This annually televised darts' jamboree has, since its inception in 1978, sought to determine who is the best player on the planet. Its mix of beer-swilling stars, rowdy fans, light-hearted banter and tungsten-slinging action have made it a welcome inclusion to the Christmas festivities.
In 1993, however, following the formation of a rival, breakaway governing body - the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)- two versions of the same championship have been staged at around the same time each year. The long-standing BDO Embassy tournament continues to be televised by the BBC, while the rival PDC spectre airs on Sky Sports.
Almost inevitably, the presence of each respective organisation has served to devalue the other's product, while dividing the game's top players. Consequently, darts is somewhat absurdly able to boast two world champions.
1999 witnessed a special one-off televised darts' challenge, which pitted the two respective champions in a head-to-head. This was won with ease by Phil Taylor, possibly the game's greatest ever exponent.
By 2002, of the world's top four players (Phil Taylor, Raymond Barneveld, Ronnie Baxter and Richie Burnett), only Barneveld remained with the BDO Embassy tournament, which was in crisis following the decision of the UK Government to outlaw its tobacco sponsorship by the close of 2003.
For historians of the game, the internal feuding, back-biting and sniping, ultimately resulting in the sport's schism, was chronicled in a BBC documentary (2001) - Blood on the carpet: poisoned arrows.
In 1993, however, following the formation of a rival, breakaway governing body - the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC)- two versions of the same championship have been staged at around the same time each year. The long-standing BDO Embassy tournament continues to be televised by the BBC, while the rival PDC spectre airs on Sky Sports.
Almost inevitably, the presence of each respective organisation has served to devalue the other's product, while dividing the game's top players. Consequently, darts is somewhat absurdly able to boast two world champions.
1999 witnessed a special one-off televised darts' challenge, which pitted the two respective champions in a head-to-head. This was won with ease by Phil Taylor, possibly the game's greatest ever exponent.
By 2002, of the world's top four players (Phil Taylor, Raymond Barneveld, Ronnie Baxter and Richie Burnett), only Barneveld remained with the BDO Embassy tournament, which was in crisis following the decision of the UK Government to outlaw its tobacco sponsorship by the close of 2003.
For historians of the game, the internal feuding, back-biting and sniping, ultimately resulting in the sport's schism, was chronicled in a BBC documentary (2001) - Blood on the carpet: poisoned arrows.
