Roland Scholten | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | The Tripod The Flying Dutchman |
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Born |
The Hague, Netherlands |
11 January 1965 ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Home town | The Hague Netherlands |
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Darts information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing darts since | 1980s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Darts | 21g Datadart Roland Scholten | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Laterality | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Walk-on music | Hey Ya! by Outkast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Organisation (see split in darts) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
BDO | 1992–1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
PDC | 1999–2013 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BDO majors - best performances | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Ch'ship | Semi-finals: 1998 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Masters | Semi-finals: 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Darts Trophy | Last 16: 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Int. Darts League | Semi-finals: 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Zuiderduin Masters | Last 16 Group: 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
PDC premier events - best performances | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Ch'ship | Quarter-finals: 2001, 2003 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Matchplay | Semi-finals: 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
World Grand Prix | Runner-up: 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Grand Slam | Last 16: 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Premier League | Runner-up: 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ch'ship League | Initial groups, 8th, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Desert Classic | Semi-finals: 2002, 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
European Ch'ship | First round: 2008 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
UK Open | Winner 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
US Open/WSoD | Quarter-finals: 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other tournament wins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other achievements | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
9 Dart Finish Golden Harvest North American Cup 2003 |
Roland Scholten (born 11 January 1965 in The Hague) is a former Dutch professional darts player who played for the Professional Darts Corporation and previously for the British Darts Organisation. He was nicknamed The Tripod and The Flying Dutchman. Scholten turned full-time professional in 2001 and formerly worked as a publican. Despite his Dutch nationality, Scholten speaks with a strong English accent having lived in Peterborough for several years. His considerable height and throwing technique means his darts hit the board at a considerably narrow angle.
Scholten was runner-up in the 1992 Austrian Open, losing to Rod Harrington. He then won the 1993 WDF World Cup, beating Denmark's Troels Rusel in the final. Scholten made his BDO World Championship debut in 1994 where he beat Sean Palfrey in the first round and became the only seed to progress to the second round where he lost to Ronnie Sharp. He followed up with a quarter final showing in the 1994 Winmau World Masters, beating Stefan Eeckelaert and Derek Hampton before losing to Steve Beaton. He then suffered a first round exit in the 1995 World Championship, losing to Colin Monk and reached the second round of the 1995 World Masters, again beating Palfrey in the first round but lost to fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld.
In the 1996 World Championship, Scholten beat Mark Salmon 3-0 in the first round but lost in the second round to then-defending champion Richie Burnett. Scholten won three Open tournaments in 1996, winning the North Holland Open, the Swedish Open and the prestigious British Open. He then reached the semi finals on the 1996 World Masters, losing to the eventual winner Monk. Scholten then reached the quarter finals of the 1997 World Championship, beating former finalist Mike Gregory and Bobby George before losing to Mervyn King. He reached the final of the England Open and the Swedish Open and his British Open defence ended in the quarter finals. Scholten, with partner van Barneveld won the PDC World Pairs Championship at Bognor Regis in 1997, beating the pairing of Burnett and Harrington in the final.