Blue Square UK Open Darts

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John 'Darth Maple' Part

Born in Toronto, Canada in 1966, John Part took advantage of the mass exodus from the BDO in 1994 as the game's elite formed the WDC (now the PDC). The 1994 BDO World Championship therefore offered a window of opportunity to previously unheard-of players, and Part took full advantage - storming all the way through to the final where he battered Bobby George 6-0.

Following that success, Part had to endure lean times for almost a decade, and a switch to the PDC in 1997 didn't bring a change in luck for the below-par Canadian until 2003 when he finally won his first PDC title. Having lost to Phil Taylor in the finals of the 2001 World Championship, 2002 World Matchplay and the 2002 World Grand Prix he finally gained revenge, beating 'The Power' 7-6 in the 2003 World Championship with a wonderful exhibition of darts in a truly classic final.

A rise to World number 1 followed in 2004, the year in which he recorded his best ever UK Open performance, disappointingly losing 11-6 to Roland Scholten in the final.

Previous UK Open Performances
2003	5th Round
2004	Runner-up
2005	6th Round
2006	5th Round
2007	5th Round

John won his second major PDC title as recently as 2006, eclipsing Raymond van Barneveld with a 6-3 victory in the final of the Las Vegas Classic and erasing memories of his defeat to Peter Manley in the 2003 final of the same event.

John began his bid for the 2007 Blue Square UK Open title with a fairly comfortable 11-7 win over Garrett Gray, and there was plenty of excitement around the Reebok Stadium when he was drawn against Raymond van Barneveld in Round 5. The game turned out to be an absolute classic, with Barney sealing an 11-10 victory, and it was cruel for Part and a shame for the fans in Bolton that his bid was ended so early due to drawing the incredible van Barneveld. Can the Canadian enjoy better luck here in 2008?

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