Bobby George | |
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George in April 2014
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Personal information | |
Full name | Robert Francis George |
Nickname | King of Bling Bobby Dazzler |
Born |
Manor Park, London, England |
16 December 1945
Darts information | |
Playing darts since | 1976 |
Darts | Winmau 23g |
Laterality | Right-handed |
Walk-on music | "We Are the Champions" by Queen |
Organisation (see split in darts) | |
BDO | 1977–2009 |
BDO majors - best performances | |
World Ch'ship | Runner Up: 1980, 1994 |
World Masters | Semi Final: 1979 |
World Darts Trophy | Last 32: 2002 |
Int. Darts League | Last 32 Group: 2005 |
Other tournament wins | |
Tournament | Years |
Essex Masters North American Open News of the World Darts Championship Hainault Super League Singles WDF Europe Cup Singles Best Old Major Results Butlins Grand Masters |
1976 1977 1978 1978 1979 1986 1976 1982 1979 1980 |
Updated on 7 January 2008. |
Robert Francis "Bobby" George (born 16 December 1945) is an English television presenter and former professional darts player. He is widely recognised as one of the game's biggest personalities, known for his flamboyant entrances in which the "King of Darts" makes his way to the stage bedecked in jewellery, wearing a crown and cloak and holding a candelabra to the Queen song We Are the Champions.
George won several leading darts tournaments, he won the News of the World Darts Championship twice and appeared in two BDO Darts World Championship finals and was the first full-time exhibition player. Since 1998, he has also worked for the BBC as a co-presenter and promoter of the game in their coverage of darts tournaments.
George took up darts at the age of 30, and quickly improved, winning the first tournament he entered and making his first appearance at the World Masters less than a year later. He has won several major tournaments, including the News of the World Championship in 1979 and 1986, the Butlins Grand Masters in 1979 and 1980, the North American Open in 1978 and the Nations Cup in 1980, as part of an England triples team with Tony Brown and John Lowe. George's News of the World victory in 1979 came without dropping a single leg, the only player to do so.
George has reached the final of the BDO World Darts Championship twice. His first final in 1980 was his first appearance in a BDO World Darts Championship: after beating Dave Whitcombe, Leighton Rees and Cliff Lazarenko, he lost to Eric Bristow. George reached his second world final in 1994. After beating Russell Stewart and Martin Phillips, he broke his back when celebrating winning a set during his quarter final match against Kevin Kenny. George got through that match against Kenny by 4–2 in sets, having damaged his back when celebrating going 3–0 up. In his semi final match against Magnus Caris, George went two sets up, but then lost the next four sets and the opening two legs of the seventh set. When Caris missed a dart at double 18 to win the match, George responded by winning nine legs in a row to win the match 5–4 in sets. Competing in the final against doctor's advice, Wearing a steel corset, George lost 0–6 to John Part playing in extreme pain.