Alan Warriner-Little
Encyclopedia
Alan Warriner-Little is an English professional darts
player. He currently lives in Crosby, Cumbria
and plays with the nickname The Iceman. He is a former World Grand Prix champion, and a former runner-up at the World Professional Darts Championship
.
as one of the contestants. He would later appear six times as a darts player throwing for charity. He progressed through the British Darts Organisation
's (BDO) superleague and county system and went on to win his first major tournament, the 1986 Isle of Man Open. He won several open tournaments, including the 1990 British Open as he climbed the world rankings.
He made his World Championship debut in 1989, losing a second round match to Jocky Wilson
. He reached the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1992, before reaching his first World Final in 1993 - but he lost 3-6 to John Lowe
. This form took him to the top of the world rankings.
He joined the top players in the game when they separated from the BDO after that 1993 final - they formed the World Darts Council (WDC, now Professional Darts Corporation
PDC) and started their own World Championship. Despite this, he still competed in a number of BDO events, and reached the final of the 1998 Winmau World Masters
, losing to Les Wallace
.
He was the first world number one in the PDC rankings between January 1993 and November 1994, and also regained the position twice (February 1997 to August 1998 and October 2001 to May 2002).
He has a consistent record in the PDC World Championship - reaching the quarter-finals seven times (1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006) and the semi-finals twice (1999 and 2003), but the world crown has still eluded him.
His one major championship in the PDC came in the 2001 World Grand Prix
, an event he also reached the final in 2004. He added this to the now discontinued UK Matchplay in 1995. He has twice been a runner-up in the World Matchplay, in 1997 and again in 2000. He lost in the final to Phil Taylor on both occasions.
He lost 5-1 to Mark Lawrence in the first round of the qualifying tournament for the 2009 PDC World Championship, meaning that he did not play the tournament for the first time in its 16-year history.
He married Brenda Little in the summer of 2005 and added her name to his.
He was an analyst and commentator for ITV Sport
's darts coverage, along with Chris Mason
.
Darts
Darts is a form of throwing game where darts are thrown at a circular target fixed to a wall. Though various boards and games have been used in the past, the term "darts" usually now refers to a standardised game involving a specific board design and set of rules...
player. He currently lives in Crosby, Cumbria
Crosby, Cumbria
Crosby is a small village in Cumbria, England, three miles north-east of Maryport on the A596 road. It has a population of approximately 1000. The local primary school is Crosscanonby St. John's Church of England School. The only remaining public house in the village is The Stag Inn....
and plays with the nickname The Iceman. He is a former World Grand Prix champion, and a former runner-up at the World Professional Darts Championship
World Professional Darts Championship
The World Professional Darts Championship is one of the most important tournaments in the darts calendar. Originally held as an annual event between 1978 and 1993, players then broke off into two separate organisations after a controversial split in the game...
.
Darts career
Alan's first television appearance came on the game show BullseyeBullseye (UK game show)
Bullseye was a popular British television programme. It was first made for the ITV network by ATV in 1981 and Central from 1982 until 1995, and hosted by Jim Bowen. The show originally aired on Monday nights from 1981, it was then moved to Sunday nights from 1982 to 1993 where it was watched by...
as one of the contestants. He would later appear six times as a darts player throwing for charity. He progressed through the British Darts Organisation
British Darts Organisation
The British Darts Organisation, or the BDO for short, is a darts organisation founded on 7 January 1973 by Olly Croft, OBE. The BDO is a founder member of the World Darts Federation which was formed in 1976....
's (BDO) superleague and county system and went on to win his first major tournament, the 1986 Isle of Man Open. He won several open tournaments, including the 1990 British Open as he climbed the world rankings.
He made his World Championship debut in 1989, losing a second round match to Jocky Wilson
Jocky Wilson
John Thomas Wilson known as "Jocky" Wilson, is a former Scottish darts champion. He retired from the game in 1995.Wilson was twice World professional Darts Champion in 1982 and 1989...
. He reached the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1992, before reaching his first World Final in 1993 - but he lost 3-6 to John Lowe
John Lowe
John Lowe is an English darts player who was one of the best-known men in darts during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the United Kingdom. Lowe is one of only five players to have won the World Championship 3 times.-Biography:Lowe won the World Championship title in three different decades -...
. This form took him to the top of the world rankings.
He joined the top players in the game when they separated from the BDO after that 1993 final - they formed the World Darts Council (WDC, now Professional Darts Corporation
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation is a professional darts organization, established in the United Kingdom during 1992, when a group of leading professional players split from the British Darts Organisation to form what was initially called the World Darts Council...
PDC) and started their own World Championship. Despite this, he still competed in a number of BDO events, and reached the final of the 1998 Winmau World Masters
Winmau World Masters
The Winmau World Masters is one of the longest running and most prestigious professional darts tournaments, which began in 1974 - even before the current World Professional Championship...
, losing to Les Wallace
Les Wallace
Les Wallace is a Scottish, former World Champion darts player. He currently lives in Midanbury Broadway, Southampton, England. He adopted the nickname McDanger - coming out for his matches dressed in a traditional kilt...
.
He was the first world number one in the PDC rankings between January 1993 and November 1994, and also regained the position twice (February 1997 to August 1998 and October 2001 to May 2002).
He has a consistent record in the PDC World Championship - reaching the quarter-finals seven times (1994, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006) and the semi-finals twice (1999 and 2003), but the world crown has still eluded him.
His one major championship in the PDC came in the 2001 World Grand Prix
2001 World Grand Prix Darts
-Results:...
, an event he also reached the final in 2004. He added this to the now discontinued UK Matchplay in 1995. He has twice been a runner-up in the World Matchplay, in 1997 and again in 2000. He lost in the final to Phil Taylor on both occasions.
He lost 5-1 to Mark Lawrence in the first round of the qualifying tournament for the 2009 PDC World Championship, meaning that he did not play the tournament for the first time in its 16-year history.
BDO
- 1989: Second Round (lost to Jocky WilsonJocky WilsonJohn Thomas Wilson known as "Jocky" Wilson, is a former Scottish darts champion. He retired from the game in 1995.Wilson was twice World professional Darts Champion in 1982 and 1989...
2-3) - 1990: First Round (lost to Mike Gregory 0-3)
- 1991: Quarter Final (lost to Bob AndersonBob Anderson (darts player)Robert Charles "Bob" Anderson is a former world darts champion. He was ranked as world number one for over three years in the late 1980s. Nicknamed The Limestone Cowboy, he lives in Clevedon in Somerset.-Before Darts:Anderson threw his first darts maximum at the age of just five...
3-4) - 1992: Quarter Final (lost to Kevin KennyKevin KennyKevin Kenny is a former darts player who played for England and Merseyside. Kenny received 12 caps for England, winning 11 times, and 116 caps for Merseyside, winning 92. He was also a two time semi-finalist at the BDO World Darts Championships and a semi-finalist at the News of the World Darts...
0-4) - 1993: Final (lost to John LoweJohn LoweJohn Lowe is an English darts player who was one of the best-known men in darts during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in the United Kingdom. Lowe is one of only five players to have won the World Championship 3 times.-Biography:Lowe won the World Championship title in three different decades -...
3-6)
PDC
- 1994: Quarter Final (lost to Steve BrownSteve Brown (darts player)Steve Brown is an English-born American darts player who had the majority of his success during the 1990s when he finished third at the inaugural Professional Darts Corporation's version of the World Championship in 1994 - after the majority of top players decided to separate from the British...
3-4) - 1995: Last 24 Group (finished second in Group 4 behind Dennis SmithDennis Smith (darts player)Dennis Smith is an English darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation events. He is a stalwart on the PDC circuit, having been playing on the circuit since 1994 but has yet to capture a major title to add to his collection of Open wins...
) - 1996: Quarter Final (lost to Dennis PriestleyDennis PriestleyDennis Priestley is an English professional darts player. He has won two world championships, and was the first player to win both the BDO and WDC world championships, in 1991 and 1994 respectively...
1-4) - 1997: Quarter Final (lost to Eric BristowEric BristowEric Bristow MBE is a British darts player, whose skill at the game in the 1980s helped turn it into a worldwide spectator sport.- Early career :...
3-5) - 1998: Last 24 Group (finished bottom in Group 8)
- 1999: Semi Final (lost to Phil Taylor 3-5)
- 2000: Quarter Final (lost to Phil Taylor 0-5)
- 2001: Quarter Final (lost to John PartJohn PartJohn Part is a Canadian professional darts player, who is nicknamed Darth Maple.Part is one of only five players in darts history to be a three time World Champion...
1-4) - 2002: Second Round (lost to Colin LloydColin LloydColin Lloyd , nicknamed Jaws, is an English professional darts player on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit. He is a former world number one ranked player and he has won two major television titles in the PDC - the 2004 World Grand Prix and 2005 World Matchplay...
4-6) - 2003: Semi Final (lost to Phil Taylor 1-6)
- 2004: Quarter Final (lost to Phil Taylor 1-5)
- 2005: Third Round (lost to Paul Williams 1-4)
- 2006: Quarter Final (lost to Wayne MardleWayne MardleWayne Mardle is a darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation, and former player in the BDO. He now lives in Romford...
0-5) - 2007: First Round (lost to Alan TabernAlan TabernAlan Tabern is an English darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation, where he is also known as "The Saint" and "Tabby"...
0-3) - 2008: Second Round (lost to Peter ManleyPeter ManleyPeter David Manley is an English professional darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. He is nicknamed One Dart as he is known for hitting doubles with his first dart...
1-4)
Outside Darts
Following the 2006 World Matchplay, Warriner-Little took the decision to turn full-time professional, giving up his previous full-time career as a male nurse.He married Brenda Little in the summer of 2005 and added her name to his.
He was an analyst and commentator for ITV Sport
ITV Sport
ITV Sport is a sport producer and brand name owned by ITV plc. It was formed from the amalgamation of Granada Sport, Carlton's sports department and ISN, the sports division of London News Network. The company produces Champions League and FA Cup Football, along with coverage of England's national...
's darts coverage, along with Chris Mason
Chris Mason (darts player)
Christopher John Mason is an English darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. He uses the nickname Mace the Ace for his matches.- BDO and first PDC spell :...
.