John Lowe (born 21 July 1945) is an English former professional darts player. One of the most prominent darts players from the late 1970s onwards, Lowe was world champion on three occasions, in 1979, 1987 and 1993. He was also a two-time winner of the World Masters and lifted the World Cup singles title on two occasions. Lowe won 15 British Darts Organisation (BDO) and World Darts Federation (WDF) majors, and was the world number one on four occasions. In October 1984, he became the first player to hit a televised nine-dart finish.

Lowe is one of only six players to have been world champion three or more times and was the first person to win it in three separate decades, one of only two players to do so. Amidst growing dissatisfaction with the British Darts Organisation, Lowe was also one of 16 players who in 1993 broke away to form their own governing body, the World Darts Council (now known as the Professional Darts Corporation).'Sporting Witness. The Split in Darts'. BBC, 14 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026

Career Lowe won the World Championship title in three different decades – 1979, 1987 and 1993. He met Eric Bristow six times in the World Championship in various semi-finals and finals, 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.

Lowe achieved the first-ever televised nine-dart finish on 13 October 1984, during the World Matchplay tournament against Keith Deller, although it was not live and instead shown on a highlights programme on ITV. It was achieved via a rare third-visit combination of treble 17, treble 18 and double 18. For the nine-dart finish, Lowe received £102,000, 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). This remained the highest amount of money earned by a darts player at a single tournament for almost two decades.

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

A composed performer, his demeanor was captured in his nickname Old Stoneface, which was also the title of Lowe's autobiography published in 2005.

Lowe enjoyed a longevity in darts. He played in the televised stages of the World Championship for a then-record 28 consecutive years, from the inaugural championship in 1978 to his last appearance in 2005.

Lowe played at the Alexandra Palace in 1980 in front of 7,000 people in the News of the World Championship.

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

Lowe was a founding member of the Professional Darts Players Association (PDPA). 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. After this, he joined a short-lived venture, the Setanta Sports–televised BetFred League of Legends in 2008.

Post-darts career 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. In 2013, The Art of Darts was produced in app-form for the iPhone and iPad.

In 2014, Lowe was one of several celebrities to take part in ITV's new game show Amazing Greys, in which members of the public take on icons of British sport and entertainment.

Personal life Lowe was born in New Tupton, Derbyshire. He is married to Karen and lives in Chesterfield. They both support Sunderland football club. He was awarded an MBE in 2018.

World Championship results

BDO 1978: Runner-up (lost to Leighton Rees 7–11 legs) 1979: Winner (beat Leighton Rees 5–0 sets) 1980: 2nd round (lost to Cliff Lazarenko 0–2) 1981: Runner-up (lost to Eric Bristow 3–5) 1982: Runner-up (lost to Jocky Wilson 3–5) 1983: Quarter-finals (lost to Keith Deller 3–4) 1984: Semi-finals (lost to Eric Bristow 0–6) 1985: Runner-up (lost to Eric Bristow 2–6) 1986: Quarter-finals (lost to Bob Anderson 3–4) 1987: Winner (beat Eric Bristow 6–4) 1988: Runner-up (lost to Bob Anderson 4–6) 1989: Semi-finals (lost to Eric Bristow 1–5) 1990: 2nd round (lost to Ronnie Sharp 2–3) 1991: 1st round (lost to Peter Evison 2–3) 1992: Semi-finals (lost to Phil Taylor 4–5) 1993: Winner (beat Alan Warriner 6–3)

PDC

1994: Group Stage (beat Tom Kirby 3–2 and lost to Larry 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 to Jamie Harvey 2–3 and beat Paul Lim 3–1) 1998: Last 24 group (lost to Peter Manley 0–3 and lost to Gary Mawson 0–3) 1999: 2nd round (lost to Phil Taylor 1–3) 2000: Quarter-finals (lost to Dennis 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 to Les Fitton 1–4) 2004: 3rd round (lost to Alan Warriner 3–4) 2005: 2nd round (lost to John Verwey 2–3)

WSDT

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

Career finals

BDO major finals: 25 (9 titles, 16 runners-up)

Legend World Championship (3–5) World Masters (2–3) British Professional (0–4) World Matchplay (1–1) Grand Masters (1–2) British Matchplay (2–1)

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final Score(l) = score in legs, (s) = score in sets.Winner 1. 1976 World Masters (1) Phil Obbard 3–0 (s)Winner 2. 1977 Butlins Grand Masters (1) Eric Bristow 5–4 (l)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 2–5 (l)Winner 4. 1979 World Darts Championship (1) Leighton Rees 5–0 (s)Winner 5. 1980 World Masters (2) Rab Smith 2–0 (s)Runner-up 3. 1981 World Darts Championship (2) Eric Bristow 3–5 (s)Runner-up 4. 1981 Butlins Grand Masters (2) Eric Bristow unknownRunner-up 5. 1981 British Professional Championship Jocky Wilson 5–6 (s)Runner-up 6. 1981 World Masters Eric Bristow 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 2–6 (s)Winner 7. 1985 British Matchplay (2) Cliff Lazarenko 3–0 (s)Runner-up 11. 1985 British Professional Championship (4) Eric Bristow 4–7 (s)Winner 8. 1987 World Darts Championship (2) Eric Bristow 6–4 (s)Runner-up 12. 1987 MFI World Matchplay Bob Anderson 1–5 (s)Runner-up 13. 1987 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 World Masters (3) Bob Anderson 2–3 (s)Winner 9. 1993 World Darts Championship (3) Alan Warriner 6–3 (s)

WDF major finals: 6 (5 titles, 1 runner-up)

Legend World Cup (2–0) Europe Cup (3–1) Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final ScoreWinner 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)

Independent major finals: 1 (1 title)

Outcome No. Year Championship Opponent in the final ScoreWinner 1. 1981 News of the World Championship (1) Mick Norris 2–0 (l)

Performance timeline CF= County Finals, DF= Divisional Finals

+ BDO majors performances Tournament 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 colspan=2 World Masters British Matchplay colspan=2 British Professional colspan=5 colspan=5 Butlins Grand Masters colspan=7 MFI World Matchplay colspan="8" colspan=5 News of the World CF colspan=2 DFCF DFDFCF colspan=3

+ WDF majors performances Tournament Event World Cup 1977 Euro Cup 1978 World Cup 1979 Euro Cup 1980 World Cup 1981 Euro Cup 1982 World Cup 1983 Euro Cup 1984 World Cup 1985 Euro Cup 1986 World Cup 1987 Euro Cup 1988 World Cup 1989 Euro Cup 1990 World Cup 1991 Euro Cup 1992 WDF World Cup & WDF Europe Cup Singles rowspan=4 Pairs Team Overall

+ PDC majors performances Tournament 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 PDC World Championship World Matchplay World Grand Prix colspan=4 colspan=2 UK Open colspan=9

Nine-dart finishes

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

References

External links

Interview with John Lowe