The Timeless Legacy of Darts Legend Rod Harrington
Darts enthusiasts fondly recall the illustrious career of Englishman Rod Harrington, a true icon of the sport. Born on December 30, 1957, Harrington, known as the “Prince of Style” for his impeccable on-stage appearance, made his breakthrough on the international darts scene in 1991 with a series of impressive tournament victories, including the Belgium Open, Denmark Open, French Open, Malta Open, and Swedish Open.
However, it was his triumph at the prestigious Winmau World Masters that truly cemented Harrington’s status as a rising star, as he defeated none other than Phil Taylor in the final. This stellar performance paved the way for Harrington’s debut at the BDO World Championship in 1992, where he reached the quarterfinals before narrowly losing to Mike Gregory.
The following year, Harrington returned to the Lakeside Country Club, but was ousted in the opening round by Australian Wayne Weening. Frustrated by the lack of revenue and television coverage in the sport, Harrington, along with several other top players, decided to establish a new league, the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), formerly known as the World Darts Council (WDC).
Harrington’s Illustrious PDC Career
Harrington’s first PDC World Championship appearance came in 1994, where he reached the quarterfinals before losing to Peter Evison. The following year, he advanced to the final, only to succumb to his long-time rival, Phil Taylor. Despite never securing the world title, Harrington went on to reach the semi-finals of the PDC World Championship twice more.
The darts legend’s trophy cabinet was further enhanced by his triumphs at the World Matchplay in 1998 and 1999, where he defeated Ronnie Baxter and Peter Manley, respectively. Harrington also reached the final of the World Grand Prix in 1998, but was once again thwarted by the dominant Taylor.
Challenges and Retirement
In the early 2000s, Harrington faced a series of knee injuries that required multiple surgeries, adversely impacting his performance and causing him to plummet in the world rankings. His final appearance at the World Championships came in 2003, where he bowed out in the second round against Alan Warriner-Little.
Following his retirement from competitive darts in 2007, Harrington transitioned into a new role as a board member for the PDC, as well as a respected television commentator for Sky Sports, where he continued to share his expertise and passion for the sport he had dominated for so long. In 2022, at the age of 65, Harrington stepped down from his PDC duties and was subsequently inducted into the PDC Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest darts players of his era.
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