Why are there two darts world championships? History of the split, PDC and BDO tournament details and past winners
It has been 23 years since the last time any one man was able to call himself the undisputed champion of the world after acrimonious split - but why?
IT has been 23 years since the last time any one man was able to call himself the undisputed champion of the world after acrimonious split - but why?
The PDC, whose World Championships are happening now at Alexandra Palace, split from the more traditionalist BDO in 1993 and two have been warring ever since.
Let SunSport give you a lowdown on just why there are two rival factions.
History of the PDC's split from the BDO
Players were discontented by the game's big decline in television coverage in the early 1990s, eventually culminating in them breaking away from the governing body BDO to form their own organisation, the World Darts Council (WDC).
It was taken to court in 1997 and the WDC dropped its claim to be a world governing body and renamed itself the Professional Darts Corporation.
The split in the game remains to this day. The BDO and the PDC have separate pools of players and stage their own tournaments. Each holds its own version of the World Professional Darts Championship.
Are there two different World Championships, the PDC one and the BDO?
Yes. The PDC's, largely down to the influence of promoter Barry Hearn who took it over and made it into a proper spectacle at the cavernous Alexandra Palace.
Walk on girls, fancy dress, music and dancing all encouraged - and a LOT of drinking. It is on Pay TV, with Sky Sports showing every dart thrown.
The BDO on the other hand is seen as more of the traditionalists spectacle, taking place every year at the Lakeside Country Club in Surrey, running from 7-15 January 2017.
They feature women's darts players alongside a men's draw, unlike the PDC which also gets much more coverage, despite the BDO being shown by the BBC.
Have there been defectors from the BDO to the PDC?
Yes, many. Most are lured by the much bigger prize money; the BDO champion last year Scott Waites won £100,000 while the PDC champ this year will win £400,000 when it finishes in the near year.
, Gary Anderson moved over from the BDO in 2009, while Waites has been with the BDO for a long time.
Other notable transfers include Andy Fordham, Mervyn King and the most famous darts two in the world - Phil "The Power" Taylor who moved immediately in 1993, and Dutch master Michael Van Gerwen who made the switch in 2007.
Is there any love lost between the BDO and the PDC?
None, at all. The PDC routinely mocks the BDO, with Hearn tweeting last year: "BBC BT or whoever have got to stop calling the Lakeside - world professional champs - it's an offence under the trade description act."
That alludes to the simple fact that the quality in the BDO is not very good compared to its rival. While the much-sought-after 180 is a regular sight on a night of darts, it seldom makes an appearance at the BDO.
But it is undeniable that what was merely a pub pastime has become a serious earning opportunity and the BDO still provides a valuable platform for young, aspiring players.