a player who never lost the competitive edge.

He puts down captaining England in 1992 as one of his proudest moments and he also won the World Pairs twice with Lowe and Phil Taylor and more recently, Anderson reached the semi-finals of the World Championship in successive years. He is recognised all over the world and has always been one of the most popular players with darts fans around the globe. It isn’t so much a retirement but the next stage of a career that has flourished and earned Anderson many deserved accolades over the last 30 years.

Incredibly, the long road to the very top started in 1954, when aged just seven, Bob hit his first 180 using brass and feather darts! But it could all have been so different. As a teenager, he was a British Champion athlete. The javelin was his chosen weapon then and he was invited to train for the Mexico Olympics before he broke his throwing arm and his athletics career was brought to an abrupt end. Anderson was also a good quality footballer, before a broken leg cut short any ideas he had of making it as a professional.

Injuries have followed Anderson around. In 1990, a chronic back problem nearly put pay to his reign in darts. Again he was forced to have more surgery to correct the problem. “I don’t think there is anywhere else for them to operate,” he joked. A true darting gentleman, Anderson was also involved in arguably the most bizarre ‘walk-on’ in the history of the game. In 1994, ‘The Limestone Cowboy’ was escorted to the stage at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet, during the World Championships, by a real horse!

“I was petrified!” he said. “It was great fun and a great stunt but I remember the horse was huge and I was just glad to get on stage!”

Married to Sally, Bob’s other great passion is golf. He plays off a 6 handicap. When Anderson hits the magical maximum, we get that trademark curl of the lip and the index finger aimed at the board, like a gun. It became synonymous with ‘The Limestone Cowboy’.

In his professional career, he never gave up….he loved fighting and winning lost causes….he always trusted in his own ability and he is still is a living legend.

New beginnings and a new sense of purpose but expect to see the same old determination and the same old Bob Anderson at the oche - wherever it may be – for some time yet.

John Part

He has earned a special place in darting history and for John Part a third World Championship crown guarantees him lifetime membership of an exclusive club... he is one of the best darts players ever! His brilliant victory at the Alexandra Palace on January 1, 2008 means that the Canadian becomes only the 5th member of that exclusive band of darting superstars to have won three World Championships.

Part joins Phil Taylor, John Lowe, Eric Bristow and Raymond Van Barneveld in that special section of darting history. "It was truly a thrill to win the World Championship at the fantastic Alexandra Palace. I have many fond memories of matches at the Circus Tavern but it is a brilliant venue for a new era in darts and I am proud to be the first winner!" he said.

His victory over Unicorn starlet Kirk Shepherd is also unique, because Part has won his three World Titles at three different venues - Lakeside, Purfleet and now the Ally Pally. "It was a gruelling tournament for all and I was so happy to be the last man standing after what I considered to be six very solid performances."

There is no doubt that Part was the best man throughout the tournament and all the pundits agreed that the best man lifted the World crown... a testament to the courage and character of the Canadian, who has the reputation of being one of the best fighters in the world of darts. When he slipped out of the top 10 after a poor run of form, he was written off by many critics as being past his sell-by-date……he has proved them wrong and how!

And it seems, three World Championship titles isn’t enough! "I now plan to climb to the very top of the sport," he said. "I want to defend my World title from the best possible position. It would be a great thrill to win consecutive titles at the Alexandra Palace, so now’s my chance." Part added: "I also want to be playing in ten years time - and at a high standard! I have won World Championships in my 20s, 30s and 40s, so why not in my 50s!? If I could become the oldest ever World Champion, that would be a great way to wrap up my career!"

At the World Championship, he beat South African Charles Losper, Austrian Mensur Suljovic, Alex Roy, then Unicorn stablemate James Wade in the quarter-finals. The match went all the way to the final set and Part won by 4 legs to 2 in the tie-break. He then beat Kevin Painter by 6 sets to 2 in the semi-finals and was just too good for Shepherd in the final... from four sets to nil in front, he was always in control and won 7-2….and the little matter of £100,000!

Back in the top four in the world... back in the Premier League after a two-year absence and he also started 2008 in style on the Pro Tour by winning the Stan James Players Championship in Gibraltar. It all started coming good again for Part at the 2007 US Open in Connecticut when he was beaten in a close semi-final by Taylor….he was unlucky to lose a last leg decider to Raymond Van Barneveld in the 5th Round of the UK Open at Bolton….he then flew home to be crowned Canadian National Champion for a 4th time and then won a big Players Championship event at Hayling Island.

"It all started to click into place again," he said. "I never doubted that it would and to win the World Championship proved a lot of people wrong and boy, I enjoy doing that!"

He is hugely popular and remains one of the best to watch when he is in the groove and his reputation as the king of the big finishes remains firmly in tact! The Canadian ace has made a habit of proving the doubters wrong his entire career. There were those who were ready to start writing his darting obituary, before Part was crowned King of Las Vegas - winning the 2006 Desert Classic in style.

The triumph at The Mandalay Bay Hotel was one of the most popular wins for some time and was Part’s 3rd ‘Major’ title. He has also lost in six major TV finals but his victory over Raymond Van Barneveld in Vegas was reward for hard work, determination and courage, plus the desire to succeed, which burns as brightly as ever. He has been a great ambassador for Team Unicorn around the world and the man who has beaten Phil Taylor more than anyone else in major tournaments, is aiming even higher over the next 18 months.

He flies from his Canadian base in Oshawa to Britain and Europe about 15 times a year. That many 20 hour round trips are bound to have an effect……because of the Premier League, he will travel around 180,000 miles in 2008! "I pick and choose my tournaments now," he revealed. "The PDC Order of Merit ranking system gives me a bit more freedom because it is based on earnings. That means I play the big events and some of the others and I keep handily placed in the world rankings."

Since the new system was introduced in 2007, Part hasn’t been outside the top 12, despite defending a lot of money from tournaments in 2005, which is how the system works. "It’s all about being better prepared," he added. "I need to get fitter and lose some weight and get to these major championships better prepared. There is no doubt the travelling takes its toll but that is my choice to stay home, rather than set up a base in the UK."

It was Christmas 1987 when John Part realised darts was going to be his chosen career path. He was given a dart board by his parents and caught the bug!
He found a pub in Toronto - ironically called ‘The Unicorn’ - and success soon followed. He won his first title in 1991 at the Syracuse Open and two years later, Part was Canada’s No.1 player.

The fairytale continued as an unknown Canadian came to Britain to have a crack at the World Championships. By the end of that week in 1994, Part had become part of darting folklore. This was his first appearance in front of the TV cameras and he produced perfect darts to become the first overseas World Champion - whitewashing fans favourite Bobby George in the final. "The whole week was a blur," he admitted. "I did play really well but it was an amazing experience."

The name of John Part has been at the top of the darting tree ever since. In 1997, Part made the switch to the PDC and reached another World Championship Final in 2001. That night, he ran into Team Unicorn’s Phil Taylor at his very very best. ‘The Power’ averaged 107 in the match and Part could only watch and learn.

He only had to wait two years for revenge and a 2nd World Championship. It was one of the most thrilling finals ever seen. Part triumphed 7 sets to 6 to become only the second man, after Dennis Priestley, to beat Taylor at the Circus Tavern. In 2004, he was named the official World No.1 and more major finals followed. But Part is still annoyed and frustrated that he lost all of them!

"I kept beating Phil in the big TV tournaments but failed to finish the job! Now I guess, I am the man to beat because I am World Champion!" Part has lost finals at the World Grand Prix to Taylor, the World Matchplay to Taylor and Colin Lloyd, the Las Vegas Desert Classic to Peter Manley and the UK Open, where he was beaten by Roland Scholten. "People only judge you on performances and results and I need to be tasting that winning feeling a lot more!"

Part has also become an accomplished darts commentator but his big passion away from the sport is internet poker! It would take a brave man to bet against John Part... a good guy and a great darts player!

A three-times World Champion and it is pretty clear that he has the appetite for more…

John "Old Stoneface" Lowe

The amazing John Lowe story is far from finished and the great man himself is guaranteeing many more chapters before he is ready to call it a day in the sport that has made him a household name.

He is one of THE greats of darts – a living legend who has captivated the world of darts over four glorious decades.

The only man to win the World Championship in three separate decades and he has enjoyed a partnership with Unicorn going back nearly 40 years, which is the longest running sponsorship deal anywhere in the world, in any sport. He is 62-years-old these days and enjoying life to the full – playing darts in a hectic exhibition schedule. Lowe does more than a dozen ‘Legends Tour’ shows a year with his great rival from yesteryear Eric Bristow and now it’s all about his first taste of competitive action in two years.

Lowe is one of the eight stars of the League of Legends Tour for 2008, when he will be locking horns with Bristow, Bob Anderson, Keith Deller, Cliff Lazarenko, Bobby George, Dave Whitcombe and Peter Evison over the summer. “I really am enjoying myself more than ever!” he said. “Nowadays, I put my time off and holidays on the calendar first and the darts go on there second. I am still extremely busy and am looking forward to playing against some of the old foes. It is an exciting prospect for me and I am playing pretty well.”

Lowe added: “It was the right time for me to step aside from the world of the PDC a couple of years back. I just couldn’t commit to tournaments for over 40 weeks of the year. I would have lost the plot!" They call him ‘Old Stoneface’ and that was also the title of his best-selling autobiography and there are more words of Lowe wisdom to come. The paperback version is due out in 2009 with a raft of new material and several new chapters….and also due for publication in 2009 is Lowe’s Art of Throwing Darts. It is a comprehensive coaching manual…..a John Lowe masterclass in darts from a tungsten master craftsman.

Lowe was one of the big hero’s of the first golden era for darts, when he won everything there was to win and he remains a role model for many in this new exciting phase for the sport. His three World Championship crowns came in 1979 when he beat the late great Leighton Rees…..in 1987, he beat Bristow in a thriller and he claimed that unique hat-trick in 1993, overcoming Alan Warriner. His fan base is even bigger now than those glory days of the 1970s and 1980s. “He’s got no hair but we don’t care, Johnny Johnny Lowe,” the crowd bellows wherever he goes!

The unofficial leader of Team Unicorn, Lowe has travelled all over the world promoting the sport and the Unicorn brand. From Russia to Australia and China to Japan, Lobo’s achievements are recognised. “ I have been to Russia five times and actually stepped inside The Kremlin when the Cold War was on!! These days, Lowe’s exhibitions sell out from Spain to Denmark and from Cyprus to Thailand – not surprising really when you are talking about one of the best there has ever been. He also runs the very popular annual Barbados Darts Festival.

Lowe made more history in 1984 when he became the first darts star to hit the magical 9-dart finish on television. He pocketed a cool £102,000. Nowadays, that would equate to a staggering £350,000. So what did he spend the cash on? “After the taxman had claimed his slice, it all went into a pension fund. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” Lowe admitted. And those Unicorn Golden Titanium 21gm darts are still doing the business in modern times. People still talk about one of the greatest games in the history of the World Matchplay at Blackpool when back in 2002, Lowe lost an epic semi-final 17-15 to Taylor and it wasn’t so long ago that Lowe won six matches at the UK Open on a run which rolled back the years and had the crowd at the Reebok going wild!

The hugely popular Lowe, who still lives in his native Derbyshire with wife Karen and apart from the darts, he enjoys “trying to get my golf handicap down!” Lowe and  Bristow were also given the honour of being the first two stars to be named in the PDC Darts Hall of Fame.

Unicorn is proud to be associated with one of the all-time greats of British sport….a darting genius, a darting ambassador and a darting icon.

John Lowe can proudly claim to have played a big part in the rise and rise of darts over the years and hopefully, he will be entertaining crowds around the world for many more years to come.

World champion…..world class….that is John Lowe

Peter "One Dart" Manley

What can you say about the inimitable Peter Manley?!

One of the great characters of the sport, one of the great players in the world of darts and one of the great entertainers….

Apart from Phil Taylor, he is the only player to appear in all four Premier League events and despite falling out of the top 10 for the first time in a decade, he is still one of the most dangerous players in the world.

His appearance in yet another World Championship semi-final in 2008 proved that….Manley lost out to Kirk Shepherd at the Alexandra Palace but he is still hugely popular – spending more than half-a-year away from his Carlisle home playing tournaments and thrilling the crowds at exhibitions.

Hugely talented – his victories over Taylor and Raymond Van Barneveld in the 2008 Premier League proving the point – Manley is also very popular with the darts fans, despite the now traditional boos that follow him wherever he goes! He has won a PDC ‘Major’, he has won countless titles and this Unicorn ‘Maestro’ has been at the top of his game for many years...

So often, ‘One Dart’ has lived up to his nickname as one of the very best finishers in the sport and he is adamant there is more to come in the shape of ‘Major’ titles. “I am still enjoying my darts as much as ever and I know I have the game to beat the very best and if I didn’t think I could win another big one, I wouldn’t be playing now!” he said.

2007 saw some terrific Manley performances and 2008 promises more of the same. He won the Open Holland Masters – beating James Wade in the final – and he produced some of the best darts of his career at the Masters of Darts. Sadly, his brilliant darts ended up not being rewarded, because the organisers went bust. Manley reached the final in Holland – beating the very best in the world – before losing out to Barney

Of course, Manley has THE best walk-on in the sport……crowds around the world are on their feet to the sounds of ‘The Amarillo Man’ and despite being the man the crowds love to boo, he has won lots of friends! He is a great character and also very popular amongst his peers, which is the best tribute any darts player could wish for.

Manley pocketed the biggest cheque of his life - £50,000 – his reward for reaching his third World Championship Final in 2006 but for a third time he ended up the loser after running up against an inspired Phil Taylor. “I have proved to a lot of people that I can still throw a mean dart,” he said. “I now have to carry that form into the big tournaments on a regular basis.”

Manley had an infamous dust up with Unicorn Young Gun Adrian Lewis in the World Championship quarter-finals in 2006 but he doesn’t let much bother him and is viewed by many in the sport as the master of the mind games! These days the Peter Manley walk-on has even eclipsed fans favourite ‘Hawaii 501’ Wayne Mardle and it is all thanks to a little help from wife Crissy and famous comedian Peter Kay.

Manley was always the target of the boo-boys – an image he enjoyed for a while. He became known as the man darts fans loved to hate but how times have changed. He explains: “It was always a bit of harmless fun. The crowd would boo me and I would wind them up, even wearing ear-muffs on stage! Sadly, it started to get personal and some of the things being shouted were way over-the-top. It hurt Crissy and she decided to do something about it.” The story continues: “At the time, Peter Kay was number one in the charts. He had done a cover version of Tony Christie’s ‘Show Me the Way to Amarillo’ for Comic Relief. Crissy thought it would be a great idea to adopt it as my walk-on music for all the big TV tournaments.”

“Sky Sports agreed and I used it for the first time when the new Darts Premier League came to my hometown of Carlisle. The response was unbelievable and I haven’t looked back!” Manley said. Nowadays, the crowds go crazy when Manley enters the arena, dancing in the aisles and singing along with ‘The Amarillo Man’. It has seen Manley’s standing in the game rocket.

‘One-Dart’ has enjoyed success at all the big tournaments – Blackpool, Bolton, Dublin, Purfleet and of course Las Vegas – the scene of his greatest triumph when he beat John Part to win the Desert Classic in 2003. “I feel now though, that things are back on track,” he said. “My confidence has returned and my Unicorn 19gm nickel tungsten darts are feeling perfect.”

Unicorn came to Manley’s rescue after he had played with the same set of darts for 30 years. They were old-fashioned copper tungsten with large barrels and all three darts turned out to be different weights! Manley explained: “I bought them off a relative for £6 when I was a paper boy all those years ago! And when Unicorn approached me, we had them weighed and they were all different!”

Manley won his first ‘Major’ at the Las Vegas Desert Classic and insists there are more big titles to come. “I feel I am nearly back to something like,” he revealed. “Getting married to Crissy, the tie-up with Unicorn and the ‘Amarillo’ effect, have given me back my hunger to succeed and win.” Darts is Manley’s life because he is also the highly-respected Chairman of the PDPA (Professional Darts Players Association) and that carries a lot of responsibility and means a lot of hard work, when he isn’t playing in tournaments.

Manley is the link between the hundreds of players and the Professional Darts Corporation. He thrives on that responsibility. “I am the mouthpiece for the players and try to smooth out any problems, particularly at tournaments. It takes up all my time when I am back at home but I enjoy the job because darts is getting bigger and bigger as a sport.” he said.

‘One-Dart’ is also closely associated with BetFred. He explains: “I make personal appearances in their betting shops up and down the country, playing the punters and having a lot of fun. I like to give a good show.” His new-found popularity has resulted in Manley becoming one of the most sort-after players on the exhibition circuit. He rarely experiences a full week at home in Carlisle!

To be at the very top of darts for so long is a tribute to Manley’s great ability.

Kevin "The Artist" Painter

The good days are coming back for Kevin Painter….he can feel it and the darts world knows it!

The Unicorn star’s terrific run to the 2008 World Championship semi-finals signalled the renaissance of ‘The Artist’ who has overcome some tough times to stay at the very top of world darts. Now the aim for Painter is to reclaim his place in the world’s top 10 and win more tournaments over the next couple of years….with a little entertainment on the way!

Darts fans love Painter’s attitude and he has always worn his heart on his sleeve….he is a fighter….with Kevin Painter, you get what it says on the tin! It was in 2004 that Painter shot into the spotlight when he gave Phil Taylor a real run for his money in the World Championship Final at the Circus Tavern….and he so nearly got to his second World Final at the Alexandra Palace in 2008.

He enjoyed a terrific tournament. In the 1st Round, he lost only two legs against Gary Mawson, then came a whitewash of Chris Mason, followed by one of the best displays of his career against Raymond Van Barneveld. Painter slammed in nine 180s in ending Barney’s reign as World Champion and followed that up with a convincing quarter-final victory against Adrian Lewis... but by his own admission, he saved his worst performance for the biggest game - losing to World Champion in waiting John Part in the semi-finals.

But it’s all part of the master-plan as Painter’s game continues to improve all the time. After a real struggle for a couple of years, you can trace the change in fortunes back to September 2007, when he travelled to a Players Championship event in Chicago and reached the semi-finals. He then got through to the semi-finals of the German Darts Trophy a month later before losing to eventual winner Wayne Mardle….and in November, as a wildcard, he got through to the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam in Wolverhampton, where missed doubles cost him dearly against Gary Anderson.

Early in 2008, Kevin reached the quarter-finals of both Stan James Players Championship events in Gibraltar and the final of the West Tyrone Open, so the signs are there and the signs are good. Hugely talented, highly respected and ready to hit the heights again... Painter’s career path has also taken a turn for the better after he upped sticks and moved house - going from Cambridgeshire to Daventry in the West Midlands. He is practicing a lot with fellow Team Unicorn star Colin Osborne and is very much settled with partner Janine and daughter Madison.

We have already touched on the big highlight of his career so far - back in 2004, when Painter came agonisingly close to adding his name to Team Unicorn’s World Champions roll of honour. In one of the greatest finals ever seen, Painter lost 7-6 to Phil Taylor in a sudden-death shoot-out, after being 4 sets to 1 in front. Taylor was again his nemesis at the 2006 Ladbrokes.com World Championships - this time at the quarter-final stage.

He has suffered some injuries during his career and it seems that every time he is knocked down or knocked out, Painter dusts himself down and gets on with the job he loves - playing darts and there is no doubt that he will be a winner again very soon. Painter’s last tournament win came in January 2006, when he beat Colin Lloyd to claim the UK Open North East Regional but he is knocking on the door at most of the tournaments on the circuit. A deserved place in the 2007 International Darts League in Holland was a huge morale-booster for ‘The Artist’. He only missed out on a place in the 1st Round proper on leg difference - pipped at the post by Gary Robson.

“With the support of Team Unicorn, I know I can perform on the biggest stage when it really matters,” he said. Although Painter hasn’t yet hit the heights of that performance at the World Championships, he has the undoubted natural ability to succeed and a great run to the 6th Round of the 2007 UK Open at Bolton, will do him the world of good. He lost a tight match to Colin Lloyd on the main stage at the Reebok and was so unlucky to just miss double 12 for a 9-darter live on Sky Sports. “I just can’t wait to show everyone the real Kevin Painter once again!”

He burst onto the scene in 2001, not long after joining the ranks of the Professional Darts Corporation, when he caused a sensation by beating Phil Taylor in the 1st Round of the World Grand Prix in Dublin. And it wasn’t long before Unicorn came knocking at Painter’s door, recognising the huge potential. “It is great to be associated with such a prestigious company and I am determined to repay Unicorn’s loyalty with a major title,” he said.

It is all a far cry from humble beginnings in the wide world of darts, when he started playing competitively as a 15-year-old. By the age of 19, he was playing for Essex and the rest, as they say, is history. He uses customised 19 gm Unicorn Darts and has been putting in the hours on the practice board to achieve his goal. He is also one of the most popular players on the exhibition circuit, always in demand, performing between 50 and 60 exhibitions a year.

Painter’s other great passion in life is Ipswich Town Football Club, where he is a season-ticket holder, but it is darts that dominate his life and the desire to add to Team Unicorn’s ever growing list of darts ‘Major’ titles. 

There are those who firmly believe that Kevin Painter is destined to win one of darts’ big tournaments and ‘The Artist’ believes his own personal darting masterpiece is close to being completed!

One thing’s for sure... with Kevin Painter, it won’t be for the lack of trying.

Adrian "Jackpot!" Lewis

He is one of darts great natural talents and Adrian Lewis knows it is time to deliver the big titles.

He has come close and the achievement of reaching the prestigious Premier League in both 2007 and 2008 speaks volumes for the young man they call ‘Jackpot’

He oozes natural darting ability and he has the chance to dominate the sport over the next two decades….Unicorn certainly believes he can do just that! Lewis is now desperate to turn talent into titles. It was an impressive run to the quarter-finals of the 2007 World Grand Prix that cemented 6th spot in the PDC Order of Merit and that automatic place in the Premier League roadshow for a second successive year.

Lewis was unlucky to lose his quarter-final against Raymond Van Barneveld - beaten in the last leg of the deciding set - and all that on the same day he underwent major dental surgery in Dublin….but he had done enough to join the Premier League party! Adrian has also taken the big decision to start practicing again - on an ad hoc basis - with one-time mentor Phil Taylor and he believes it will help to take him to the next level.

However, there was frustration for Lewis at the first ever Alexandra Palace World Championship. After an easy 1st Round win over Dave Askew, he beat Vincent van der Voort and then staged an amazing 3rd Round comeback against Tony Eccles. Lewis lost the first eight legs of the match before finding his form... Eccles missed four darts for the match, before Adrian finally won it in a final set tie-break! But disappointment followed in the Quarter-Finals, when he was well beaten by Kevin Painter. He is close though, very close to winning a big one!

He has become a major force in the top 10 after his debut in the Premier League in 2007. Now it’s all about the Unicorn Maestro taking that next big step by winning his first TV ‘Major’. In 2007, Lewis matched his best ever TV performance by reaching the semi-finals of the World Matchplay Championship. He had beaten Barney in the quarter-finals with a brilliant display. He came from 6-9 down to hold his nerve, winning 16-14 in the tie-break.

But in the semi-finals, he ran up against Unicorn stablemate and eventual Matchplay winner James Wade, who was running hot. Lewis actually averaged 101.26 but could only stand and watch as Wade produced a near-perfect display of finishing. At one stage, Lewis was only 7-9 behind, before Wade won eight consecutive legs to clinch victory.

The Blackpool week though, once again proved the perfect platform for Lewis to display his immense talent and a ‘Major’ win surely isn’t that far away. For three years, Lewis was supported by 13-times World Champion Phil Taylor. He was ‘The Power’s’ protégé, before the pair decided to go their separate ways… now the pair are back in business. Lewis also practices a lot with fellow Unicorn star Colin Osborne.

Back in May 2007, Lewis displayed his darting talents to a whole new audience at the International Darts League in Holland. He had a brilliant run to the IDL semi-finals, where he was beaten by Gary Anderson but he played some of the best darts of his life and he is getting ever closer to the first big title. Also in 2007, Adrian reached the final of the Stan James Players Championship in Gibraltar but lost to Barneveld and he was beaten by Taylor in the final of the Bobby Bourne Players Championship in Blackpool.

Lewis reached his first major TV final in 2006….against guess who?! At the World Series of Darts in Connecticut, he had a brilliant run, before losing to Taylor in the final - you could say another bit of his darting education! He is now one of the most recognisable faces in darts - appearing in every ‘Major’ on Sky Sports and on his day, he is one of the most entertaining players in the world.

At the end of 2005, Lewis became only the second man - after Taylor - to win both tournaments on a big darting weekend. He scooped £9,000 after clinching the Scotland PDPA Players Championship and the UK Open Scottish Regional. He made his World Championship debut in 2006 and looked destined to meet Taylor in the final, before he was undone by Team Unicorn’s Peter Manley at the quarter-final stage.

It was a controversial match, with Lewis walking off stage after angry words were exchanged between the two players. Lewis first shot to prominence at the 2005 World Matchplay Championships in Blackpool. As a qualifier, he enjoyed a fairytale run to the quarter-finals and came so close to beating  Colin Lloyd, before being edged out in a thriller. That is when Unicorn made its move and signed Lewis up to a long-term contract.

“It came as a huge surprise that the most famous and biggest darts manufacturer in the world wanted me on board. To say it is an honour is an understatement!” Lewis revealed. Lewis has also won the Holland Open and reached the latter stages of many tournaments in his young career. In the last 18 months, he has reached a host of quarter-finals and semi-finals to add to all his victories.

He said: “Phil was and still is a massive hero for me. I learnt a lot but we felt it was probably a good time that I went out on my own, tried something new and gave it a real go. I will forever be grateful for what he has done to help me.” The first tournament Lewis ever entered was the British Teenage Open. He won it and has never looked back, as he strives to be the best.

His parents Steve and Yvonne - both good darts players in their own right - have also been a steadying influence on Lewis. “They encourage and support and criticise when it’s needed! Obviously the dream is become World Champion. I want to achieve that in the next three years. It may sound over ambitious but I have to set goals and targets. I just get that buzz from winning.”

At the 2005 Las Vegas Desert Classic, young Adrian hit the headlines after winning over £40,000 on a slot machine but he didn’t get the prize because he was only 20. Lewis didn’t know US gambling laws say you have to be 21 to play! “That’s where the nickname ‘Jackpot’ came from!” he explained. “I can smile about it now but it was a blow at the time!”

All the experts are confidently predicting that Lewis will hit the darting jackpot very soon. He is one of the heaviest scorers on the circuit and he now looks ready to repay the faith.

For Adrian Lewis, the time is now!

James "The Machine" Wade

It's the stuff that darting dreams are made of and James Wade is living that dream after establishing himself as one of THE best in the business.

He has catapulted himself into the elite with an amazing year... three 'Major' titles... what a player, what a year and what a future! And it's only just the start…... how about this for an incredible darting CV - and all achieved in a magical year... No wonder, they call him the 'Golden Boy of Darts!"

UK Open Champion, World Matchplay Champion, World Grand Prix Champion, No.3 in the world rankings, named both PDC Player of the Year and PDPA Player of the Year at the glittering awards night at The Dorchester, an amazing 20 finals... and a new nickname! The only blot on the copybook - three defeats in three 'Major' TV Finals during 2008 to a certain Philip Taylor and that is something Wade is determined to put right over the next year.

In May, he lost the Premier League Final by 16 legs to 8... then he was beaten 13-7 in the Las Vegas Desert Classic Final and three weeks later, an inspired Taylor took Wade's World Matchplay title with an 18-9 victory in Blackpool. "Yet again, Phil has set a new level and it is up to me to top that and beat him in a Major Final but I am sure that will come. I am so focused at the moment and beating the greatest of them all in a TV Final is now a priority for me. I will keep working and working," he said.

'The Machine' aptly sums up the game of James Wade, who wowed the crowds across the UK in his debut season in the Premier League. Wade secured his hat-trick in 'Majors' in the space of only 10-and-a-half months when he beat Unicorn stablemate Gary Mawson to win the 2008 UK Open crown at Bolton. "If you had said to me in June 2007 that this time next year, I'd have won at Blackpool, Dublin and Bolton - on top of everything else I've achieved, I would have laughed out loud! It has been reward for a lot of hard work and hopefully people will now start realising that there are more than two players in the PDC!" Wade said.

At The Reebok, he beat the likes of Steve Brown, Ronnie Baxter, Alan Tabern and Vincent van der Voort, before beating Mawson by 11 legs to 7 in the final to pocket the winners cheque of £35,000, and in that semi-final victory over Van der Voort, Wade had incredible 77 per cent check-out success rate!

Apart from those three fin al defeats against Taylor, the other big disappointment over the last 18 months for Wade was the 2008 World Championship at the Alexandra Palace, when of course he lost a thrilling Quarter-Final against Unicorn team-mate John Part, as the Canadian went on to win his third World Championship title. The match went all the way to a final set tie-break but Wade will console himself in the knowledge that he is surely destined to win darts' biggest prize very soon.

"It has been a special year," Wade said. "Sometimes I have to pinch myself but I have always had the belief and confidence in what I do and I am now determined to kick on and win more of the big titles. I'm enjoying myself and having fun. I still get nervous every time I go up on the stage but I just love what I do and I am lucky to have the opportunity."

Also during 2008, he has won the Stan James Players Championship in Gibraltar but his eye catching performances in the Premier League stole the show around the country! Wade became the first man to beat Phil Taylor in the PL - with victory on the opening night in Glasgow - to end Taylor's 44-match unbeaten run. He finished second in the group stages - just a point behind Taylor - then beat Raymond Van Barneveld in the semi-finals, before losing a terrific final to 'The Power' by 16 legs to 8, despite an average of over 100... but the £50,000 prize money was consolation!

Wade said: "There is no doubt that the Premier League has massively improved my game and that experience helped me to come through and win the UK Open in Bolton. It's now onward and upward in the hunt for more titles!" He earned a cool £100,000 from becoming the youngest ever winner of the WMP and WGP but the titles and achievement mean much more to Wade! His triumphs in Blackpool and Dublin were just rewards for the best left-hander in world darts. He was outstanding at The Winter Gardens and the City West Hotel - proving once and for all that he is a major player in the darts world.

He beat fellow Team Unicorn star Terry Jenkins in both finals - demolishing 'The Bull' 18 legs to 7 in Blackpool, with a 97 average... then winning the World Grand Prix by 6 sets to 3. "I am doing my best to take it all in my stride," he said. "But these are certainly exciting times and I honestly believe there is another 20/25 per cent to come."

In Dublin, he beat Denis Ovens, Alex Roy and Colin Lloyd, before blitzing World Champion Raymond Van Barneveld in the semi-finals 5 sets to 1. He lost only five sets in five matches in the whole week in Dublin and against Barney, Wade just missed the bull to become the first player ever to hit a 9-darter, with a double-to-start, on 'live' TV. But he doesn't rate his victory over Barneveld as his best performance ever. "I would say the 19-17 victory over Roland Scholten in the 2006 World Matchplay semi-finals is still the best, closely followed by my win over Adrian Lewis in the 2007 Blackpool semi-finals."

At the Winter Gardens in 2007, he beat Wayne Jones and was then involved in a mini-classic. After missing 11 darts for victory, he finally overcame Dennis Priestley 16-14 in a tie-break. 'The Menace' actually bent the wire on double top with his only dart to win - but Wade rode his luck and got better and better. A surprisingly easy victory over Mervyn King was followed by that win against Adrian Lewis in the semi-finals. Lewis had earlier stunned World Champion Raymond Van Barneveld, so it was expected to be very close. Not a bit of it! Wade romped to a 17-7 win, boasting one of the best check-out rates in the 14-year history of the tournament. From 9-7 in front, he won eight consecutive legs, averaged 102, hit five ton plus finishes (and three more in the 90s!) and that 68 per cent check-out success was simply amazing!

Since that big breakthrough win in July 2007, Wade beat Barneveld to win the UK Open Welsh Regional in Newport. He also won the Scottish Regional - beating Ronnie Baxter and reached the finals of PDC Pro Tour events in Atlanta, Ireland, Germany and Chicago and competed in the World Darts Trophy in Holland. The 24-year-old has always promised so much and he is now delivering. In 2006, Wade gave a hint of what was to come at Blackpool, when he reached the quarter-finals of the International Darts League in Holland - admitting "I played some of the best darts of my life" and he was beaten by Gary Anderson, despite a brilliant 106 average.

He was No.2 seed for the UK Open at Bolton - winning the North West Regional - and beating Phil Taylor in the quarter-finals... Wade's average an unbelievable 110.48! He has also appeared in many other finals and countless other semi and quarter-finals. It seems an age ago but it was the summer of 2006 when we all witnessed first hand what James Wade is really all about, when he reached the final of the World Matchplay in Blackpool. It was a phenomenal achievement, which prompted the great Eric Bristow to say: "It was the best performance I have seen from someone his age!"

He lost the final to Phil Taylor but gave 'The Power' a real run for his money - missing darts to take a 10-5 lead - and since that golden week on the golden mile, Wade has gone from strength to strength... and his achievement of going one step further in 2007 at The Winter Gardens speaks volumes for his temperament and talent. And there has been high praise from Taylor himself: "James is a cracking player. He has made a name for himself and there is no doubt that the future is very bright for him."

Wade has proved both Taylor and Bristow right after being crowned World Matchplay Champion and then adding the World Grand Prix crown to his already impressive CV. Sky Sports legendary commentator Sid Waddell picked Wade out as a future World Champion two years ago and the young left-hander could well prove him right! The big turning point for Wade can be traced back to the summer of 2006. After failing to qualify for the 2006 Las Vegas Desert Classic, he quit his job as a full-time mechanic to become a darts professional but he still likes to tinker under the bonnet: "to take my mind away from darts!"

He started to take his chosen sport seriously and look what he has gone on to achieve! He said: "I have really practiced and put in a lot of hard work and I got instant reward. I now have to take that performance forward and make sure I improve and get better, because it is going to get harder and I know the others will raise their game when they play me now."

He caused a stir in 2006, by remarkably hitting not one but two magical 9-darters in competition. His first came in the UK Open North West Regional in Manchester... and his second came in the Players Championship event at Hayling Island. After impressing in the BDO with his precocious talent, he took the bold decision to switch to the PDC and Wade has reaped the rewards.

Unicorn were quick to identify the new kid on the block and Wade has already repaid that faith. It has been a meteoric rise. He has just one giant stride to make at Team Unicorn... from Maestro to World Champion! "I believe I can be world No.1 in a few years and I am sure I will be World Champion," Wade said. "I would be really angry in five or six years time if I look back and haven't achieved that dream."

That is certainly not arrogance, just the self-belief that has carried Wade during his short career. It is difficult to believe that he only started to play competitive darts seven years ago. Wade explains: "I went to play for my dad's team Ash Royal British Legion in a local league and amazingly checked out 109 in my first match. That was it. I was hooked!" He added: "It was my great friend and co-sponsor Jason Thame who persuaded me to take the leap to the PDC and he was right! But the link-up with Team Unicorn has been one of my proudest moments in darts so far. They are the number one in darts and that's where I want to be as well."

In 2005, Wade won his first big PDC title. He lifted the Irish Masters crown in Rosslare after claiming some notable scalps along the way. Andy Jenkins, Team Unicorn's Colin Lloyd and former World Champion Steve Beaton to name but a few and Wade then beat Steve Maish convincingly in the final. He has quickly built up a reputation as a player the others definitely want to avoid in tournaments. "That is a big compliment," he said. "It means I have got the respect from the best in the business and being given the Players Player of the Year award by my fellow pro's is one of the biggest honours of my life."

He has played at the last four World Championships and is surely destined to dominate the stage at the Ally Pally for many years to come.

He is a rarity in darts these days being a left-hander but it has all come together for Team Unicorn's James Wade.

And the young man has recently decided to put something back into the sport. He is helping to sponsor rising star Ricky Williams (a Team Unicorn newcomer) over the next 12 months.

So far, we've read only a few chapters of the 'Darts Book of James Wade' and the man they now call 'The Machine' is set to fire on all cylinders for many years to come.

Andy "The Hammer" Hamilton

It’s ‘Hammer Time’ and it’s The Hammer’s time!

Andy Hamilton looks set to take his darting career to the next level after reaching his first ‘Major’ TV Final and that means winning the big tournaments and guaranteeing himself a place in the sport’s record books. His achievements over the last two years are all the more remarkable when you consider Andy struggles with diabetes and has to inject himself with insulin four times a day.

“I don’t really think about it that much,” he said. “It’s the way it is and I am far more concerned with taking the next step. When I look at what James Wade has managed to do, I know I can do exactly the same.” After four near misses, Hamilton finally reached his first major TV Final in November 2007 at the Grand Slam of Darts.

Hamilton comfortably qualified from his group, then beat Adrian Lewis, Terry Jenkins and Kevin McDine on his way to the final, where he gave Phil Taylor a real run for his money – losing by 18 legs to 11, with an average of 101 and 13 maximums…..but the consolation was the biggest cheque of his career….£35,000. He was unlucky to miss out on a place at the 2008 Premier League but he looks handily placed to put that right in 2009. The aim is to be in the top six in the PDC Order of Merit at the end of the 2008 World Grand Prix in Dublin and that will be enough to secure Hamilton his spot in the lucrative Premier League.

It really has been a rapid rise and now the Stoke star is deservedly described as one of the best darts players in the world. Hamilton’s first near miss came at the 2006 World Matchplay, when he lost in the semi-finals to Phil Taylor….the same fate awaited him at the 2007 World Championship semi-final. He lost in the last four to Raymond Van Barneveld at the 2007 US Open and of course, there was that epic run at the 2007 World Darts Trophy.

It’s all part of Hamilton’s darting education and despite all he has achieved, he admits that he still has a lot to learn. It was in September 2007 that Hamilton enjoyed one of the best weeks of his darting life, when he came within an ace of reaching the final of the prestigious World Darts Trophy in Holland. He beat the likes of Tony O’Shea and Jelle Klaasen, before producing the greatest comeback of his career. He was 1-4 down to Lakeside Champion Martin Adams in the quarter-finals but stunned the BDO star, by coming back to win by 5 sets to 4.

But there was heartbreak in the semi-finals…..Hamilton was 3-0, 4-1 and 5-3 in front against Gary Anderson, only to lose 6-5. It was the third time that Hamilton had suffered semi-final agony in a TV ‘Major…..of course, he lost to Phil Taylor at the 2006 World Matchplay and the semi-finals of the 2007 World Championship. But 2007 has seen Hamilton win his first tournaments on the PDC Pro Tour, reach those World Championship semi-finals, the last four of the prestigious US Open, two other semi-finals and four quarter-final appearances – not a bad tally for somebody who was given a second chance at the sport he loves.

The magical moment for the man they call ‘The Hammer’ came in January 2007 – just a short time after he reached the semi-finals of the last ever World Championship to be played at the famous Circus Tavern. Hamilton won his first big PDC event – the Stan James Players Championship in Gibraltar. After seeing off the likes of Roland Scholten, Terry Jenkins and Alan Warriner, he beat Colin Lloyd by 3 sets to 1 in the final.

“It was a very special moment for me,” he said. “I had been getting closer and closer and to finally achieve a huge ambition was very satisfying. I hope it turns out to be the first of many.” Well, he didn’t have to wait too long for the next one! At the beginning of April, Hamilton won the UK Open Midlands Regional. He beat James Wade in a high-class final. In May, he enjoyed a great run to the semi-finals of the first ever US Open in Connecticut. Hamilton lost to Raymond Van Barneveld but a cheque for £5,000 wasn’t a bad consolation!

At those last ever Circus Tavern World Championships, Hamilton came very close to setting a new World Championship record for the number of 180s in the tournament. He lost in the semi-finals to Taylor. “I saved my worst performance for the most important match,” he admitted. But Hamilton banged in 46 maximums – just three behind Taylor’s tournament record of 49.

Not bad for someone who gave up competitive darts for nearly 20 years, before deciding to take the plunge – just to see whether he was good enough….well, it seems Hamilton and everyone else in the world of darts has had the answer! ‘The Hammer’ first came to the public eye with a terrific run at the 2006 World Championships. As a qualifier, he reached the last 16, where he was beaten by Phil Taylor – despite a 98 average.

After beating Raymond Van Barneveld in the Blackpool qualifiers, he claimed the scalps of Team Unicorn stars Peter Manley and Adrian Lewis and then beat Wayne Mardle to set up a semi-final showdown against Taylor. It was an epic struggle, which Taylor eventually won 17 legs to 11 after Hamilton missed doubles at crucial times.

He also came within an ace of a magical 9-darter in that semi-final…..just clipping the wire on the final double 12 after eight perfect darts. “That week changed my life,” he admitted. “From that, I secured the sponsorship deal with Unicorn, my bank balance is a lot healthier, I am doing exhibitions, I have turned full-time professional and it’s great that I also have a lot of fans. Hamilton owns the Skylark pub in his native Stoke but not for long. He aims to sell up as soon as possible so there are no distractions for his darts career. “I really believe that the best is yet to come. I am full of confidence and there is no reason why I can’t start winning big tournaments.”

It was the UK Open tournament a few years back that finally convinced Hamilton to give darts a real go on the PDC circuit. He travelled to Scotland and did well in the regional event but did even better in the Players Championship – going all the way to the semi-finals, where he lost to Mark Dudbridge. Hamilton said: “It just gave me the belief and it is amazing to think of what I have achieved since then. I was always a good player but didn’t think that I could hack it at the top level. In hindsight, it was a good decision because if I had taken the plunge when I was 18 or 19 and failed, it may have broken me and I may have packed in darts altogether.”

He started playing as a 16-year-old with Dad Jim and brother Darren at home. By the time he was 18, Hamilton was playing county darts for Cheshire but he didn’t feel confident enough to carry on up the ladder, instead satisfying himself with playing the local leagues around Stoke. But after that 20-year darting sabbatical, Hamilton took the gamble and it has paid off handsomely. “I am really focused now. I have proved that I am not just a one-hit wonder and I am determined to take it to the next level and that means winning tournaments.”

The King Henry VIII look-alike is married to Kate and has three step-children Adam, Sarah and Vicky.

It is surely only a matter of time before it all comes together. He is one of the hardest working players in the world. The rewards are on the way.

Terry "The Bull" Jenkins

In the space of just two years, Terry Jenkins has transformed himself into one of the most popular players in world darts but now he is chasing a dream – to win the ‘big one’ that has eluded him for so long.

‘The Bull’ shot to prominence with a series of fantastic performances culminating in back-to-back appearances in the Premier League and five ‘Major’ TV finals. Not bad for somebody, who for so long, regarded darts as a sideline and a hobby….but when he started to take it seriously, Jenkins proved that he is one of the very best in the business.

“Of course I am disappointed not to have won one of the big events but I guess that makes me even more determined to succeed. I have come so close and I know I have the game. It’s just a case of getting over that final hurdle.” From October 2006 to October 2007, Jenkins hit the heights – reaching those five ‘Major’ finals, only to suffer heartache on each occasion. He lost at the 2006 World Grand Prix to Phil Taylor, was beaten by ‘The Power’ in the 2007 Premier League Final, then lost to Raymond Van Barneveld in the final of the Las Vegas Desert Classic and went down to James Wade at both the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix in July/October 2007.

“I don’t want to become known as the nearly man of darts and in all those finals, I ran up against players who were bang in form,” he said. “There is no point in looking back and wondering what might have happened. They are all history and I get on with planning for the next one.” Jenkins was a full-time antiques dealer before he established himself at the top of the darts tree and he still dabbles in a bit of buying and selling these days – but now he uses the antiques as a welcome distraction from the pressures of life on the oche. His success and popularity has also led to Jenkins becoming a man in demand on the exhibition circuit.

He is the World No.5 and ask any darts player who they would like to avoid at any tournament - and the name of Terry Jenkins will be near the top of the list. The 2008 World Championship threw up one of the low points of his career, when he missed seven darts to win his 1st Round match and lost 3-2 to Kirk Shepherd….and of course, the Unicorn youngster went on to enjoy the week of his life by reaching the World Final at the Alexandra Palace. “That was one of the worst moments of my career but after sulking for a few days, I put the result into the dustbin of history and moved on!”

In that 12 month spell, he pocketed over £100,000 in prize money, including a record prize money cheque for him of £40,000 for reaching that final of the 2007 Premier League. Jenkins is a laid-back easy going character but don’t mistake that for a blasé attitude. He is a proven winner and he has set his sights on achieving those ambitions.

Those five TV finals in a year proved this a bull with a rich pedigree! He never got a look in against an inspired Wade in Blackpool and was always struggling in the Dublin Final, when he went three sets down…..Jenkins actually came from 3-0 down to beat John Part in the semi-finals at the WGP but Wade proved a tougher nut to crack. Although Jenkins did find some form in the final, Wade won it by 6 sets to 3. He sees the ultimate as the World Championship….. “I said 20 years ago that I will win it one day and I was serious when I said it and I still firmly believe that today.”

It is during the last two years that the name of Terry Jenkins has hit the high notes in the world of darts, with many tournament victories and countless appearances in semi and quarter-finals. He also made the quarter-finals of the first ever Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, where he lost a thriller 10-8 to Unicorn stablemate Andy Hamilton. One of the best ‘floor’ players in the business, it took him time to adapt to the bright lights and big stages of the TV ‘Majors’ but now there is no looking back for the man from Ledbury in Herefordshire

October 2006 was the defining moment for Jenkins, when he came from nowhere to snatch a place in the Premier League… as all his rivals fell by the wayside at the World Grand Prix, his run to the final was enough to change his career forever. “In any sport, you need some luck along the way and I had mine at that tournament. It all fell into place and I haven’t looked back,” he admitted.

Once he made the Premier League, he was in need of a new image and along came ‘The Herefordshire Bull’ and Jenkins now familiar pose of two darts on top of his head – like the horns of a bull – has earned him cult status with darts fans around the UK. “The reaction has been amazing really….I now get recognised wherever I go and people are calling all the time to ask me to do exhibitions. It has been a great response, Jenkins added: “I am certainly not resting on my laurels. In the past, people have got into the top four or five in the world and think they’ve made it…..well, that isn’t the case with me. I have a reputation to maintain and I have got so much that I want to do in the sport of darts.”

The best victory of his career so far came at the 2007 World Matchplay, when he beat Phil Taylor 17-11 in an epic semi-final. “In many ways, that was the best. I know I lost the final to James Wade but beating Phil convinced me that those big prizes are just round the corner. Away from the big stage, he has won the Antwerp Open for three years on the spin and during 2007, Jenkins also won a prestigious Players Championship event in Hayling Island, as well as losing in the final of two other Players Championship tournaments.

The 2007 World Championship saw him reach the quarter-finals, where he lost a nail-biter to Andy Hamilton and he was kicking himself after throwing away a 5-0 lead to lose 11-10 to Vincent van der Voort in the quarter-finals of the UK Open in Bolton – but he is destined to win the ‘big ones’. It all started as a 13-year-old, playing at the Eastnor Club in his hometown Ledbury and several appearances at county level for Worcestershire soon followed. His big move to the PDC came quite by accident…..Jenkins takes up the story: “I was working in my own furniture shop six days a week. All my friends were telling me to give the PDC a go but I just didn’t have the time. Then I was given notice to quit the shop because the lease was about to expire and that made my mind up for me! I saw it as a big chance to make a living out of darts and looking back, it was the right decision!”

Married to Jackie, he has three sons Graham, Carl and Craig……Terry Jenkins is hoping to finally bury the hoodoo during 2008 and there is nobody in the world of darts who would begrudge him one of the big titles.