John Lowe MBE
Lowe in 2009
Personal information
Nickname	"Old Stoneface"
Born	(1945-07-21)21 July 1945 (age 80) New Tupton,Derbyshire, England
Home town	Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
Darts information
Playing darts since	1966
Darts	21g Unicorn John Lowe Phase 3 Gold 90%
Laterality	Right-handed
Walk-on music	"Here I Go Again" byWhitesnake
Organisation (seesplit in darts)
BDO	1976–1993
PDC	1993–2007 (founding member)
WDF major events – best performances
World Championship	Winner (3) 1979, 1987, 1993
World Masters	Winner (2) 1976, 1980
PDC premier events – best performances
World Championship	Semi-Final: 1995, 1996
World Matchplay	Semi-Final: 1995, 2002
World Grand Prix	Semi-Final: 2001
UK Open	Last 16: 2005
WSDT major events – best performances
World Championship	Last 16:2022
World Matchplay	Last 16:2022
World Masters	Last 16:2022
Other tournament wins
News of the World 1981 Butlins Grand Masters 1977 MFI World Matchplay 1984 British Matchplay 1978, 1985 Australian Grand Masters 1985 Autumn Gold Cider Masters 1987 BDO British Classic 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987 BDO Gold Cup 1978, 1979, 1982 British Open 1977, 1988 British Pentathlon 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 Canadian Open 1979, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989 Denmark Open 1978, 1979, 1982, 1985, 1987 Dry Blackthorn Cider Masters 1983, 1986 Finnish Open 1992 French Open 1986 MFI World Pairs 1986 North American Open 1985, 1987 Welsh Open 1982
Other achievements
1984 – First televisednine-dart finish 1986 to 1993 – WDF England Captain (unbeaten)
Medal record Men'sDarts Representing England WDF World Cup 1977 London Men's pairs 1979 Las Vegas Men's pairs 1979 Las Vegas Men's team 1979 Las Vegas Men's overall 1981 Nelson Men's singles 1981 Nelson Men's team 1981 Nelson Men's overall 1983 Edinburgh Men's pairs 1983 Edinburgh Men's team 1983 Edinburgh Men's overall 1985 Brisbane Men's pairs 1985 Brisbane Men's overall 1987 Copenhagen Men's pairs 1987 Copenhagen Men's team 1987 Copenhagen Men's overall 1989 Toronto Men's pairs 1989 Toronto Men's overall 1991 Zandvoort Men's singles 1991 Zandvoort Men's team 1991 Zandvoort Men's overall 1977 London Men's team 1977 London Men's overall 1983 Edinburgh Men's singles 1985 Brisbane Men's team 1989 Toronto Men's team WDF Europe Cup 1978 Copenhagen Men's singles 1978 Copenhagen Men's pairs 1978 Copenhagen Men's overall 1980 Ebbw Vale Men's team 1980 Ebbw Vale Men's overall 1984 The Hague Men's singles 1984 The Hague Men's team 1984 The Hague Men's overall 1986 Turku Men's singles 1986 Turku Men's pairs 1986 Turku Men's team 1986 Turku Men's overall 1988 Yarmouth Men's overall 1990 Paola Men's team 1990 Paola Men's overall 1992 Helsinki Men's team 1992 Helsinki Men's overall 1990 Paola Men's pairs 1992 Helsinki Men's singles 1978 Copenhagen Men's team 1980 Ebbw Vale Men's pairs 1988 Yarmouth Men's team 1992 Helsinki Men's pairs
Updated on 19 October 2022.

John LoweMBE (born 21 July 1945)^[1] is an English former professionaldarts player. Along withEric Bristow andJocky Wilson, he was known for dominating darts during the 1980s. Lowe wasworld champion on three occasions, in 1979, 1987 and 1993. He was also a two-time winner of theWinmau World Masters and a two-timeWorld Cup singles champion. In total, Lowe won 15 BDO and WDF majors. He held theWorld No. 1 ranking on four occasions. In October 1984, he became the first player to hit a televisednine-dart finish.

Lowe is one of only six players to have won the World Championship three or more times, and was the first person to win it in three separate decades; along withPhil Taylor, he remains one of only two players to achieve this. Amidst growing dissatisfaction with theBritish Darts Organisation, Lowe was also one of 16 players who in 1993broke away to form their own governing body, theWorld Darts Council (now known as theProfessional Darts Corporation).

Lowe won theWorld Championship title in three different decades – 1979, 1987 and 1993.^[1] He metEric Bristow six times in the World Championship in various semi-finals and finals,^[2] and it was not until his fourth attempt (in the 1987 final) that he managed to overcome his rival. His record against Bristow in majors was three wins and six defeats.^[2]

Lowe achieved the first-ever televisednine-dart finish on 13 October 1984,^[3] during the World Matchplay tournament againstKeith Deller,^[3] although it was not live and instead shown on a highlights programme onITV. It was achieved via a rare third-visit combination of treble 17, treble 18 and double 18.^[3] For the nine-dart finish, Lowe received £102,000,^[3] he went on to win the tournament, for which he received £12,000, and earned an additional £1,000 for the tournament's highest outshot (161).^[3] This remained the highest amount of money earned by a darts player at a single tournament for almost two decades.^[4]

In addition to his three world titles, Lowe has also won twoWorld Masters titles,^[1] two British Open titles,^[1] two British Matchplay championships,^[1] twoWorld Cup Singles,^[1] and three European Cup Singles Titles,^[1] as well as other titles around the world in his career.^[1] He played for England over 100 times and was WDF England Captain between 1986 and 1993, during which time England remained unbeaten.^[3]

A composed performer, his demeanor was captured in his nicknameOld Stoneface,^[3] which was also the title of Lowe'sautobiography published in 2005.^[5]

Lowe enjoyed an impressive longevity at the sport. He played in the televised stages of the World Championship for a then-record 28 consecutive years,^[1] from the inaugural championship in 1978 to his last appearance in 2005, where he was defeated by the CanadianJohn Verwey in a final-leg tiebreak.^[6]

Lowe played at theAlexandra Palace in 1980 in front of 7,000 people in the News of the World Championship.^[7]

Lowe also dominated theBritish Pentathlon event, winning it ten times, including six in a row from 1982 to 1987.^[1] He stopped entering the event because the prizemoney had not changed in 12 years and cost players £100 to enter, plus expenses.^[8]

Lowe was secretary of the World Professional Dart Players Association (later to become theProfessional Dart Players Association (PDPA)), and, in 2005, he enjoyed a testimonial year in the sport to commemorate his 30th year as a professional. He attempted to qualify for the World Championship each year until 2008, but he fell short in the early qualifying rounds.^[1] After this, he joined a short-lived venture, theSetanta Sports–televised BetFred League of Legends in 2008.^[1]

In May 2009, Lowe released a book,The Art of Darts, in which he offered his personal insights into the game to both amateur and aspiring professional dart players.^[9] In 2013,The Art of Darts was produced inapp-form for theiPhone andiPad.

In 2014, Lowe was one of several celebrities to take part inITV's new game showAmazing Greys, in which members of the public take on icons of British sport and entertainment.^[10]

Lowe was born inNew Tupton,Derbyshire. He is married to Karen and lives inChesterfield. They both supportSunderland football club.^[11]

^[1]

• 1978: Runner-up (lost toLeighton Rees 7–11 legs)
• 1979:Winner (beat Leighton Rees 5–0 sets)
• 1980: 2nd round (lost toCliff Lazarenko 0–2)
• 1981: Runner-up (lost toEric Bristow 3–5)^[2]
• 1982: Runner-up (lost toJocky Wilson 3–5)
• 1983: Quarter-finals (lost toKeith Deller 3–4)
• 1984: Semi-finals (lost to Eric Bristow 0–6)^[2]
• 1985: Runner-up (lost to Eric Bristow 2–6)^[2]
• 1986: Quarter-finals (lost toBob Anderson 3–4)
• 1987:Winner (beat Eric Bristow 6–4)^[2]
• 1988: Runner-up (lost to Bob Anderson 4–6)
• 1989: Semi-finals (lost to Eric Bristow 1–5)^[2]
• 1990: 2nd round (lost toRonnie Sharp 2–3)
• 1991: 1st round (lost toPeter Evison 2–3)
• 1992: Semi-finals (lost toPhil Taylor 4–5)
• 1993:Winner (beatAlan Warriner 6–3)

^[1]

• 1994: Group Stage (beatTom Kirby 3–2 and lost toLarry Butler 2–3)
• 1995: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 4–5)
• 1996: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 1–5)
• 1997: Last 24 group (lost toJamie Harvey 2–3 and beatPaul Lim 3–1)
• 1998: Last 24 group (lost toPeter Manley 0–3 and lost toGary Mawson 0–3)
• 1999: 2nd round (lost to Phil Taylor 1–3)
• 2000: Quarter-finals (lost toDennis Smith 3–5)
• 2001: 2nd round (lost to Jamie Harvey 0–3)
• 2002: 2nd round (lost to Peter Manley 5–6)
• 2003: 2nd round (lost toLes Fitton 1–4)
• 2004: 3rd round (lost to Alan Warriner 3–4)
• 2005: 2nd round (lost toJohn Verwey 2–3)

^[1]

• 2022: 2nd round (lost to Dave Prins 0–3)

^[1]

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score[N 1]
Winner	1.	1976	Winmau World Masters(1)	Phil Obbard	3–0 (s)
Winner	2.	1977	Butlins Grand Masters(1)	Eric Bristow[2]	5–4 (l)[2]
Runner-up	1.	1978	World Darts Championship	Leighton Rees	7–11 (l)
Winner	3.	1978	British Matchplay(1)	Tony Brown	2–1 (s)
Runner-up	2.	1978	Butlins Grand Masters	Leighton Rees	unknown
Winner	4.	1979	World Darts Championship(1)	Leighton Rees	5–0 (s)
Winner	5.	1980	Winmau World Masters(2)	Rab Smith	2–0 (s)
Runner-up	3.	1981	World Darts Championship(2)	Eric Bristow[2]	3–5 (s)
Runner-up	4.	1981	Butlins Grand Masters(2)	Eric Bristow[2]	unknown
Runner-up	5.	1981	British Professional Championship	Jocky Wilson	5–6 (s)
Runner-up	6.	1981	Winmau World Masters	Eric Bristow[2]	1–2 (s)
Runner-up	7.	1982	World Darts Championship	Jocky Wilson	3–5 (s)
Runner-up	8.	1982	British Professional Championship(2)	Eric Bristow	3–7 (s)
Winner	6.	1984	MFI World Matchplay(1)	Cliff Lazarenko	5–3 (s)
Runner-up	9.	1984	British Professional Championship(3)	Mike Gregory	5–7 (s)
Runner-up	10.	1985	World Darts Championship(4)	Eric Bristow[2]	2–6 (s)
Winner	7.	1985	British Matchplay(2)	Cliff Lazarenko	3–0 (s)
Runner-up	11.	1985	British Professional Championship(4)	Eric Bristow[2]	4–7 (s)
Winner	8.	1987	World Darts Championship(2)	Eric Bristow[2]	6–4 (s)
Runner-up	12.	1987	MFI World Matchplay	Bob Anderson	1–5 (s)
Runner-up	13.	1987	Winmau World Masters(2)	Bob Anderson	1–3 (s)
Runner-up	14.	1988	World Darts Championship(5)	Bob Anderson	4–6 (s)
Runner-up	15.	1988	British Matchplay	Bob Anderson	2–3 (s)
Runner-up	16.	1988	Winmau World Masters(3)	Bob Anderson	2–3 (s)
Winner	9.	1993	World Darts Championship(3)	Alan Warriner	6–3 (s)

^[1]

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score[N 1]
Winner	1.	1978	Europe Cup Singles(1)	Jocky Wilson	4–1 (l)
Winner	2.	1981	World Cup Singles(1)	Jocky Wilson	4–3 (l)
Winner	3.	1984	Europe Cup Singles(2)	Leighton Rees	4–0 (l)
Winner	4.	1986	Europe Cup Singles(3)	Cliff Lazarenko	4–2 (l)
Winner	5.	1991	World Cup Singles(2)	Martin Phillips	6–4 (l)
Runner-up	1.	1992	Europe Cup Singles	Phil Taylor	2–4 (l)

^[1]

Outcome	No.	Year	Championship	Opponent in the final	Score[N 1]
Winner	1.	1981	News of the World Championship(1)	Mick Norris	2–0 (l)

CF= County Finals, DF= Divisional Finals^[1]

^[1]

^[12][13]

^[1]

Lowe accomplished the first-ever televised nine-dart finish.

John Lowe televised nine-dart finishes

Date	Opponent	Tournament	Method	Prize
13 October 1984	Keith Deller	World Matchplay	3 x T20; 3 x T20; T17, T18, D18	£102,000[3]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toJohn Lowe.

• Interview with John Lowe
• Nine Dart Finish from 1984 onYouTube

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• Sportspeople from Chesterfield, Derbyshire
• Professional Darts Corporation founding players
• People from Tupton
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• Professional Darts Corporation Hall of Fame

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