Darts is more than just a pub game; it is a sport with a lineage that stretches back hundreds of years. While many associate the game with the local tavern, its roots are surprisingly martial. Historians believe that the history of darts began with bored soldiers during the Middle Ages. Soldiers would throw shortened arrows at the ends of wine barrels or cross-sections of tree trunks. As the wood dried and cracked, the rings provided natural “scoring” zones, giving birth to the first primitive dartboards.
The Standardisation of the Dartboard
The game we recognise today began to take shape in the late 19th century. In 1896, a carpenter from Lancashire named Brian Gamlin is credited with inventing the modern numbering system. By placing large numbers next to small ones (e.g., 20 next to 1 and 5), Gamlin ensured the game required immense skill rather than just luck. This “punishing” layout is what transformed darts from a casual pastime into a legitimate competitive sport.
Darts in the 20th Century: The Rise of the BDO
In the early 1900s, darts was actually banned in some parts of the UK as it was considered a “game of chance.” This changed in 1908 when a Leeds innkeeper proved in court that it was a game of skill by hitting three 20s on command. Following World War II, the National Darts Association was formed, but it was the creation of the British Darts Organisation (BDO) in 1973 by Olly Croft that truly professionalized the game. This era saw the rise of the first “superstars” like Eric Bristow and John Lowe, who brought the game to television screens across the globe.
The Modern Era and the PDC Split
The most significant turning point in the history of darts occurred in 1992. Top players, feeling the BDO wasn’t doing enough to promote the sport, broke away to form the World Darts Council, now known as the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). Today, darts is a multi-million pound industry, with the PDC World Championship serving as the pinnacle of the sport, broadcast to millions in over 100 countries.
