World champions mend rifts in darts

The two reigning world darts champions insist they have no axe to grind after clashing at a pub in Wolverhampton.

The biggest match in darts today came to the Cleveland Arms, Stowheath Lane, last night as PDC world title holder Adrian Lewis met BDO counterpart Martin Adams to decide the 'best of the best.'

Since 1992 there have been two world championships each year, when the BDC imploded with a breakaway faction initially called the WDC, changing name to the PDC in the late 1990s.

The two are prohibited to meet in competitive events and have been since the split but last night, in a relatively light hearted exhibition, saw their two current leading lights go head to-head.

Lewis took the lead and rarely looked back, running out a 13-10 winner with five 180s to one, scoring an average of 86 to Adams' 84.

Two great players duelled for the glass vase on the night, presented by Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones, but were adamant the sport, whatever camp your tent is in, comes first.

Lewis said: "I just enjoyed the moment but everyone expects the PDC player to win, so there's a lot more pressure on me.

"We had a great crack, me and Martin are great mates and everyone says to me 'do you hate the BDO?' It's a load of rubbish.

"I used to play county darts with a lot of those players, so why would I turn my back on them because I have joined another organisation?

"All we want to do is play darts."

Adams has been voted on to the board of the BDO - the lesser drawing power of the two - after a shake-up of the organisation's governing body.

He said: "Personally, to us, no one ever fell out over it. There's no bridges to build, in my view, because all of the players get on.

"No one can predict the future but I believe the BDO and the PDC will continue to go their own separate ways. I can't see any change to that.

"For the people that love darts, they will want to see as much of it as they can on TV.

"It doesn't matter who is playing."

By Craig Birch

Follow Craig Birch on Twitter @Craig417