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Richie Burnett

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Richie Burnett
Personal information
Full nameRichard Mark Burnett
Nickname"The Prince of Wales"
Born (1967-02-07) 7 February 1967 (age 57)
Cwmparc, Treorchy, Wales
Home townCwmparc, Treorchy, Wales
Darts information
Playing darts since1983
Darts23 Gram Red Dragon Signature
LateralityRight-handed
Walk-on music"Dakota" by Stereophonics
Organisation (see split in darts)
BDO1994–1999
PDC1999–2014, 2016-
Current world ranking137 Steady (24 November 2024)[1]
WDF major events – best performances
World Ch'shipWinner (1): 1995
World MastersWinner (1): 1994
PDC premier events – best performances
World Ch'shipQuarter Final: 2002, 2003
World MatchplayRunner Up: 2001
World Grand PrixSemi Final: 2011
UK OpenQuarter Final: 2023
European Ch'shipLast 16: 2012
Ch'ship LeagueSemi Final: 2013
Desert ClassicQuarter Final: 2004
US Open/WSoDLast 64: 2010
PC FinalsLast 32: 2011, 2011, 2012, 2013
Other tournament wins
BDO Gold Cup 2001
British Pentathlon 1995
Denmark Open 1994
Dutch Open 1994
Estonia Open 2005
Great Mountain Workingmens Club Open 2010
Las Vegas Open 2014
PDC Challenge Tour 2016 (x2), 2024
Welsh Open 1994, 1995
Witch City Open 2001
Players Championships
Players Championship (NED) 2011
Other achievements
Nine-dart finish UK Open Qualifier 2012

Richard Mark Burnett (born 7 February 1967), nicknamed Prince of Wales, is a Welsh professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events. He is a former World No. 1 who won the 1995 Embassy World Darts Championship. Burnett is known for coming on to "Dakota" and dancing on stage. He is also known for his fiery personality, fighting with Adrian Lewis on stage during the 2012 Players Championship Finals.

BDO career

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Burnett was born in Cwmparc, Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and first came to prominence shortly after the split in the game, after the PDC and the BDO players went their separate ways. Burnett began to win many titles in the BDO in 1994, which included the Dutch Open,[2] Welsh Open,[3] British Matchplay and the Denmark Open.[4][5] He then added one of the two BDO major titles, the Winmau World Masters beating Steve Beaton in the final.[6]

Although the 1995 BDO World Darts Championship was his debut, he had risen in the rankings to become number two seed. After defeating Peter Wright, Russell Stewart, Paul Hogan and Andy Fordham, he went on to win the title, beating Raymond van Barneveld 6–3 (sets) in the final.[7]

Burnett would also reach the final of the BDO World Championship on two more occasions, losing in 1996 to Steve Beaton, and in 1998 to Raymond van Barneveld. His 1996 final defeat was his first match loss at Lakeside and ended a run of nine consecutive match wins.[8] The 1998 final went into the 11th and deciding set, and into a tiebreak. Burnett had had an out-shot for the title, but narrowly missed his second dart at treble-14 which would have left him on double 20, and did not get another opportunity to win the match.

In the two years after winning the 1994 Winmau World Masters title, Burnett suffered upset losses in the Winmau World Masters finals of 1995 and 1996, losing to Erik Clarys and Colin Monk respectively.

After a first-round defeat in the 1999 BDO World Championship to Ronnie Baxter, Burnett switched to compete on the PDC circuit. However, Burnett continued playing at the Winmau World Masters until 2001, reaching the semi-finals in 2001, where he lost to his old rival, Raymond van Barneveld.

PDC career

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1997–2006

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Burnett had first competed in the PDC in April 1997, at the Antwerp Open. In June 1997, Burnett played in a challenge match against the PDC World Champion, Phil Taylor, which was the main event at the Battle of the Champions card at the Circus Tavern, broadcast on Sky Sports. Although Burnett was in good form, Taylor was in top form and won the match 4-1 in sets. A few weeks later, Burnett reached the semi-finals of the 1997 World Matchplay, losing to Alan Warriner.

Burnett played in the World Matchplay again in 1999, losing in the first round to eventual finalist, Peter Manley, and again in 2000, when he reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1997, this time losing to eventual champion, Phil Taylor. Burnett's best televised performance to date in the PDC was in reaching the final of the 2001 World Matchplay, where he again lost to Taylor.

At the PDC World Championships, Burnett was never able to achieve the same kind of results that he had in the BDO or at the PDC World Matchplay. His best results at the PDC World Championship were to twice reach the quarter-finals (2002 and 2003), but his world ranking steadily fell afterwards, and by the end of 2005 he had almost slipped out of the top 50. As a result, he had to qualify for all the major PDC tournaments and failed to qualify for the World Championships for the first time in 2006.

2006–2010

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This led to many years of poor form and falling world rankings, with his only television appearances between 2005 and 2010 coming at the UK Open, apart from his run in the qualifying rounds for the 2007 PDC World Darts Championship when he won four matches to make it to the television stages. However, he lost in the first round to Alex Roy. He was also reported to be suffering from dartitis at this time, which was visible at the 2008 UK Open, where he lost in the first round to Jamie Harvey.

Burnett stopped playing darts for a few months in 2009, and it was reported in September that year that he had financial difficulties and was on the dole.[9]

2010–2014

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He showed an improvement in his form in October 2010, by reaching the semi-finals of the John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic, losing in a last-leg decider to Gary Anderson. A week later, he reached two successive PDC Pro Tour finals in Bad Nauheim, Germany – losing 4–6 to fellow Welshman Mark Webster on Saturday,[10] and then by the same scoreline to Simon Whitlock on Sunday.[11] His improved form earned him qualification for the 2011 World Championships and the 2011 Players Championship Finals (February). The improvement continued throughout 2011 reaching the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix, where he lost to Phil Taylor, which was Burnett's best result at a television event for 10 years. Burnett also claimed his first-ever PDC Pro Tour title in September, beating Dave Chisnall in the final.

Burnett secured the first shock of the 2012 World Championships by defeating fellow countryman and number six seed, Mark Webster, 3–2 in the first round.[12] He lost nine out of the first ten legs in his second round match to John Part and, although he did win a set, was beaten 1–4.[13] He then teamed up with Webster for the World Cup and together they reached the semi-finals with wins over Croatia and South Africa. They could not reach the final however, as the English pair of Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis won 1–3.[14] In March he hit a nine-dart finish in the fourth UK Open Qualifier during a first round match against Michael Barnard. Burnett was later knocked out in the fourth round of the event by Dennis Priestley.[15] He then made it to the quarter-finals of the Austrian Darts Open where he lost 3–6 to Raymond van Barneveld.[16] Burnett lost 4–9 in the last 32 of the UK Open to Peter Wright.[17] In the first round of the European Darts Open Burnett produced a stunning 121 average during a 6–2 win over Andy Jenkins,[18] and went on to reach the semi-finals where he lost 4–6 to Raymond van Barneveld.[19] At the World Matchplay, Burnett suffered a 5–10 defeat to James Wade in the first round.[20] After all 33 ProTour events of 2012 had been played, Burnett was 22nd on the Order of Merit, comfortably inside the top 32 who qualified for the Players Championship Finals.[21] He was defeated by Adrian Lewis 3–6 in the first round.[22]

In the first round of the 2013 World Championship, Burnett came through a deciding set against James Hubbard and a partisan crowd to set up a clash with Andy Hamilton.[23] Burnett won the first set, but then missed five darts to go 2–0 up and went on to lose 1–4.[24] He played in his second World Cup of Darts with Mark Webster and they reached the semi-finals where they faced the number one seeds of Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis. Webster lost to Taylor, but Burnett defeated Lewis 4–3 meaning a doubles match was needed to settle the tie. Burnett missed one dart at double ten to complete a 140 finish for the match and Wales would lose 4–3.[25] Burnett beat Webster 9–2 in the third round of the UK Open,[26] but then lost 9–6 to Steve West in the subsequent round.[27] At the German Darts Championship Burnett came through final leg deciders against James Richardson and Robert Thornton and then averaged almost 102 in beating Steve Brown 6–2.[28] His best run of the year continued with a 6–4 quarter-final success over Jamie Caven before missing one match dart in the semis against Peter Wright to lose 6–5.[29] Burnett topped Group 7 of the Championship League and then beat Kim Huybrechts 6–3 in the semi-finals and survived five match darts in the final against Gary Anderson to win 6–5.[30] In the Winners Group he won four of his seven games to finish third in the table and advance to the play-offs where he was defeated 6–2 by Michael van Gerwen.[31]

Burnett beat Dean Winstanley 3–1 in the opening round of the 2014 World Championship and then saw off Andy Hamilton 4–1 to advance to the third round for the first time since 2005.[32] He led Ian White 3–1 but could only win two of the next eleven legs to lose 4–3.[33] Burnett and Webster advanced to the quarter-finals of the World Cup of Darts, where their match against the Australian pairing of Simon Whitlock and Paul Nicholson went into a deciding doubles match which Wales lost 4–0.[34] Burnett was involved in two one-sided contests at the World Matchplay as he defeated Brendan Dolan 10–4 in the first round and then lost 13–2 to James Wade in the second.[35] In September he reached his first final on the PDC tour in almost three years at the 13th Players Championship, beating world number one Michael van Gerwen along the way, and led Gary Anderson 3–1 and 5–3, but would lose 6–5.[36] He missed 11 starting doubles in the deciding leg of his first round match against Simon Whitlock at the World Grand Prix, but still managed to win the match with a 121 finish. Burnett stated afterwards that he felt the only thing keeping from being a top eight ranked player was consistency.[37] His run continued with a 3–1 win over Terry Jenkins, before losing by a reverse of this scoreline to Stephen Bunting in the quarter-finals.[38]

Positive drugs test

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Burnett was due to play at the 2015 World Championship as the 26th seed, but was removed from the field the day before the first round draw was made for personal reasons.[39] In January 2015, it was announced that Burnett did not renew his PDC Tour Card for the 2015 season.[40] In October 2015, it was confirmed by UK Anti-Doping that Burnett had tested positive for cocaine at the Grand Slam of Darts Qualifier in November 2014. He was banned for 18 months.[41]

Comeback

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Burnett returned to competitive darts in May 2016 and he won two Challenge Tour tournaments.[42] He tried to get his Tour Card status back at Q School in January 2017 and succeeded on the third day by beating Paul Nicholson 5–3 in the final round.[43] His best result on the 2017 Pro Tour was when he reached the last 32, which he achieved twice. He failed to qualify for any of the European tour events. He also didn't qualify for the 2018 World Championship.

In March 2023, Burnett reached the Quarter-Finals stage of the 2023 UK Open, a first appearance at this stage of a ranked televised tournament since 2014. He most notably defeated world ranked number two Peter Wright in the Sixth round before falling to a 10–2 defeat to Dimitri van den Bergh.[44]

World Championship results

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BDO

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PDC

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Career finals

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BDO major finals: 7 (3 titles, 4 runners-up)

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Legend
World Championship (1–2)
Winmau World Masters (1–2)
British Matchplay (1–0)
Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score[N 1]
Winner 1. 1994 British Matchplay England Ronnie Baxter 5–4 (s)
Winner 2. 1994 Winmau World Masters England Steve Beaton 3–2 (s)
Winner 3. 1995 BDO World Darts Championship Netherlands Raymond van Barneveld 6–3 (s)
Runner-up 1. 1995 Winmau World Masters Belgium Erik Clarys 0–3 (s)
Runner-up 2. 1996 BDO World Darts Championship England Steve Beaton 3–6 (s)
Runner-up 3. 1996 Winmau World Masters England Colin Monk 2–3 (s)
Runner-up 4. 1998 BDO World Darts Championship Netherlands Raymond van Barneveld 5–6 (s)
  1. ^ (l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets.

PDC major finals: 1 (1 runner-up)

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Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score[N 1]
Runner-up 1. 2001 World Matchplay England Phil Taylor 10–18 (l)
  1. ^ (l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets.

Performance timeline

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BDO

Tournament 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
BDO World Championship DNQ W F 2R F 1R No longer a BDO Member
Winmau World Masters 3R DNP RR DNP 2R W F F 1R 2R 1R 3R SF No longer a BDO Member
European Masters Not held SF Not held
International Darts League Not held DNP RR

PDC

Tournament 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
PDC Ranked televised events
PDC World Championship DNP 2R QF QF 3R 3R DNQ 1R DNQ 1R 2R 2R 3R [N 1] DNQ 1R
UK Open Not held 4R 1R 4R 3R 6R 1R 1R 1R 5R 4R 4R 3R DNQ 1R DNQ 1R 2R QF
World Matchplay SF DNP 1R SF F 1R 2R 1R DNQ 1R DNQ 2R DNQ
World Grand Prix NH DNP 2R 2R 1R 1R 1R DNQ SF 1R 1R QF DNQ
European Championship Not held DNQ 2R DNQ DNQ
Players Championship Finals Not held DNQ 1R 1R 1R 1R DNQ DNQ
PDC Non-ranked televised events
PDC World Cup of Darts Not held DNP NH SF SF QF DNP
PDC Past major events
Las Vegas Desert Classic Not held 1R RR QF DNQ Not held
Championship League Not held DNQ RR SF Not held
Year-end ranking - - - - - - - - - - - - 146 62 37 25 28 26 - - 120 94 - 200 - 101 76


PDC European Tour

Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
2012 ADO
QF 		GDC
1R 		EDO
SF 		GDM
2R 		DDM
DNQ
2013 UKM
3R 		EDT
1R 		EDO
2R 		ADO
1R 		GDT
2R 		GDC
SF 		GDM
2R 		DDM
1R
2014 GDC
1R 		DDM
3R 		GDM
DNQ 		ADO
DNQ 		GDT
1R 		EDO
DNQ 		EDG
DNQ 		EDT
1R
2015 Did not play
2016 Did not play
2017 GDC
DNQ 		GDM
DNQ 		GDO
DNQ 		EDG
DNQ 		GDT
DNQ 		EDM
DNQ 		ADO
DNQ 		EDO
DNQ 		DDM
DNQ 		GDG
DNQ 		IDO
DNQ 		EDT
DNQ
2018 EDO
DNQ 		GDG
DNQ 		GDO
DNQ 		ADO
2R 		EDG
DNP 		DDM
DNP 		GDT
1R 		DDO
DNQ 		EDM
DNP 		GDC
DNP 		DDC
DNQ 		IDO
DNQ 		EDT
DNQ
2019 Did not play
2020 Did not play
2021 HDT
DNP 		GDT
DNQ
2022 IDO
DNP 		GDC
DNQ 		GDG
DNQ 		ADO
DNQ 		EDO
DNQ 		CDO
DNQ 		EDG
DNQ 		DDC
DNQ 		EDM
DNQ 		HDT
DNQ 		GDO
DNQ 		BDO
DNQ 		GDT
DNQ
2023 BSD
DNQ 		EDO
DNQ 		IDO
1R 		GDG
DNQ 		ADO
DNQ 		DDC
DNQ 		BDO
DNQ 		CDO
DNQ 		EDG
DNQ 		EDM
DNQ 		GDO
DNQ 		HDT
DNQ 		GDC
DNQ


Performance Table Legend
DNP Did not play at the event DNQ Did not qualify for the event NYF Not yet founded #R lost in the early rounds of the tournament
(WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin)
QF lost in the quarter-finals SF lost in the semi-finals F lost in the final W won the tournament
  1. ^ Not active on the PDC Pro Tour

References

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  1. ^ "PDC Order of Merit". PDPA. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  2. ^ Darts Database-->. "1994 Dutch Open Player Prize Money". Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  3. ^ Darts Database-->. "1994 Welsh Open Player Prize Money". Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  4. ^ Darts Database-->. "1994 British Matchplay Results". Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  5. ^ Darts Database-->. "1994 Denmark Open Player Prize Money". Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  6. ^ Darts Database-->. "1994 World Masters Results". Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  7. ^ Mastercaller-->. "1995 Lakeside World Championship". Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  8. ^ Darts Database-->. "Richie Burnett Player Profile". Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  9. ^ [1] Walesonline.co.uk
  10. ^ Webster Claims Maiden PDC Win PDC.tv
  11. ^ Whitlock Continues Amazing Run PDC.tv
  12. ^ "Richie Burnett upsets Mark Webster in PDC opener". BBC Sport. 15 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  13. ^ "World Championship – Day Ten". PDC. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  14. ^ "Cash Converters World Cup Semi-finals Round-Up". PDC. 5 February 2012. Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  15. ^ "Taylor Completes Qualifying Double". PDC. 24 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  16. ^ "2012 PDC European Tour Vienna Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
  17. ^ "2012 UK Open Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  18. ^ "European Darts Open Day One". PDC. Archived from the original on 9 July 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  19. ^ "2012 PDC European Tour Dusseldorf Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Betfair World Matchplay – Night Two". PDC. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2012.
  21. ^ "Minehead Qualifiers Confirmed". PDC. Retrieved 25 November 2012.
  22. ^ "Cash Converters PCF Day One". PDC. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  23. ^ "Wayne Jones and Andy Smith lose first round matches at the World Championships". Sky Sports. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
  24. ^ "Ladbrokes WDC Day Eight". PDC. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2012.
  25. ^ "Betfair World Cup of Darts – Semi-finals". PDC. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  26. ^ "Speedy Services UK Open – Friday". PDC. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  27. ^ "Speedy Services UK Open – Fourth Round". PDC. Archived from the original on 10 June 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2013.
  28. ^ "German Darts Championship Third Round". PDC. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  29. ^ "Superb Chisnall Claims German Title". PDC. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  30. ^ "Seventh Heaven For Burnett". PDC. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  31. ^ "Taylor Seals Championship League Treble". PDC. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  32. ^ "2013 PDC World Championship Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
  33. ^ "Ladbrokes World Championship Day 12". PDC. 27 December 2013. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013.
  34. ^ "bwin World Cup of Darts Quarter-Finals". PDC. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
  35. ^ "2014 World Matchplay Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  36. ^ "Six of the Best For Anderson". PDC. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  37. ^ "partypoker.com WGP Day Two". PDC. Retrieved 7 December 2014.
  38. ^ "2014 World Grand Prix Results". Darts Database. Retrieved 8 December 2014.
  39. ^ "PDC Statement: Richie Burnett". PDC. 1 December 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  40. ^ "34 Tour Cards Up For Grabs". PDC. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  41. ^ "Richie Burnett given 18-month ban after positive cocaine test". BBC Sport. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  42. ^ "Richie Burnett 2016". Darts Database. Archived from the original on 31 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
  43. ^ "2017 PDC Qualifying School Day Three". PDC. Archived from the original on 21 January 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  44. ^ "Burnett stuns Wright on dramatic second day of Cazoo UK Open". www.pdc.tv. 4 March 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
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