British Open (darts)
| British Open | |
|---|---|
| Tournament information | |
| Location | Various |
| Country | England |
| Established | 1975 |
| Organisation(s) | WDF Silver category |
| Format | Legs |
| Prize fund | £17,720 (Total) |
| Month(s) Played | September |
| Current champion(s) | |
| Mitchell Lawrie (men's & youth) Paige Pauling (women's & girls') | |
The British Open[1] is one of the longest-running darts events, having started just a few months after the inaugural Winmau World Masters in 1975. The tournament used to be televised by the BBC from its inception, but it ceased to cover the event after 1983. ITV took over from 1984 to 1988, then BSB Sports Channel/Sky Sports covered from 1990 to 1992. It was often held between Christmas and New Year - the 1975 Championship was actually played in late 1974. The tradition was maintained until near the millennium, when the organisers moved the tournament back to September/October. In recent years the tournament has been televised on Eurosport along with several other BDO tournaments that were previously untelevised.
The tournament's 50th edition was held at Bridlington Spa, Bridlington in 2025. The men's tournament been won by several world champions including: John Lowe, Eric Bristow, Jocky Wilson, Martin Adams, Raymond van Barneveld, Gary Anderson and Luke Littler. The women's tournament has been won by notable names Trina Gulliver and Fallon Sherrock.[2]
Mitchell Lawrie (men's & youth) and Paige Pauling (women's & girls') are the current champions, having won the event in 2025.[3][4]
List of winners
Men's
| Year | Champion | Av. | Score | Runner-Up | Av. | Prize Money | Venue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Ch. | R.-Up | |||||||
| 1975 | Alan Evans | n/a | beat | Alan Glazier | n/a | £1,440 | £750 | £300 | Mount Royal Hotel, London |
| 1976 | Jack North | n/a | beat | Brian Vaux | n/a | £2,080 | £1,000 | £400 | |
| 1977 | John Lowe | n/a | beat | Cliff Lazarenko | n/a | £2,940 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1978 | Eric Bristow | n/a | 3 – 2 | John Lowe | n/a | £2,810 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1979 | Tony Brown | n/a | beat | Brian Langworth | n/a | £3,810 | £2,000 | £500 | Royal Horticultural Halls, London |
| 1980 | Cliff Lazarenko | n/a | beat | Ray Cornibert | n/a | £3,810 | £2,000 | £500 | |
| 1981 | Eric Bristow (2) | n/a | beat | Leighton Rees | n/a | £5,310 | £3,000 | £750 | Kensington Rainbow, London |
| 1982 | Jocky Wilson | n/a | 2 – 1 | Eric Bristow | n/a | £6,140 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 1983 | Eric Bristow (3) | n/a | 2 – 0 | Mike Gregory | n/a | £6,140 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 1984 | Cliff Lazarenko (2) | n/a | 2 – 1 | Barry Noble | n/a | £6,140 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 1985 | John Cosnett | n/a | 2 – 1 | Peter Locke | n/a | £8,420 | £4,000 | £1,500 | |
| 1986 | Eric Bristow (4) | n/a | 2 – 1 | John Lowe | n/a | £10,580 | £5,000 | £2,500 | |
| 1987 | Bob Anderson | n/a | 2 – 0 | Steve Cusick | n/a | £11,160 | £5,000 | £2,000 | |
| 1988 | John Lowe (2) | n/a | 2 – 0 | Bob Anderson | n/a | £11,160 | £5,000 | £2,000 | |
| 1989 | Brian Cairns | n/a | 2 – 0 | Martin Hurley | n/a | £11,800 | £5,000 | £2,000 | |
| 1990 | Alan Warriner | n/a | 2 – 1 | Wayne Jones | n/a | £9,520 | £4,000 | £2,000 | |
| 1991 | Mike Gregory | n/a | 2 – 1 | John Lowe | n/a | £9,520 | £4,000 | £2,000 | Royal Horticultural Halls, London |
| 1992 | Phil Gilman | n/a | 3 – 1 | Dennis Priestley | n/a | £7,820 | £3,000 | £1,500 | Ramada Inn West London, London |
| 1993 | Dennis Priestley | n/a | beat | Dave Askew | n/a | £7,820 | £3,000 | £1,500 | Earls Court Park Inn International Hotel, London |
| 1994 | Martin Adams | n/a | beat | Stefan Nagy | n/a | £6,720 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 1995 | Al Hedman | n/a | beat | Andy Fordham | n/a | £6,720 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 1996 | Roland Scholten | n/a | beat | Bob Taylor | n/a | £6,560 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 1997 | Kevin Painter | n/a | beat | Andy Smith | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Paragon Hotel, London |
| 1998 | Colin Monk | n/a | beat | Ritchie Davies | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 1999 | Raymond van Barneveld | n/a | beat | Peter Manley | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2000 | Mervyn King | n/a | beat | Wayne Mardle | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Liverpool |
| 2001 | John Walton | n/a | beat | Steve Beaton | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2002 | Tony Eccles | n/a | beat | Tony David | n/a | £4,980 | £2,500 | £1,000 | |
| 2003 | Darryl Fitton | n/a | beat | Mervyn King | n/a | £4,980 | £2,500 | £1,000 | Royal Spa, Bridlington |
| 2004 | Martin Adams (2) | 102.81 | 2 – 1 | Mervyn King | 101.07 | £6,040 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 2005 | Brian Buur | 94.41 | 2 – 0 | Michael van Gerwen | 82.77 | £6,040 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 2006 | Mick Reed | n/a | 2 – 0 | Mark Barilli | n/a | £6,040 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 2007 | Gary Anderson | n/a | 2 – 0 | John Henderson | n/a | £6,040 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 2008 | John Henderson | 95.49 | 4 – 2 | Gary Anderson | 96.48 | £6,040 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 2009 | Dave Chisnall | n/a | 2 – 0 | Martin Atkins | n/a | £6,040 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 2010 | Ted Hankey | n/a | 3 – 0 | Andrew Gilding | n/a | £6,040 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 2011 | Scott Waites | 97.49 | 3 – 1 | Willy van de Wiel | 93.12 | £6,040 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 2012 | Martin Atkins | n/a | 6 – 5 | Robbie Green | n/a | £6,040 | £3,000 | £1,000 | |
| 2013 | Garry Thompson | 90.66 | 6 – 5 | James Wilson | 89.70 | £8,000 | £3,000 | £1,200 | |
| 2014 | Scott Mitchell | 95.64 | 6 – 1 | Martin Phillips | 81.29 | £8,000 | £3,000 | £1,200 | |
| 2015 | Mark McGeeney | 89.64 | 6 – 3 | Scott Waites | 88.29 | £12,400 | £3,000 | £1,500 | |
| 2016 | Cameron Menzies | n/a | 6 – 1 | Richard Veenstra | n/a | £12,400 | £3,000 | £1,500 | |
| 2017 | Ross Montgomery | 89.12 | 6 – 5 | Cameron Menzies | 88.34 | £12,400 | £3,000 | £1,500 | |
| 2018 | Richard Veenstra | 88.06 | 6 – 3 | Michael Unterbuchner | 86.83 | £12,400 | £3,000 | £1,500 | |
| 2019 | Wesley Harms | 89.10 | 6 – 5 | Michael Warburton | 88.50 | £12,400 | £3,000 | £1,500 | |
| 2021 | Scott Marsh | 92.83 | 6 – 5 | Connor Scutt | 88.63 | £12,400 | £3,000 | £1,500 | |
| 2022 | Reece Colley | 91.93 | 6 – 3 | Chris Landman | 91.99 | £12,400 | £3,000 | £1,500 | |
| 2023 | Luke Littler | 85.79 | 5 – 2 | Peter Jacques | 78.52 | £4,940 | £1,500 | £700 | |
| 2024 | Carl Wilkinson | 94.89 | 5 – 2 | Jim McEwan | 79.26 | £5,040 | £1,500 | £700 | |
| 2025 | Mitchell Lawrie | 102.95 | 5 – 0 | Ryan Hogarth | 74.18 | £5,040 | £1,500 | £700 | |
Women's
| Year | Champion | Av. | Score | Runner-Up | Av. | Prize Money | Venue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Ch. | R.-Up | |||||||
| 1979 | Judy Campbell | n/a | beat | Christie Allen | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Royal Horticultural Halls, London |
| 1980 | Linda Batten | n/a | beat | Maureen Flowers | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 1981 | Ann-Marie Davies | n/a | beat | Brenda Simpson | n/a | £1,880 | £1,000 | £300 | Kensington Rainbow, London |
| 1982 | Maureen Flowers | n/a | beat | Pam Bailey | n/a | £1,880 | £1,000 | £300 | |
| 1983 | Sandy Earnshaw | n/a | beat | Kathy Wones | n/a | £1,880 | £1,000 | £300 | |
| 1984 | Ann-Marie Davies (2) | n/a | beat | Gwen Sutton | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1985 | Linda Batten (2) | n/a | beat | Maureen Flowers | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1986 | Gwen Sutton | n/a | beat | Sharon Colclough | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1987 | Sharon Colclough | n/a | beat | Gwen Sutton | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1988 | Jane Stubbs | n/a | beat | Sharon Colclough | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1989 | Cathie McCulloch | n/a | beat | Elsie Halligan | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1990 | Sharon Colclough (2) | n/a | beat | Sandra Muir | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1991 | Pauline Dyer | n/a | beat | Francis Hoenselaar | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | Royal Horticultural Halls, London |
| 1992 | Sandra Greatbatch | n/a | beat | Mandy Solomons | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | Ramada Inn West London, London |
| 1993 | Sandra Greatbatch (2) | n/a | beat | Leeanne Maddock | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | Earls Court Park Inn International Hotel, London |
| 1994 | Sandra Greatbatch (3) | n/a | beat | Sue Talbot | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1995 | Francis Hoenselaar | n/a | beat | Pauline Dyer | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1996 | Pauline Dyer (2) | n/a | beat | Deta Hedman | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £500 | |
| 1997 | Francis Hoenselaar (2) | n/a | beat | Deta Hedman | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Paragon Hotel, London |
| 1998 | Trina Gulliver | n/a | beat | Mandy Solomons | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 1999 | Trina Gulliver (2) | n/a | beat | Tricia Wright | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2000 | Trina Gulliver (3) | n/a | beat | Anne Kirk | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Liverpool |
| 2001 | Trina Gulliver (4) | n/a | beat | Anne Kirk | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2002 | Mieke de Boer | n/a | beat | Trina Gulliver | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2003 | Francis Hoenselaar (3) | n/a | beat | Trina Gulliver | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | Royal Spa, Bridlington |
| 2004 | Trina Gulliver (5) | n/a | beat | Francis Hoenselaar | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2005 | Clare Bywaters | n/a | beat | Anastasia Dobromyslova | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2006 | Anastasia Dobromyslova | n/a | beat | Francis Hoenselaar | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2007 | Anastasia Dobromyslova (2) | n/a | beat | Dee Bateman | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2008 | Trina Gulliver (6) | n/a | beat | Francis Hoenselaar | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2009 | Deta Hedman | n/a | beat | Trina Gulliver | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2010 | Trina Gulliver (7) | n/a | 3 – 2 | Deta Hedman | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2011 | Lorraine Farlam | n/a | 3 – 0 | Trina Gulliver | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2012 | Linda Ithurralde | n/a | 4 – 3 | Tamara Schuur | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2013 | Deta Hedman (2) | n/a | 5 – 3 | Trina Gulliver | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2014 | Deta Hedman (3) | n/a | 6 – 1 | Lorraine Farlam | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2015 | Deta Hedman (4) | n/a | 5 – 1 | Lisa Ashton | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2016 | Deta Hedman (5) | n/a | 5 – 4 | Lisa Ashton | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2017 | Corrine Hammond | n/a | 5 – 3 | Anastasia Dobromyslova | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| 2018 | Lisa Ashton | n/a | 5 – 1 | Fallon Sherrock | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £400 | |
| 2019 | Lisa Ashton (2) | n/a | 5 – 2 | Beau Greaves | n/a | £2,360 | £1,000 | £400 | |
| 2021 | Fallon Sherrock | 79.73 | 5 – 2 | Corrine Hammond | 70.62 | £5,320 | £1,500 | £750 | |
| 2022 | Lisa Ashton (3) | 75.38 | 5 – 1 | Aileen de Graaf | 71.59 | £5,320 | £1,500 | £750 | |
| 2023 | Eve Watson | 71.54 | 5 – 1 | Paige Pauling | 63.13 | £2,170 | £750 | £350 | |
| 2024 | Beau Greaves | 95.13 | 5 – 0 | Lisa Ashton | 80.36 | £2,170 | £750 | £350 | |
| 2025 | Paige Pauling | 69.43 | 5 – 2 | Macy Gibbons | 70.32 | £2,170 | £750 | £350 | |
Youth's
| Year | Champion | Av. | Score | Runner-up | Av. | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Leighton Bennett | n/a | 4 – 3 | Keane Barry | n/a | Bridlington Spa, Bridlington |
| 2019 | Taylor Smoldon | n/a | 4 – 2 | Nathan Girvan | n/a |
Tournament records
- Most wins 4: Eric Bristow.
- Most Finals 5: Eric Bristow, John Lowe.
- Most Semi Finals 6: Eric Bristow, John Lowe.
- Most Quarter Finals 11: Martin Adams.
- Most Appearances 13: Martin Adams.
- Most Prize Money won £13,500: Eric Bristow.
- Best winning average (102.95) : Mitchell Lawrie vs Ryan Hogarth, 2025, Final.
- Youngest Winner age 14: Mitchell Lawrie.
- Oldest Winner age 54: Ross Montgomery.
See also
References
- ^ "British Open". World Darts Federation. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "Major darts event to celebrate 50th anniversary". BBC News. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ "British Open & Classic 2025". Dart Connect TV. 19–21 September 2025.
- ^ "Youth Rule At British Open Golden Anniversary Weekend". Darts World Magazine. 22 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.